French businessman makes attempt to rescue Claire’s

Julien Jarjoura, owner of the European arm of Claire’s, is in discussions to save the high-street chain after it entered administration for the second time in the past year.

He is said to be in talks with the British business’ administrators and landlords, and he plans to keep many of its UK stores and save hundreds of jobs, The Sunday Times reported.

Claire’s was snapped up by Modella Capital in September 2025 to acquire 156 of 306 UK stores, but the firm put both Claire’s and another of its purchases, The Original Factory Shop, into administration in January this year.

Modella said at the time: “This has been a very tough decision. We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.”

Jarjoura told the publication: “Everyone has a personal experience with Claire’s — some people even told me they used to steal from it. 

“As an entrepreneur, I could not bear the idea of letting go of a business that was worth saving. I was in London a few weeks ago, and landlords have responded in a really positive way.

“Right now I think we are the only candidate with the [brand] licence… and able to save as many stores as possible and as many people as possible.”

Jarjoura supplies private label jewellery and accessories to other fashion brands in Europe. He currently owns the Swiss, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Austrian divisions of Claire’s and took on around 240 stores when the parent company started the bankruptcy procedure.

He added that he hoped to refresh and reimagine the retailer and cut prices. In Europe, he said prices had lowered by an average of 28%.

He now plans to expand the business to around 500 across Europe.