WaPo: Claire’s is ‘a complete train wreck’

At the Washington Post, Abha Bhattarai writes on the trouble at Claire’s. The retailer has reported 11 consecutive quarters of declining sales and racked up more than $2 billion in debt

So far this year, more than 300 retailers have filed for bankruptcy, including mall staples BCBG Max Azria, Rue21, Wet Seal and the Limited. Others, including Macy’s, Sears and Bebe have closed hundreds of stores.

“It’s mass destruction at American malls, and Claire’s is right in the middle of it,” said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of retail consulting and investment banking firm Davidowitz & Associates. “Claire’s, which at one time was the most profitable chain in the business, has become a complete train wreck.”

It’s been a confluence of bad news for the Chicago-based chain, which has long relied on groups of girls coming into its stores with their weekly allowances or birthday money. Fewer Americans are going to malls these days, and those who do increasingly are shopping at fast-fashion chains like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara, all of which have boosted their accessories sections in recent years.

And although Claire’s, which also owns the accessories brand Icing, has built up its website in recent years, analysts say online shopping is a tricky proposition for the company’s young shoppers, many of whom don’t have access to a credit card.

Posted by on June 27th, 2017 at 11:56 am


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