Uncertain future for Freshney Place accessories retailer as tough trading conditions take their toll

 

A store with sparkle -  Claire's will continue to trade as  administrators seek a buyer 

DOUBTS surround the future of  another of the retailers in Grimsby's Freshney Place shopping centre.

Administrators have been called in at Claire's, a nationwide chain with a workforce of just over 2,000.

As at its 305 other UK shops, the Grimsby branch  provides a colourful and cheerful presence, and its range of accessories has long made it popular with girls and young women.

But its fortunes have faltered in recent year because of inflation and competition from online outlets.  

It is these same pressures which are confronting its wider international empire which is based on the outskirts of Chicago in Illinois.

It is understood that Grimsby staff are being kept updated, and that the store will continue to trade while administrators seek a buyer.

The worrying news come in the wake of news that Claire's Freshney Place neighbour, the River Island fashion outlet, braces itself for closure.                                                 

River Island - another national retailer that has experienced worsening trading conditions