In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
In case you haven't heard about the latest hit to the high street. 😢https://t.co/65x9fDNa4c
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Le Creuset will be bringing its biggest-ever in-person event to Yorkshire next month, offering massive discounts on its hit cookware pieces.
The Factory to Table Sale will be heading to Harrogate, filled with all of Le Creuset's most popular items, from salt and pepper grinders to casserole dishes.
And they've said that the sale will include some rare colours, unusual shapes, and pieces you won’t typically find in the brand’s UK boutiques and outlets.
Taking over the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, there'll be loads of Le Creuset cookware for up to half price.
And this isn’t just any old warehouse clear-out. The event is billed as Le Creuset UK’s biggest-ever in-person event, with more cast iron cookware on offer than ever before.
Expect plenty of the brand’s instantly recognisable pieces, alongside limited-edition colours and harder-to-find designs.
The biggest-ever in-person Le Creuset event is coming to Yorkshire. Credit: Fever
Among the tempting finds are seasonal favourites including the pumpkin and petal casseroles, making this one for anyone who likes their kitchenware to be as decorative as it is practical.
The sale takes place across three days at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, as follows:
Friday 25 September - 9.45am–7pm, with last entry at 6.15pm
Saturday 26 September - 9am–6pm, with last entry at 5.15pm
Sunday 27 September - 9am–5.30pm, with last entry at 4.45pm
Tickets are allocated to pre-booked time slots, and under-16s will need to be accompanied by an adult.
The catch? Tickets haven’t gone on general sale yet. You can join the waitlist nowfor exclusive presale access, giving you the chance to get in before the wider public.
So, if your kitchen has been crying out for a new Dutch oven, or you simply enjoy the thrill of finding a bargain in a very attractive shade of red, Harrogate might be worth the trip this September.
IKEA to launch its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture
Emily Sergeant
IKEA will be launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture.
Just like the ever-popular Facebook Marktplace, the IKEA second-hand marketplace is a dedicated space where pre-loved IKEA products can find a new home.
In bid to make affordable second-hand home furnishings easily accessible, the new online platform will enable customers across the UK to connect with one another directly, so they can buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.
Designed specifically for IKEA products, the marketplace will provide everything shoppers need in one place.
The Swedish retailer is already known and loved for its 'functional' and 'affordable' home furnishings, all produced with care for people and the environment, but the launch of the new IKEA second-hand market place will make it just as easy to pass on an old favourite as it is to find a new one.Â
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture / Credit: Supplied
"At IKEA, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love," a spokesperson for the retailer said.
"With the launch of IKEA second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned IKEA furniture.Â
"Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA pieces as seamless as possible.
"We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our IKEA Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned IKEA products to be simple, accessible and rewarding."
Detailed information regarding the official launch and how customers can get involved will be made available in the coming months.
Danny Jones -
28th April 2026 
