S20E14: The Future of Claire’s and Mall Retail (September 29, 2025)

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Claire’s is back in the headlines after its latest bankruptcy and acquisition by Ames Watson, the firm behind Lids. Can a nostalgic mall brand really be turned around in today’s retail environment?

In this episode, we unpack Claire’s challenges, the role of experience in modern retail, and what this deal signals for the future of malls.

Timestamps:

[07:15] What Made Claire’s a Rite of Passage
[10:22] Bankruptcy and the Ames Watson Acquisition
[14:17] Who Ames Watson Is and Their Playbook
[16:42] Lessons from Lids and Build-A-Bear
[22:36] Claire’s Second Bankruptcy Explained
[25:20] Mall Traffic, Competitors, and Industry Headwinds
[29:11] Can Claire’s Become an Experience Business?

Links mentioned in the episode:

• CNBC: ‘A broken business’: The company behind the makeover of bankrupt retailer Claire’s
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• Listen to the Market Outsiders podcast, the new daily show with the Management Consulted team

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