Claire’s Is Giving Its Piercing Business a Trendy Makeover
The retailer also has plans to open 50 new locations across Europe.
The company has introduced “Pierced by Claire’s,” a new visual identity for the cornerstone service that exudes a “bold and inspiring attitude for this generation and the next.”
The rebrand will include a new logo and colorful imagery, backed by a marketing plan that includes television ads and a digital mascot named Pierce.
Pierce is described as “a digital character who personifies the joy of getting pierced with Claire’s trend-forward earring style and assortment.” He will guide customers through their piercing experience and earring shopping, supported by several other characters.
“For more than 40 years, we have created a deep connection with our consumers through our industry-leading piercing business, delivering an experience they can trust, styles that excite them and a memorable visit to Claire’s,” said Claire’s CEO Ryan Vero.
“Piercing creates a deep connection with our consumers and draws new people and returning customers to our brand and stores every year, and we are proud to build on that legacy to meet the next generation.”
As an added incentive to get pierced at Claire’s, stores will offer a “free earrings for a year” promotion, which allows customers to earn a free pair of earrings every month for a year when they get pierced in-store.
To showcase how shoppers can style their earrings, Claire’s is also promoting the idea of an “EarPrint,” a play on fingerprints because, it said, each person’s earring style is unique.
Shoppers are encouraged to show off their EarPrint and share how they express their personal style through multiple piercings.
“EarPrint reinforces Claire’s brand purpose of empowering young people to embrace and celebrate their individuality,” said the company.
To inspire new EarPrints, Claire’s Creative Director in Residence Nicola Formichetti used artificial intelligence (AI) to create digital images of different earring styles.
In the stores, shoppers will see new “Piercing Specialist” attire, pop-up piercing events, and new merchandise surrounding the launch.
“As we continue to transform into a global fashion brand powerhouse, we have elevated what makes Claire’s special and created immersive new experiences that envelop and inspire young people,” said Kristin Patrick, executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
“Pierced by Claire’s builds on our purpose of self-expression with a reimagined piercing experience and a unique point of view that continues to embed us in culture and positions the brand for its future.”
The new campaign and offerings, which will coincide with back-to-school season in the U.S., also are available in the retailer’s new flagship location in Paris, which opened in March, as well as other locations in the European Union.
The company is expanding its presence in Europe after opening its first store in Milan in November 2012.
Claire’s currently has 40 stores across Europe, with plans to open an additional 50 locations this year, including 10 in Italy.
The expansion plan includes stores in Venice, Florence, Milan and Naples, and Rome, including a recent opening on the city’s high-end shopping street Via Del Corso.
“We see a strong desire for an enriched shopping experience and increased connections to our brand from our European consumers, so it was a natural next step for us to expand our presence,” said Richard Flint, president of Claire’s Europe.
In addition to its European expansion, Claire’s has also been growing its retailer partnerships in the U.S. and Europe.
Claire’s currently works with 2,100 partner stores, including Macy’s and Walmart in the U.S., Asda and New Look in the U.K., and European toy retailers Smyths, King Jouet, and Maxi Kids.
By the end of the year, Claire’s plans to have a presence in 3,000 retail partner stores worldwide.
Claire’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018 as it battled over $1 billion in debt. It re-emerged later that year. In 2021, the retailer filed for an IPO, but it never came to fruition and was postponed earlier this month.
The Latest
Step inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
These punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
The company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Sponsored by Tasha R
Three Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
Cynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
The auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
The four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
The “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
The money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
The event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
Local reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
A collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
The Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
Hampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
The group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
The collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
This year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
Senior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
The latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
No. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.