SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
MajorsSep 18, 2019
Charming Charlie Founder Plans To Relaunch Company
Charles Chanaratsopon placed the winning bid for the bankrupt retailer’s intellectual property.
Accessories retailer Charming Charlie’s New York City flagship on Fifth Avenue. The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, announcing plans to close all 261 locations.
Wilmington, Del.—Accessories chain Charming Charlie may be opening new stores as soon as next year after its founder placed the winning bid for its intellectual property earlier this month.
The assets sold for $1.12 million at auction to CJS Group LP, a Houston-based real estate firm where Charming Charlie’s founder and former CEO Charles Chanaratsopon is the managing partner.
Chanaratsopon told the Houston Chronicle he plans to relaunch the company following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in July, which led to the closure of all 261 of its stores.
Charming Charlie would return as an online-focused retailer, said Chanaratsopon, with a few pop-up shops and permanent locations.
“Charlie has over 10 million passionate and brand-loyal customers,” he told the Chronicle. “In this age of retail, we still see an opportunity for the brand to thrive in the online ecosystem.”
The new stores are expected to open in early 2020 and will be 3,000 to 4,000 square feet, about half the size of its previous stores.
The assets up for sale were Charming Charlie’s trademarks and domain names, including those of brands Charlie Girl and Belle & Bumble, as well as its social media assets.
Customer data was also part of the deal, including a mailing list of 7 million email and 3 million physical addresses, according to data from Hilco Streambank, which assisted with the sale.
The company’s former CEO wasn’t the only one bidding for the brand’s intellectual property.
Nearly 500 interested parties reached out to Hilco Streambank via phone or email about the asset sale, but only five submitted bids ahead of the auction, according to a court statement by Hilco Executive Vice President David Peress.
Three bidders made the final cut for the auction, which lasted 35 rounds with bidding starting at $200,000.
The second-highest bid was $1.1 million from the Cato Corp., a North Carolina-based fashion and accessories retailer.
Peress said Hilco Streambank had tried to establish a “stalking horse” bid—which occurs when a bankrupt company chooses a bidder to make the first bid in order to set a minimum—but was unsuccessful in finding a bidder to do so.
Prolonging the sale process, he said, could have had a negative impact on the value of the assets.
He noted with the retailer’s stores and e-commerce site closed, customer engagement is decreasing, and shoppers soon will turn to other retailers to find what they used to buy from Charming Charlie.
“To reverse this trend, a buyer of
the assets will need to invest more in marketing and customer re-acquisition, thereby reducing the amount such buyer can pay for the assets,” Peress said.
The sale requires approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
The sale requires approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
More on Majors
The Latest
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
Weekly QuizMar 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Introduce New ScholarshipIt’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
SourcingMar 25, 2026
Rob Bates Steps Down as JCK News Director After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.
GradingMar 25, 2026
New York’s Natural History Museum, Wiley To Build Minerals DatabaseWiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.
CollectionsMar 25, 2026
Boochier Turns Flower Friendship Bracelets Into Fine JewelryThe “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.
Policies & IssuesMar 25, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry to Host Bench Jeweler Shortage WebinarSet for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.
IndependentsMar 24, 2026
Lisa Bayer, Illustrator and Beloved Member of the Muse Family, Dies at 64Bayer, founder of Lisa Bayer Designs, is remembered as “a bright light in every room.”
AuctionsMar 24, 2026
White Diamonds Shine In Christie's Jewels Online SaleThe highest-grossing lot was a Tiffany & Co. ring set with a flawless, emerald-cut diamond of 10 carats.
SourcingMar 24, 2026
AGTA Solidifies Tucson Dates For 2027-2029The next three editions of AGTA GemFair Tucson will feature a five-day show that includes Sunday.
WatchesMar 24, 2026
Christie’s Names New Senior Specialist, WatchesFormer Sotheby’s executive Tom Heap has taken on the London-based role.
CrimeMar 23, 2026
NYPD Looking for 3 Jewelry Store Robbery SuspectsThe group of women allegedly robbed two Catbird stores and one Gorjana location on the afternoon of March 9.
FinancialsMar 23, 2026
Movado’s Q4 Sales Rise As Demand Grows From Younger Shoppers, WomenMovado CEO Efraim Grinberg noted continued strength in the fashion watch and accessible luxury segments in the U.S.
TrendsMar 23, 2026
Marco Bicego’s New Campaign Showcases ‘The Art of Craft’After celebrating 25 years in 2025, the campaign marks a new chapter for the jewelry brand with the message that “Identity Creates Value.”
Events & AwardsMar 23, 2026
These Watch Brands Are Heading to Couture This YearCouture and Time to Watches announced the watch brands, from big names to independents, attendees will see at the show.
FinancialsMar 20, 2026
Macy’s Turnaround Plans Shows Promise, Boosted by Bloomingdale’sPlus, why Saks Global’s bankruptcy may have given Bloomingdale’s an edge.
AuctionsMar 20, 2026
Sotheby's, De Beers Unveil ‘Jwaneng 28.88’ DiamondThe flawless, Type IIa stone is estimated to achieve up to $2.8 million at the auction house’s high jewelry sale in April.
