IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
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
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
Weekly QuizAug 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
CrimeAug 06, 2026
Lalique Museum to Remain Closed Following $5M HeistMuseum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
Claire’s Revamps Piercing Services for Second Time in Three Years The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.
FinancialsAug 06, 2026
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 6%, Driven by High-Income ShoppersThe retailer said it had its biggest Mother’s Day ever, with strong demand for higher-priced jewelry.
TrendsAug 06, 2026
New Book on Handcrafted American Objects Highlights Jewelry“Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America” features historic and contemporary works, including a Diné squash blossom necklace.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
AJA East Coast Names Ani Khachian as First Female President-ElectThe Armenian Jewelers Association’s East Coast chapter has also elected its 2026–2027 board of directors.
MajorsAug 05, 2026
Private Equity Firm Wants to Buy 100+ JCPenney StoresOnyx Partners has submitted a second offer to buy the department stores after its first offer fell through last year.
IndependentsAug 05, 2026
Atlanta Jeweler Introduces $10K MartiniSolomon Brothers Jewelers has partnered with local cocktail bar Roaring Social on a new martini garnished with a tennis necklace.
IndependentsAug 05, 2026
Another Member of the Siegel Family Joins Hamilton Jewelers Benjamin Siegel, son of President and CEO Hank Siegel, started working for the family business this week.
MajorsAug 05, 2026
Bulgari Opens Store in San DiegoThe new space features a modern design that blends Bulgari’s Roman heritage with San Diego’s coastal spirit.
CrimeAug 04, 2026
Crew of Thieves Break Into Indiana Jeweler’s HomeFour men were charged in connection with the break-in and accused of stealing $365,000 in cash, jewelry, and designer goods.
MajorsAug 04, 2026
Pandora Hires Former Signet Board Member to Lead North American MarketAndré Branch has more than 25 years of experience with various brands, most recently serving as CEO of Ariana Grande’s cosmetics company.
MajorsAug 04, 2026
Sasha Primak Acquires GemlokNew York-based atelier Gemlok is best known for creating the innovative “bridge” setting that became popular in the bridal market.
CollectionsAug 04, 2026
Musician Carlos Santana Launches Jewelry BrandSantana Now's debut collection, “Unidad,” features symbolic motifs as well as pieces of wood from the Woodstock stage.
CrimeAug 03, 2026
Florida Man Gets 15 Years in Trio of Jewelry Store RobberiesThe 50-year-old man pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbing two jewelry stores and a pawn shop of more than $700,000 in merchandise.
WatchesAug 03, 2026
Citizen's New Spider-Man Watch Is a Collector’s DreamThe watch’s dial features an original design by Marvel comics illustrator Adam Kubert.
Lab-GrownAug 03, 2026
Chatham Releases First Men’s CollectionThe new collection of lab-grown diamond and colored gemstone jewelry provides a “fresh perspective” on the category, Chatham said.
