Three Oxfordshire stores have been left empty as Claire’s has recently-announced the closure all 154 UK and Ireland branches, with 1,300 jobs lost in the process.

The move does not impact the retailer’s 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, and its head office.

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However, it did include the shops in Didcot and Witney as well as the Oxford Westgate store.

Last year, two stores in Banbury, at the Castle Quay Shopping Centre and Banbury Gateway Shopping Park, also permanently shut.

Considering this, the director at insolvency practice Liquidation Centre, Richard Hunt, has warned the current economic climate is increasing risks to retail businesses.

Claire’s has closed all of its 154 UK and Ireland stores including three in Oxfordshire. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Hunt said: “It is much easier to lose customers than to retain them, which is why regular market research and competitor analysis are so essential.

“Staying ahead of the curve as conditions evolve is critical to long-term survival.”

Mr Hunt said that Claire’s failed to move with the times as its jewellery and accessory products fell out of fashion.

“Claire’s products didn’t cater to this change,” he said.

“Their brand image became more ‘dated’ as time moved on, further weakening its appeal in a highly competitive and fast-moving market.”

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In terms of the wider high street, the director warned that increasing business rates and declining footfall are having a major impact.

He advised that businesses under pressure must conduct clear and honest reviews of income and expenditure, and that seeking advice from a insolvency practitioner can help.

Mr Hunt said: “If a business reaches the point where liquidation becomes a risk, swift action is vital.”

The supermarket giant already has more than 1,000 stores scattered across the UK.

Lidl has now revealed a ‘wish list’ containing more than 1,000 locations where it wants to open new supermarkets as part of its new ‘site requirements brochure’.

This list comes after the supermarket announced a £600 million investment in growing its shop count across Britain earlier this month.

It also recently revealed plans to open more than 50 new stores over the next 12 months, promising to create around 2,000 jobs.

What Lidl is looking for in a new store

Lidl has outlined the specific requirements it is looking for in these new UK stores:

• Store size must be 18,000 sq ft + (1,672 m²)
• 1.5+ acre site
• Dedicated car parking required (100+ spaces at ground level)
• Population of more than 20,000 people in the catchment area, and 5,000 in the main centre
• Freehold, leasehold, or long leasehold properties

Lidl is offering a finder’s fee to whoever identifies a “previously unknown” site that leads to a development, and said they will respond to ‘finders’ within seven days.

Full list of locations Lidl is looking to open new stores

From Aberdeen to St Ives, Cardiff to York, Lidl is looking all over the UK for the perfect spot to build its next store.

You can see the full list of more than 1,000 locations where Lidl is looking to open new stores in its online site requirements brochure.

Chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, Richard Taylor, said: “At Lidl GB, we currently have one of the most ambitious store opening programmes of any supermarket.

“We’re more committed than ever to bringing our high quality and low priced products to even more communities across the country.

“All of our stores deliver more than just affordable products.

“Each one also brings quality jobs and opportunities for British suppliers to showcase the best home grown produce and support local good causes in the communities each one serves.

“In uncertain times, shoppers and communities can count on us.”

Is Lidl looking to open a new store near you? Is there a site you think the supermarket could use? Let us know in the comments below.

Woodgate & Clark has expanded its broker support operations with new hires and an association with BIBA, as the claims specialist seeks closer ties with insurance brokers.

It has become an associate of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, appointed Jack Steel as Director of Major Loss Operations, and hired a client relationship manager in Manchester to develop broker relationships across the North West.

The changes are part of a broader push to strengthen its position with brokers, at a time when demand for external claims and loss adjusting support has risen as firms seek responsive service and clear communication with policyholders during claims.

Woodgate & Clark has also expanded its major loss and liability operations. Alongside Steel’s appointment, Gary Eaton has joined as Technical Director in Third Party Property Damage and Gareth Hadfield has been promoted to Technical Director for Injury.

The business operates in loss adjusting and claims management, serving insurers and brokers across personal and commercial lines. Since joining parent group Van Ameyde in 2015, it has gained access to wider European claims handling and survey expertise.

Broker focus

The Manchester-based broker relationship role reflects the company’s regional approach as it looks to build links with intermediaries outside London. The North West remains a significant insurance hub, with a concentration of regional brokers and claims activity.

Becoming a BIBA associate also gives the firm a formal route into the UK broker network. Trade body associations often help raise supplier visibility in the broking market, particularly for service providers that rely on nominated partnerships and long-term claims relationships.

In recent years, loss adjusting firms have faced pressure to demonstrate not only technical expertise in complex claims but also strong customer communication, especially in property, business interruption and liability cases where claims can become prolonged and contentious.

The recent investment is intended to respond to those expectations. The business works across specialist personal lines, commercial property, business interruption, entertainment and media, the London market and contractor networks.

Mike Higgins outlined the company’s approach to broker relationships.

“BIBA is always an important event for us and we are really looking forward to connecting with brokers from across the market. As a nominated loss adjuster and claims partner, our expertise across the claims lifecycle can help set brokers apart, supporting their relationships with insurers while boosting customer retention rates. Our aim is to give brokers confidence that when a claim occurs, their clients will receive expert, responsive support,” said Mike Higgins, Managing Director of Woodgate & Clark.

The appointment of a Director of Major Loss Operations points to continued focus on large and technically complex claims, where insurers and brokers often seek experienced external specialists. In liability, the addition of senior technical roles in property damage and injury suggests the company is also strengthening discipline-specific oversight.

Across the insurance market, claims service has become a more visible factor in brokers’ selection of external partners. Poor claims handling can affect client retention and insurer relationships, particularly when customers judge an insurance product by the quality of support they receive after a loss.

Woodgate & Clark serves most parts of the insurance market, including heritage and high-net-worth personal lines as well as commercial risks. Through Van Ameyde, it also has access to marine and non-marine claims handling services, loss prevention consultancy and technical surveys across Europe.