Centric Brands to scale Claire’s across 7,000 retail touch points in North America

Centric Brands has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to expand the Claire’s accessories brand into new categories and more than 7,000 retail touch points across North America.

The move forms part of Claire’s owner Ames Watson’s strategy to scale the accessories brand beyond its core retail footprint of 900 owned locations and build a more multichannel growth platform.

The US lifestyle brand collective will increase Claire’s presence across retail partners Walmart, Kohl’s and CVS and partner with the brand to develop an exclusive collection of trend driven assortments in cosmetics, jewellery, hair accessories, stationery, bags and novelty items.

The company will also lead an expansion into additional retailers and categories across apparel, accessories, home and sleepwear.

Alex Fogelson, EVP, division head at Centric Brands, said: “We have cherished our long-standing relationship with Claire’s, and we are thrilled to be taking our collaboration to the next level.

“This partnership will provide more opportunities for consumers to connect with the beloved Claire’s brand across even more retail touchpoints.

Lawrence Berger, co-founder and partner at Ames Watson, said: “By expanding our presence beyond our own stores, we’re able to meet consumers wherever they shop, while continuing to invest in the in-store experiences that define the brand, like ear piercing.”

“We are proud to partner with Ames Watson and Claire’s on this exclusive licensing agreement, which reflects Centric Brands’ ability to scale beloved brands across multiple retail channels and categories.”