Bonnie Schaefer, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO said, "Company is tremendously excited about entrance into Spain. It is a dynamic country with a demographic and company believe tremendous receptive to new stores. Company had a presence abroad for almost a decade and in that time they have found that the Claire's brand translates beautifully across borders."
He adds, "Tweens and teens around the world are interested in costume jewelry and accessories that let them express their individual personalities, and they have enormous selection at affordable prices makes that possible. Future store opening plans for Spain and Holland are still in development, and company will provide additional details over the coming months."
Claire's Stores Inc operates through its subsidiary, Claire's Nippon Co Ltd, 165 stores in Japan as a 50:50 joint venture with AEON Co Ltd., a $40 billion specialty retailer headquartered in Japan.
The Company also licenses 70 stores in the Middle East and Turkey under a licensing and merchandising agreement with Al Shaya Co Ltd and six stores in South Africa under similar agreements with The House of Busby Limited. As of July 2, 2005, Claire's Stores, Inc. operated approximately 2,845 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.