As the mother of two daughters, I've spent a gazillion hours (and probably a gazillion bucks, too)…read morein Claire's over the years, when we lived in the Seattle area, years ago. My kids got their ears pierced there (a few times each!), TOO many tchotchkes and accessories to count, and I've shopped there after every big holiday as their sales were always pretty darn amazing. The merchandise has consistently been trendy, reasonably priced, and the selection, humongous.
I've not been in a Claire's store for years, as my kids are grown now, and I've not been in a Canadian Claire's store ever - until yesterday, that is!
I was invited to a New Years eve party with a disco theme. I thought I'd get some inexpensive disco accessories at Claire, as I've passed this Granville St. Claire's so many times, and from outside, it looks exactly like the Claire's stores in the States. I definitely did NOT want to spend a lot of money on items that I'd undoubtedly only wear once, for a few hours, max.
Walking in the store, wow, it was such a throwback to my kids' young years, with all the girlie items, of every sort, every trendy theme: earrings, bracelets and necklaces, every type of hair tie/bow/headband/scrunchie, belts and bags, VERY cheap makeup (I'd not recommend the makeup here, IMO), smaller gift items (journals, pens, stuffed animals, etc.), and seasonal/holiday items (Christmas fuzzy socks, smaller stocking stuffer stuff, etc.). They still have all the old promos, too (buy 3, get three free). Even the layout of the store was the same as it was a few decades ago in the States, with the ear piercing station at the front of the store, and the centrally located check-out/cashier counter smack dab in the middle.
I immediately asked the girl who was working for any disco stuff, and she brought me a pair of disco ball earrings right away. (It was the last pair here and I probably would never have found it. I was so glad she knew about it and brought it to me right away). I was really surprised at the price, though. Used to be, the stuff at Claire's was really inexpensive. These earrings cost over $12. In fact, I was surprised by the prices of everything here. They are significantly higher than what they used to be. I know it's been years, but even counting for inflation, wow, prices are high for such mass-produced, lower-end items. I saw some blingy, crystal-encrusted elaborate layered necklaces, and a bling-y mesh top and a metal-mesh thin scarf, all of which would be PERFECT for a disco bash - but they cost between $25-$65! Yes, $65! For a very low-end (but blingy) mesh top. Like, what? Prices at Claire's was never this high, not even close.
I did find a few things on sale that worked for me: glittery body stickers, some funky disco gloves, and a glittery thin headband, all half off (on sale from $3-$6. Not bad. They always did have decent sales).
On the way out of the store, I noticed they had jars of jewelry cleaner (I had been looking for some a few months earlier. I never thought of checking out Claire's for this type of product!). Nice.
Ideally I'd rate this store 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up as the girl who helped me was super nice and knew about the merchandise well (bringing me the disco earrings right away), and the store was clean and well laid-out.