Quiz, The Original Factory Shop and Claire's Face Insolvency

A wave of insolvency has hit the UK high street in January 2026, with several major retailers facing collapse due to rising labor costs, high business rates, and fragile consumer confidence.

Quiz, a Glasgow-based womenswear retailer, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on January 30, placing 44 stores, 41 concessions, and approximately 1,000 jobs at risk. This marks the third time in six years the company has faced administration, following a pre-pack arrangement in February 2025 that saw 23 stores closed. The company is currently using a 10-day window to explore financing options while keeping stores open. International operations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Armenia remain unaffected.

Simultaneously, The Original Factory Shop entered administration on January 28, putting 137 stores and 1,180 employees at risk. While its physical stores remain open, online operations have been shut down. Administrators from Interpath Advisory cited high cost inflation and failures by a third-party logistics operator as key drivers of the collapse. The retailer and the accessories brand Claire's, which also entered administration on January 26, were both acquired by Modella Capital last year.