A shopper trying on a hat and sunglasses at Claire’s in Old Orchard Mall. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

By Julie Wernau | Claire’s Stores Inc., the fashion accessory retailer behind the Claire’s
and Icing brands, reported modest growth in the fourth quarter and said
it plans to double capital expenditures in 2010 as it attempts to
rebrand and expand into new markets.

The Hoffman Estates-based company reported sales of $410.7 million for
the 2009 fourth quarter, an increase of $17.7 million over the previous
year that was primarily due to a foreign currency translation
effect. Same-store sales were up 2.1 percent in the fourth quarter, with
European stores faring better than those in North America. The company
said winter and holiday items were popular buys.

In 2010, the company said it will focus on improving customer service, having more fashionable images in its stores, creating spaces aimed at the company’s youngest customers and making better use of social marketing tools.

Claire’s plans to open 80 stores in 2010, the company said in a conference call, and spend more than $50 million to improve technology, remodel and open new stores, about double that spent in 2009. The company said it will focus primarily on European and existing markets and plans to separate out a North America division in 2010.