Specialist furniture painting and upcycling business Claire’s Crafthouse has ceased trading after entering liquidation, with financial firms and the HMRC as its main creditors.

Roderick Butcher, of Butcher Woods, was appointed as liquidator of Claire’s Crafthouse Limited on 14 February 2023.

Detailed in newly filed documents on Companies House, the business owed the HMRC £47,000. Other creditors include Barclays Bank, owed £50,000, American Express, owed £8,000, and PayPal, owed almost £30,000. It is expected creditors will suffer a shortfall of £161,000.

Since its closure, the owner has launched a new business, Figtree Furniture, which also specialises in painted furniture and upcycling.

A statement on social media said: “As some of you will have already learnt, Claire’s CraftHouse Ltd has recently ceased trading. A decade of pouring heart and soul into our business unfortunately couldn’t carry us through the current wave of economic volatility and escalating costs, so with a hugely heavy heart we have had to change our path.

“The business was always centred around my passion for saving unwanted furniture, and restyling it for a new chapter, and Mark’s passion for all things digital. However, as the e-commerce business grew, I spent more time managing that day to day and less time painting. I have missed it hugely so my plan is to get back to painting, focusing on commissions and pieces to sell, whilst sharing my upcycling exploits here. I will, however, no longer be stocking brands or products.

“Figtree Furniture is a name that has its roots in some of the happiest, most memorable childhood times with my family, so I hope it will help me create a positive new chapter in my life. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out to us in recent weeks – your empathy and kindness has been wonderful during a very difficult period and it’s provided no end of encouragement.”