Published Friday, 30 December 2011
The company has three stores in Northern Ireland - two of which are in Belfast and one is in Antrim.
Zolfo Cooper was appointed as administrator of Tobar, which owns Hawkin's, as well as toys and children's accessories retailer Letterbox, and its wholesale, mail order, and online businesses.
The group employs 380 full-time staff at its 65 permanent stores and at its head office in Beccles, Suffolk.
These jobs are now in jeopardy as the retailer seeks to sell all or part of the business.
A further 55 "pop-up" Hawkin's stores - which opened over Christmas and employ some 400 temporary staff - will be closed in the next few days.
The business will continue to be traded as a going concern by the administrator.
Hawkin's sells unusual toys, gifts, games, gadgets and curiosities and describes what it offers as "things you thought had gone forever, things you never even knew existed".
A spokesman for Zolfo said: "The directors have worked very hard to turn the business around but have concluded that administration is the best route forward."
Hawkin's Bazaar is the latest chain store to fall victim to difficult trading conditions.
D2 Jeans appointed administrators earlier this week while lingerie chain La Senza is also expected to appoint administrators in coming days.