MINISO, the global lifestyle retailer, is set to open its first blue-themed retail destination at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford, Kent. The store, located on the Lower Thames Walk opposite Foot Locker, will open its doors to the public at 12 pm on Friday, 7 June.
Spanning over 2,000 sq ft, the new store will showcase a diverse range of products catering to various customer preferences. Shoppers can expect to find MINISO’s best-selling items, including popular blind boxes, plush toys, affordable homewares, and charming accessories. Additionally, the Bluewater location will feature MINISO’s latest Beauty & Self-care range, offering products such as face masks, hand creams, and lip masks.
Departing from MINISO’s signature pink aesthetic, the Bluewater store will enchant visitors with its baby blue hues, inspired by the beloved Sanrio Cinnamoroll character. The store’s design includes dedicated zones for Sanrio, beauty, snacks, and Blind Box collectables, allowing customers to browse under fluffy clouds. Floor-to-ceiling LED screens and a plush toy corner add to the immersive shopping experience. Whether shoppers are Sanrio superfans or seeking affordable accessories, the Bluewater store aims to provide a joyful retail environment.
MINISO’s new store will also feature nostalgic products from the 80s and 90s, including classic cartoon characters like Snoopy, Care Bears, and Hello Kitty, as well as vintage handheld tech such as Tamagotchis.
This opening marks MINISO’s 27th store in the UK, following successful locations at Westfield Stratford City, Westfield White City, Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, and Brent Cross. Saad Usman, Chief Operating Officer at MINISO UK, expressed excitement about the launch: “At MINISO, unveiling the first-ever Blue store at Bluewater Shopping Centre marks an exciting new chapter for us. This is our third store opening of 2024, with more to come as we expand our presence across the UK. As the very first MINISO store in Kent, we’re thrilled to bring the blue to Bluewater and spread MINISO’s joy to more premier shopping centre destinations. We can’t wait for customers to immerse themselves in this vibrant new space.”
To celebrate the opening, MINISO is planning a day filled with festivities. A live DJ will entertain shoppers, and the lovable mascot PenPen will make an appearance. Additionally, the first 300 customers to enter the store will receive a complimentary goody bag valued at over £25 with any purchase.
James Waugh, Centre Director at Bluewater, welcomed MINISO to the shopping centre: “At Bluewater we strive to offer our guests the best possible shopping experience. We’re delighted to welcome such an innovative brand as MINISO to our retail line-up, we are sure that MINISO will make a great addition to the centre.”
