Danish retail chain, Søstrene Grene, has ambitious growth plans in place to open over 100 UK stores before the year 2030.
Søstrene Grene opened its first UK store in 2016 and was met with huge demand for its Scandinavian inspired, affordable home accessories. After years of testing the market, the brand has ambitious growth plans in UK stores over the next three to four years.
With existing stores across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Søstrene Grene recently opened the doors to its eleventh British store and has plans in place to open an additional 5-10 stores this year.
The retail chain is well-suited for both high street locations and shopping centres. In the search for new locations, the focus is on finding retail spaces with high footfall that complement the signature labyrinth store layout and Nordic-inspired aesthetics.
The retail chain is actively seeking to occupy vacant retail units across the UK and help revitalize the high street and shopping centers by attracting consumers. The existing stores have proven to be an appealing retail tenant for numerous locations, thanks to Søstrene Grene’s unique concept. This has been demonstrated by the hundreds of customers who have queued outside the doors during UK store launch events.
“Søstrene Grene stores come in many shapes and sizes. We have nearly 300 stores in 16 different markets. There are several concept criteria that need to be met before final location approval, but I believe some of our strengths in expansion lie in our creative approach to finding solutions that offer our customers a unique shopping experience,” says Mikkel Grene, co-owner and CEO.
The brand aspires to enrich everyday life with aesthetic designs, creativity, joy and ‘hygge’ – a special state of contentment, warmth and belonging. Customers can expect minimalistic, Scandinavian designs at very competitive prices in a wide range of homewares, furniture, kitchen products, spring/summer decorations, gifting, wrapping paper, cards, hobby crafts, toys, accessories and “mini home” products for children. Søstrene Grene has already a large European presence, with stores in many major cities, including: Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Dublin, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Stores receive new products every week and attract a huge audience who follow the brand on social media for their daily dose of minimalistic, Scandinavian inspired items.
Mikkel Grene, CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, comments: ” Having a strong presence in some of the largest countries in Europe, such as France with 35 stores and Germany with soon-to-be 70 stores, gives us great confidence to continue expanding in the UK. Additionally, we have our own Real Estate, Legal, and Store Design departments, enabling us to move swiftly when it comes to new store openings.
“We have already received a warm welcome from customers in the UK and are excited to expand Anna and Clara’s wonderful world to even more cities and people across the country.”
Most Søstrene Grene stores measure between 200 and 500 m2, with an additional stock room of 100 m2. The preferred façade size is a minimum of 8-10 meters, and the stores are designed to have everything on the same floor. However, one of Søstrene Grene’s strengths in expansion lies in the retail chain’s creative approach to finding solutions that ultimately provide customers with a unique shopping experience.
If you have any recommendations for potential locations for Søstrene Grene’s expansion journey in the UK, please contact the UK Real Estate Director, Mrs. Mette Vestergaard Jacobsen, at [email protected].
