#søstrenegrene — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.europesays.com/pl/606614/ Søstrene Grene otwiera drugi sklep w Warszawie. Duńska marka zawita do Blue City #PL #Poland #Polish #Polska #Polski #SøstreneGrene #warszawa

SWANSEA: Queues from 7:30am as Søstrene Grene opens — the Danish brand’s busiest UK launch yet

Hundreds of shoppers queued in Swansea city centre on Friday for the opening of Danish lifestyle store Søstrene Grene — in what the retailer says was its busiest UK launch yet.

The Scandinavian brand opened its doors on Princess Way on the morning of 26 June, with queues forming along Castle Square for a first look inside.

The first customers were waiting from as early as 7:30am, well before the doors opened.

Søstrene Grene is known for its design-led homewares, furniture, crafts and lifestyle products, and has built a loyal following across Europe.

The Swansea store is its second in Wales, and has taken over the large Princess Way unit that had stood empty since Zara left at the end of 2024.

The opening had been keenly awaited since the brand confirmed its date in May.

Helen Markey, the retailer’s area manager for Ireland, Wales and Scotland, said it had been the busiest store opening she had experienced for the brand.

“Our first customers in the queue arrived as early as 7.30am,” she said. “It’s fantastic to see such a turnout and we’re sure the store will be a huge success.”

The opening was marked with a touch of theatre, with ballet dancers performing in the store and a string duo playing for the crowds outside.

The first 100 visitors through the doors received a voucher for a plant or a wool throw.

Swansea BID, which represents city-centre businesses, welcomed the arrival as a vote of confidence in the city’s retail offer.

Its manager, Andrew Douglas, said the opening was “fantastic news for Swansea city centre.”

He said the brand brought “something fresh and distinctive” to the city’s retail mix and showed the confidence major retailers had in Swansea.

He added that stores like Søstrene Grene acted as “a powerful draw,” with the increased footfall benefiting neighbouring businesses and the city’s hospitality sector.

Part of a changing city centre

The opening is the latest chapter in a fast-changing corner of the city. Directly opposite, the former BHS on Oxford Street has reopened as Y Storfa, the council’s new library and public services hub, which has drawn thousands of visitors since opening.

Right next door to Søstrene Grene, the long-running transformation of Castle Square into a greener public space is well under way, with a new big screen among the plans.

It is not all good news on the high street. Just along Oxford Street, the city is still coming to terms with the closure of its Marks & Spencer store.

Other corners are in line for their own makeovers. The McDonald’s building diagonally opposite is set for a transformation, with millions in Welsh Government funding earmarked for new city-centre flats.

There are signs of life above the shops too. Plans have been lodged to add ten new flats to the upper floor of the same Princess Way building, overlooking Castle Square, as the push to bring more people to live in the heart of the city gathers pace.

The arrival also follows a busy spell for city-centre retail, with American sandwich chain Which Wich recently lining up its first outlet and card retailer Cards Direct opening in the Quadrant — while three major new tenants are expected to be named for the former Debenhams.

Swansea BID said it looked forward to working with the retailer and was confident it would become a popular addition to the high street.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Søstrene Grene announces opening date for city centre store
The Danish brand confirmed its Swansea launch for the former Zara unit.

New arrivals and the tenants tipped to fill the former Debenhams
Where Swansea city centre’s retail revival stands.

Work ramps up on Castle Square’s green makeover
Diggers reshape the square next to the new store.

https://www.europesays.com/pl/475048/ Najpierw Warszawa, teraz Wrocław. Søstrene Grene wchodzi do kolejnego centrum handlowego #MagnoliaPark #PL #Poland #Polish #Polska #Polski #SøstreneGrene #warszawa

SWANSEA: Søstrene Grene announces opening date for city centre store 

The new store will bring Søstrene Grene’s signature Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic to Swansea, offering customers a carefully curated selection of affordable homewares, furniture, lifestyle products and craft essentials – all designed to inspire creativity and add simple, stylish touches to everyday living.  

To celebrate the opening, the first 100 customers through the doors will receive a voucher for one of Søstrene Grene’s woollen throws, along with a complimentary tote bag filled with selected products. Visitors will also be able to enjoy live classical music while exploring the brand’s latest collections. 

Originating in Denmark, the brand now operates more than 400 stores worldwide and continues to expand its UK presence. With the growing demand for its distinctive in-store experience across Wales and beyond, Søstrene Grene has ambitious plans to reach a total of 100 stores in the UK within the next couple of years. 

Mikkel Grene, Group CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, comments: 

“We’re delighted to continue expanding in Wales with the opening of our Swansea store. Each new location is an opportunity to introduce more customers to the Søstrene Grene experience – a space designed to inspire creativity, curiosity and calm. 

We look forward to becoming part of the local community and welcoming customers to discover our world of thoughtful design and everyday inspiration.” 

Country Managers Norma Jacob and Richard Power, who operate Søstrene Grene stores across Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, are excited to welcome shoppers to the new Swansea store. 

“Swansea is a fantastic and creative city, making it a natural fit for Søstrene Grene. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers to our carefully curated designs and to sharing this significant moment as we expand throughout Wales.” 

Richard Power adds:

“Introducing Søstrene Grene to Swansea and waiting to see how customers find inspiration is very exciting. There’s a real sense of anticipation towards our Swansea store, one that has been apparent since announcing our opening, which makes this launch even more special.”  

Andrew Douglas, Swansea BID Manager, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to mark the announcement of Søstrene Grene’s official opening date in Swansea city centre. This is a hugely exciting moment for the city and a strong vote of confidence in Swansea as a growing retail destination. 

The arrival of such a well-loved international brand will enhance the city centre experience for local shoppers while also acting as a powerful draw for new visitors from across the region and beyond. Openings like this generate real momentum, increasing footfall and bringing wider benefits to businesses across the city centre. 

We’re incredibly proud that Søstrene Grene has chosen Swansea as part of its UK-wide expansion plans. The opening marks another important step forward in our efforts to attract high-quality, distinctive brands and continue building a vibrant, thriving city centre.”

FLYING TIGER: Firm behind former WHSmith store closure plans set to buy quirky Danish chain — we reveal what this could mean for Swansea and Carmarthen

Quirky Scandinavian brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen looks set to come under the ownership of a private equity firm that has presided over the recent collapse of several other well-known retail brands.

Modella Capital is closing in on a deal to buy the Danish variety retailer — including its two south-west Wales outlets in Swansea and Carmarthen.

The deal — first reported by The Times and tipped to be announced imminently — would add Flying Tiger’s 900 global stores to Modella’s growing portfolio. It would also expand the firm’s already substantial local footprint, with a Hobbycraft store at the Swansea West retail park in Fforestfach already in the portfolio, alongside TGJones outlets it inherited from WHSmith last year.

Who are Modella?

Modella Capital is a London-based private equity firm that has rapidly built up a portfolio of well-known British high street chains in recent years.

Its biggest acquisition was the £40 million purchase of WHSmith’s 480-store high street business in 2025, which it has since rebranded as TGJones.

Modella also owns Hobbycraft, and previously bought Claire’s Accessories and The Original Factory Shop — both of which subsequently fell into administration, resulting in hundreds of job losses.

The firm, which is chaired by retail investor Steve Curtis and run by managing director Joseph Price, operates as part of the wider Hay Wain Group — a family office led by financier Jamie Constable.

A track record of restructuring and closure

The Flying Tiger deal comes as Modella faces mounting questions over its existing retail empire.

The firm is currently pursuing a major restructuring of TGJones that, if approved by the High Court, would see up to 150 stores closed and steep rent reductions imposed on landlords at remaining sites. Modella has warned that without court approval by the end of June, the chain will go into administration.

Up to seven TGJones stores in south-west Wales are caught up in that restructuring process. The firm has already faced controversy locally after WHSmith refused to fund redundancy payments at the chain amid threats of bailiff action and tax debts.

The new TGJones chief executive, Alex Willson, who took over in April, has been openly critical of the chain’s previous management. He has described the business as having suffered a “slow death” under WHSmith ownership and said he found stores missing lightbulbs and ceiling tiles, threadbare carpets, and lifts and escalators that did not work.

Modella has pledged to invest millions of pounds in a turnaround plan if its restructuring proposal is approved by the court — and would be blocked from taking dividends from the business during the period landlords’ terms are reduced.

What this could mean for Swansea

In Swansea, Flying Tiger trades from a unit on Princess Way, in the heart of the city centre’s retail quarter.

The store sits in the same block as the newly opened Søstrene Grene store — another Danish variety retailer offering a similar product range that opened earlier this month in the former Zara unit just yards from Flying Tiger.

That puts two competing Scandinavian homeware brands within metres of one another on the same street — a direct competitive overlap that under different ownership models might not have lasted.

The same block also faces other changes. Directly across Princess Way sits Swansea Council’s recently opened Y Storfa community hub, in the former BHS unit on the corner with Oxford Street.

Next door to Y Storfa on Oxford Street, the flagship Marks & Spencer store is set to close on Saturday 30 May, ending decades of trading at the site. And just along Princess Way at the Quadrant Shopping Centre, the former Debenhams unit is expected to see new tenants announced shortly.

What this could mean for Carmarthen

For Carmarthen, the implications of any Modella restructuring of Flying Tiger could be more acute.

Flying Tiger trades from a unit at St Catherine’s Walk — the shopping centre that opened in 2010 with Debenhams as its flagship anchor store and which once promised to make Carmarthen the dominant shopping destination west of Swansea.

But since 2020, St Catherine’s Walk has seen a steady haemorrhage of national chains, including Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, River Island, Debenhams, H&M, Joules, Monsoon, Accessorize, Fat Face and Burger King — leaving an increasingly thinned-out retail offer that has been bolstered in recent years by independent traders.

The closed Debenhams store at the centre of the shopping development meanwhile sits empty awaiting conversion into a new town centre hub called Atriwm, an opening now pushed back to 2027 following Carmarthenshire Council’s £146 million capital plan.

Flying Tiger has been one of the centre’s remaining sources of footfall — a popular destination for shoppers seeking affordable gifts, homeware and stationery in a familiar, branded environment.

The “fictitious brand” controversy

The Flying Tiger deal also lands at a moment of fresh scrutiny over Modella’s operating model.

Earlier this month, The Guardian revealed that Modella is charging TGJones millions of pounds for the use of the TGJones brand name itself — a brand the firm created when it bought WHSmith’s high street business and rebranded the stores.

Modella has defended its track record by blaming “adverse government fiscal policies” and weak consumer confidence for the difficulties facing its existing retail businesses. The firm has previously said it acquires retailers in need of “significant investment” with the aim of returning them to sustainable growth, while accepting that it “won’t win every battle”.

What Flying Tiger says

Flying Tiger Copenhagen itself is a Danish-founded variety retailer best known for its colourful homeware, stationery, arts and crafts supplies, toys, gifts and party goods — typically priced at the lower end of the high street and laid out in maze-like store designs that guide customers through the entire shop floor before reaching the tills.

The brand traces its origins to a Copenhagen flea market in the 1980s, where founders Lennart and Suz Lajboschitz began selling umbrellas. The first permanent store opened in the Danish capital in 1995, with every item originally priced at 10 Danish krone.

The chain reported turnover of 5.2 billion Danish krone — around £600 million — in 2024, and employs thousands of staff globally across 30 European markets and franchise partners in the Philippines, Vietnam and Israel.

The retailer underwent a major financial restructuring in early 2025 which put control in the hands of a coalition including former chief executive Martin Jermiin, finance chief Christian Kofoed Hertz Jakobsen, and banks Danske Bank and Nordea. Jens Aarup Mikkelsen took over as chief executive in February.

What happens next

Modella has so far declined to comment on what it describes as “market speculation” about the Flying Tiger deal.

For shoppers in Swansea and Carmarthen, the takeover does not — on current information — point to any immediate change in trading at either store. Flying Tiger has been performing strongly enough at a global level to attract a substantial private equity buyer.

But what comes after a Modella takeover at any of its previous acquisitions has been less reassuring. With the TGJones restructuring still working its way through the courts, the recent administrations of Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop, and the firm’s existing Hobbycraft outlet at Fforestfach already in the portfolio, the ownership change is one shoppers in both towns will want to watch closely.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Seven south-west Wales TGJones stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures
Our coverage of Modella’s planned TGJones restructuring and its local impact.

WHSmith sells high street stores which will be renamed TGJones
When the rebrand was first announced.

Scandinavian homeware brand Søstrene Grene to open Swansea city centre store
The Danish variety retailer that opened next door to Flying Tiger in Swansea.

Carmarthen’s old Debenhams reborn as Atriwm — but opening pushed back to 2027
The slow-moving redevelopment of the former Debenhams anchor at St Catherine’s Walk.

SWANSEA: Scandinavian homeware brand to open city centre store in former Zara unit on Princess Way

A large vacant unit in the heart of Swansea city centre is set to come back to life, with a Danish homeware and lifestyle brand confirmed as the new occupant of the former Zara store on Princess Way.

Søstrene Grene — pronounced “Sœstre-ne Greh-ne” and meaning “the Grene sisters” in Danish — already has a Welsh presence through its Cardiff store, which opened in 2024. The Swansea opening will be its second store in Wales, and an official opening date is expected to be confirmed shortly.

The brand is known for a distinctive Scandinavian aesthetic, selling a mix of design-led homewares, craft and hobby supplies, kitchenware, candles, stationery and seasonal decorations — typically at accessible price points. At the heart of its identity is the Danish concept of “hygge” — a word that roughly translates as a feeling of warmth, comfort and togetherness.

Mikkel Grene, Group CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, said the Swansea opening marked an important moment for the brand’s UK expansion. “Designed to be a welcoming and inspiring space, the Swansea store will invite customers to immerse themselves in the essence of Scandinavian living,” he said. “Visitors will also be introduced to the Danish concept of ‘hygge’, a feeling of comfort, warmth and togetherness that sits at the heart of the brand.”

The Princess Way unit has been empty since Zara vacated at the end of 2024 following the expiry of its lease. The building — known as Castle Quays — was acquired by St Mary’s Square Developments, a Swansea-based property company, at the start of 2025. Work has already been under way inside the former Zara unit to prepare it for a new tenant, and scaffolding on the building has been coming down in recent months as the refurbishment progresses.

Peter Loosmore, director of St Mary’s Square Developments, said: “When we were made aware of the interest from Søstrene Grene we felt they would be a fantastic fit for the development and would bring their quality retail offering to Swansea city centre. We are excited to see them opening soon alongside our existing tenants.”

The Castle Quays building sits at one of the busiest points in the city centre, with aspects over both Princess Way and Castle Square. It is directly opposite the council’s new Y Storfa hub — the one-stop shop for public services that opened in the former BHS store — and looks out over Castle Square, which is currently undergoing a major multimillion-pound revamp to create a greener and more welcoming public space.

County managers Norma Jacob and Richard Power, who operate Søstrene Grene stores across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, also welcomed the news. Ms Jacob said the opening marked “an exciting new chapter” for the brand in Wales, adding: “We are delighted to bring our affordable, thoughtfully curated homewares to this vibrant and dynamic city.”

Mr Power said Princess Way was “a prime city centre destination” and that the team looked forward to welcoming customers to experience the brand’s “unique Scandinavian atmosphere.”

The arrival of Søstrene Grene is a rare piece of good news for Swansea’s city centre retail scene at a difficult time. The nearby Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street is due to close later this year, prompting criticism from local politicians and shoppers who fear the loss of one of the high street’s last remaining anchor tenants. The M&S closure sparked calls for action on both sides of the political debate, with Swansea’s MP Torsten Bell demanding staff support and a replacement store for the city.

As Swansea Bay News has previously reported on the future of retail in the city, the question of what kind of brands and businesses can genuinely make the city centre thrive again is one of the biggest conversations Swansea is having with itself right now — and opinions differ sharply.

Against that backdrop, the Søstrene Grene announcement adds to a run of positive retail news in recent months. Greggs, Skechers and Boyes have all opened in the city, alongside Holland & Barrett’s new flagship in the Quadrant and Rituals opening nearby. The former Debenhams building is also being transformed as part of a major revamp of that part of the city centre.

The Castle Quays building itself is at the centre of wider change beyond just its ground floor retail units. St Mary’s Square Developments has submitted a planning application to add ten new flats to the upper floor of the building, as part of the broader push to bring more residents back into the heart of the city — a long-standing goal for planners and business groups who argue that a growing city centre population is essential to making the retail and hospitality offer sustainable.

It is a vision that has been gaining momentum. Across the immediate area, new residential conversions are taking shape, Castle Square is being transformed, and the Y Storfa hub is drawing people into the city centre who might previously have had little reason to visit. Søstrene Grene’s arrival on Princess Way adds another piece to that picture.

Søstrene Grene’s opening date on Princess Way is yet to be confirmed. More information about the brand is available at sostrenegrene.com.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ten new flats planned for top of Princess Way building overlooking Castle Square
St Mary’s Square Developments — the same company bringing Søstrene Grene to Swansea — has applied to add ten apartments to the upper floor of the Castle Quays building.

M&S to close its 69-year-old Swansea store in huge shock to the council
The nearby Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street is set to shut later this year, dealing a significant blow to the city centre’s retail offer.

Swansea’s new Y Storfa hub draws praise as visitors embrace city centre one-stop shop
The council’s new public services hub in the former BHS store sits directly opposite the new Søstrene Grene site.

The future of retail in Swansea: the shops you want, the brands we asked, and what comes next
Our in-depth look at the big questions facing Swansea’s city centre — and what readers said they wanted to see.

Artist helps celebrate green future of Castle Square as major revamp gets underway
The square directly outside the new store is undergoing a major transformation to make it greener and more welcoming.

Did a quick #aquarelle #painting this evening on some #A5 #watercolour paper from #SøstreneGrene.
Some cauliflower blooms from overworking it, but overall I'm satisfied with the end results.
A bit of a warmer image to contrast the cold winter weather that's prevalent on these short dark December days.

#FiXatoPaints #FiXatoCreative #aquarellePainting #waterColourArt #fediArt #mastoArt #artShare #creativeToot #creativeToots #aquarel #akvarell #waterColours #waterColor

Søstrene Grene komt dit voorjaar naar Haarlem

Op 29 maart 2024 opent Søstrene Grene een gloednieuwe winkel in het centrum van Haarlem. De nieuwe winkel opent volgens het winkelconcept 'Retail for the Senses' - een concept dat door klanten in andere Nederlandse steden warm is ontvangen.

In het hart van Haarlem kunnen bezoekers het bekende assortiment van Søstrene...

https://www.haarlemupdates.nl/2024/03/20/sostrene-grene-komt-dit-voorjaar-naar-haarlem/

#Haarlem #opening #winkel #SøstreneGrene

Lost in the Fog

Hmm, last night's aquarelle painting didn't quite turn out the way I'd expected.
I think I might have to use this as a background and paint (or draw?) in a foreground scene.
I kinda like the sort of shrubbery or waves effect the added salt created though.

#FiXatoPaints #FiXatoCreative #painting
#mastoArt #fediArt #artShare #creativeToot #creativeToots
#aquarelle #aquarel #akvarell #waterColour #waterColours #waterColor #A5 #SøstreneGrene #VanGoghPaint #Panduro

Finally did some aquarelle painting again last night!
This time I used the cover art for the #MSX game #Snatcher by #Konami as inspiration along with some in-game sprite work to fill in some blanks.

The image is marked as sensitive due to eye-contact, the droid's cybernetic nature and minor gore in the form of blood splatters and singular 'human' eye.

It's painted on 300 gsm cold-pressed wood-free paper from Søstrene Grene with aquarelle water colour paints from Royal Talens' "Van Gogh" line.

Tags:
#FiXatoPaints #FiXatoCreative #painting
#mastoArt #fediArt #artShare #creativeToot #creativeToots
#aquarelle #aquarel #akvarell #waterColour #waterColours #waterColor #cybernetics #droid #MSXArt #gameArt #gaming #retroGaming
#SøstreneGrene #VanGoghPaint #RoyalTalens #describedMedia

Dark Tower: The Gunslinger in water colours

Tried my hand at a fairly #monochrome water colour #painting as a practice for #huevember, and as an example for an upcoming experiment: painting with tea.
Ended up using two different colours though, rather than one: #Panduro's #YellowOchre and #BurntUmber.
Three different brushes: a number 12 round brush from #SøstreneGrene, a number 2 flat brush from #GreneArt, and a number 2 round brush probably, though I'm not sure as it had no markings on it.
Painted on 230 grams acid-free A5 watercolour paper from Søstrene Grene.

Painted after the example of #SteveStone's original cover art: https://shop.suntup.press/products/the-dark-tower-i-the-gunslinger-fine-art-print

#waterColour #waterColours #waterColorArt #waterColors #DarkTower #StephenKing #TheGunslinger #aquarel #akvarell #aquarelle
#FiXatoPaints #FiXatoCreative #DailyPhoto
#MastoArt #artwork #waterColourPainting

Did some more #aquarelle #painting today, two of them inspired by this scene from Baldur's Gate since I just love the colour combinations on the foliage, and have wanted to recreate it ever since I first played the game over 20 years ago.
Another is just some random clouds and flower field thing to test the absorption rate and blending quality of a new water colour pad I got at #SøstreneGrene today.

#FiXatoCreative #FiXatoPaints #DailyPhoto #mastoArt #waterColours