Optician chain Synsam is investing in a new business in optics and sports glasses. Synsam Sports will offer personalized glasses, specialized for 18 different sports. The new chain will be established in about 100 Nordic locations. The first store opens at Sankt Eriksplan in Stockholm on 18 April. (more…)
Archive | Accessories

35 stores to be shut down in crisis strategy
Venue Retail Group, with brands like Accent, Rizzo and Morris, cuts deep in the business, 35 stores will be closed and the owners must add 132 million SEK. (more…)
Viking Line launches design store on the baltic sea
Viking Line has opened the Baltic Sea’s first specialty store in design, decor and beauty. ”We hope to bring the concept to our other six ships,” says Eva Rehnström, Purchasing Manager Sales and Beauty at Viking Line. (more…)

Pilgrim’s remarkable turnaround in one year
Claus Hommelhoff’s investment in jewelery chain Pilgrim pays off. One year after he put in 27 million DKK into the Pilgrim it appears to be a complete turnaround with monthly reports showing an operating profit of 1 million DKK, writes Børsen. (more…)
Successful chain donates the profit to cancer research
Classic Danish accessories chain Neye presents solid financial statements. The financial statements show a near doubling of operating profit compared to last year, which is now more than 19 million DKK. The good result is partly due to Neye focusing on that chain operation also has local operations. (more…)
Kasi-Jesper bought out of Endless Jewelry
The jewelry retail entrepreneur Jesper Nielsen steps out of Endless, the company he founded in 2013, after internal disputes. The other shareholders buy his stake in the company. ”I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished with Endless Jewelry. Together we have made history, and you have all been amazing and an important part of this. […]

Indiska lacks 48.7 million
Interior decorating and fashion chain Indiska has 300 creditors and a total loss of 48.7 million. It appears from a report that market.se taken part of. The intention is to offer the unsecured creditors a 25-percent abatement. (more…)

Indiska only to close Swedish stores
Indiska will close stores and cut staff as part of the reconstruction. The first news is that eight Swedish shops will close as early as this spring. However no stores in Norway and Finland are affected in the first position. (more…)

Indiska applies for reconstruction
Indiska has submitted an application for reconstruction. A weak autumn and Christmas sales have worsened the situation of the pressed fashion and interior design chain. “In order to realize Indiska’s potential, we need to jointly implement the change plan developed and it is only possible during a reconstruction,” says newly appointed CEO David Rönnberg. Several unprofitable stores […]

Pandora’s revenue: 16.7 billion DKK
Pandora reports a 40 percent revenue increase during 2015. All geographic regions contributed with double digit growth in local currency in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by better than expected Christmas sales. (more…)

Designonline sold to consortio with H&M-CEO
NS Intressenter and EOC Capital have jointly acquired 77% of the e-commerce specialist store Designonline. “Our new owner brings resources that will fit well in our continued expansion,” says Jörgen Bödmar, CEO and founder of Design Online. (more…)

Pandora to open 200 shop-in-shops in US-chain
Danish Pandora sets a bigger footprint on the market overseas. Jewellery chain Jared will install 200 Pandora shop-in-shops. (more…)

”The customer flow has been amazing”
Almost two weeks have passed since the Mall of Scandinavia opened. After the tumultuous opening weekend comes the reactions from the shops. “Success is the word! The customer flow to the newly opened center has been amazing. Sales have also exceeded our expectations, “said Roger Halvarsson, CEO of Hobbex. (more…)

Synoptik on second place after Värmland launches
Today Synoptik opened three stores in Värmland, and became, with its 121 stores in the country, the second largest optical chain in Sweden. (more…)

Jacob Jensen targets consumer electronics channel
A new business strategy which involves the development of several products in the Smart Home category, has made Danishlifestyle brand Jacob Jensen to look towards the consumer electronics channel and chosen EET Euro Parts as distribution partner. (more…)

Smart Eyes to switch key management
Optician chain Smart Eyes recently reported record results for the fiscal year 2014/2015. At the same time the company has recruited Johan Sandberg as new CFO and Niklas Odequist as Product Manager. ”Now we are strengthening up with the necessary skills to be able to continue to grow rapidly and controlled while maintaining profitability,” says […]

He will lead InkClub
E-commerce specialist InkClub has replaced parts of its management. Patrik Gamryd succeeds Fredrik Brandt as CEO. (more…)
Jewelery stores join forces against Pandora
Pandora’s increasingly strong position has forced a new collaboration of competitive jewelery stores. 33 Danish jewelery stores join forces in purchasing chain Jewel Time. According to the chairman of the Danish Jewel Time, Bent Brodersen, it is to meet the competition from retail. (more…)

Campaigns gave Finnish opticians sales a boost
Despite the tough conditions in Finnish retail, smart market moves can make a change. The opticians retail industry in Finland increased their sales during the first half of 2015 by almost five percent (4.7%) compared with the previous year’s figures. ”We have a slower growth rate in the first quarter of this year, but given […]

Åhlens to close all stores in Norway – Lagerhaus to replace
The largest Scandinavian interior and department store chain, Åhlens, will close all 30 stores in Norway within two years. ”It is the continuing priority of the Åhléns department stores that are the basis for the decision to close down the home furnishing stores in Norway,” says Gregg Mowins, CEO of Åhléns AB. Sister chain Lagerhaus will […]

Pandora increases revenue by 41.4 %
Pandora increase their own expectations for 2015 by adding another billion DKK to the expected revenues. This comes after a very strong Q2-report. “We are very pleased to report yet another strong quarter, both in terms of top line development and profitability. All major regions once again delivered double digit revenue growth and our focus […]

PoP-CEO resigns for new job at Efva Attling
After three years as CEO, Anders Wiberg is leaving his position at Polarn O. Pyret. His new chair will be at Efva Attling. (more…)

Pandora goes all in in Germany
After only six percent growth last year, Pandora invests heavily in its German stores and take all the risk. (more…)

Record profit for Synoptik
Synoptik makes a record profit for the fourth year in a row. ”We have increased our market share by nearly 40 percent,” says CEO Roland Olsson. (more…)
Synoptik aquires Contacta-chain
Synoptik aquires Contacta Eye Wear and becomes the second largest optician chain in Sweden with 118 stores. Synoptik’s goal is to reach 140 stores by 2017. Contacta Eye Wear specialty is contact lenses – a priority category within Synoptik. ”The aquisition is in line with our strategy to expand through new openings and aquisitions. We […]
Pandora’s Marketing director starts his own business
Pandora’s development and marketing director Thomas Ryge Mikkelsen stops after seven years in the jewelery giant to start his own business . Baroness writes he will start his own investment and advisory company, where he will use the experience he has made in both Pandora and Axcel. The funds for the start-up of the new company […]

Test: They are the best service providers in Norwegian retail
Furniture chain Fagmøbler is the best service provider in Norwegian Retail. This according to Daymaker, who has performed and compared Mystery Shopping visits in 58 retail chains within ten categories. (more…)

15 new tenants ready for Mölndal project 2018
The new center of Mölndal outside Gothenburg has experienced some problems on the way. But now, three years before opening, the new developer Citycon presents fifteen new tenants to Mölndal Galleria. (more…)
Pandora’s reporting billion record revenue for Q1
Pandora reports a revenue increase by 36.8 percent during the first quarter. “Once again we are off to a strong start to the year, with all geographic regions, as well as all product categories generating double digit growth rates.”, CEO Anders Colding Friis said. (more…)
Pandora to pay 995 million tax debt
After a settlement, Pandora will pay a sum of 995 million DKK to Skat covering tax payments and interest for a six year period. (more…)

Pandora’s mother-child commercial a viral success
Jewelry chain Pandora seems to have hit the spot with their new commercial. 5,000 viewers per minute are looking at children confirming their bonds to their mothers. ”The film spreads right now at a rate of about 5,000 views per minute, so currently it looks like one of the largest viral successes,” says Hanne Fabricius, […]
Synsam to take over another Finland-store
Synsam Finland strengthens its position in Hyvinkää by aquiring Ajan Optiikan from entrepreneur couple Harri Laine and Tiina Gort-Laine. After the takeover in April-May, Synsam owned opticians’ shops will increase to 38 units operating in Finland. An additional 17 Synsam optician’s are franchise-based. (more…)

Pandora goes online in the USA
Pandora announces that the Company on 21 April 2015 will launch an e-commerce platform in the US. ”We are encouraged by what we have seen from our online offering in Europe and hope we can continue the positive trend in the US,” says Anders Colding Friis, CEO at Pandora. (more…)

Lensway to flirt with gay customers
Swedish Eyewear online store LensWay try to win the gayworld with commercials on YouTube by challenging the heteronormative advertising view of families. (more…)

Multimillionaire invests in Pilgrim
Multimillionaire Claus Hommelhoff has bought 49 percent of the shares in jewellery chain Pilgrim. Most likely he also saves the company from bankruptcy ”We see the agreement as a good investment in a company that has great potential and a strong sense of ownership,” says Claus Hommelhoff. (more…)

Bergendahls back on a profitable path
Bergendahls, the fifth largest food retailer in Sweden, making profits again. After three unique years of losses, the only since the company started in 1922, the Group reports a profit of 83 million SEK before tax. “We shrink our largest stores today, split and rents exposed surfaces,” says CEO Peter Lund. (more…)

Synsam aquires Finnish franchise stores
Nordic optician chain Synsam aquires franchising stores in Lohja and Varkaus. Synsam Finland today extended its network of owned opticians’ shops with Lohjan Silmäoptikko Synsamin and Optisyke Synsam Varkauden The acquisition increases Synsam’s owned units in Finland to 33. Synsam Finland’s President and CEO Vesa Mars says the franchise stores buying is a natural part of the Synsam next few years […]

Synoptik targets sunglasses market with international concept
Synoptik imports an international store concept for sunglasses. “There is a huge gap optics chains have failed to fill yet. We will be the first chain that takes sunglasses seriously,” says Roland Olsson, CEO of Synoptik. (more…)

Pandora above all expectations except Jesper ”Kasi” Nielsen’s
Pandora’s worth on the stock market took a big jump Tuesday after reporting surprisingly strong figures for 2014 and pushing up the expectations for 2015 further. The market value rised almost nine billion DKK the first hours, but the conflict with Jesper “Kasi” Nielsen got a new chapter. (more…)

Tiger is running fast in Sweden – looks for a third partner
Danish Tiger, under the label TGR, is already halfway through its expansion in Sweden and looks for more partners. Store number 38 opens in February. ”All stores are profitable”, local entrepreneur Andy Petsonk says. (more…)
Tiger replaces CEO with The Body Shop director
The Danish gadget chain Tiger (TGR) is replacing its CEO Christian Mariager after only a year and a half. He will be succeeded by The Body Shop’s director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Xavier Vidal. (more…)

Venue Retail closes Morris and Accent stores
Venue Retail Group will close ten stores – a Norwegian Morris-store and nine Accent stores. ”It’s time for consolidation,” says CEO Christel Kinning. (more…)

Great Accessories-sale for Christmas
Venue Retail Group, with chains Accessories, Morris and Rizzo had a good December. Sales Increased Nine Percent in Sweden and totally six percent like-for-like. (more…)

Glitter drops Poland – closes all stores to gear up in Scandinavia
Fashion jewelry and accessories chain Glitter leaves Poland and goes all in on Scandinavia. ”We are now increasing market pressures with the Nordic region as our home market,” says Anni Blomster Schjelderup, CEO of Glitter. (more…)

Pandora buys full store network in Germany
Pandora buys a 78 units fashion store network in Germany and will convert it to self-operated Pandora-stores where the landlords approve. “This will be a significant strategic step for Pandora in Germany, which accelerates our strategic plan for this market,“ Niels Møller, President Pandora Central Western Europe, said. (more…)

Babyshop aquires Alex and Alexa – creates Luxury Kids Group
The Swedish e-retailer Baby Shop acquire its British rival AlexandAlexa.com.. Together, the two companies create The Luxury Kids Group and is thus expected to be more than four times as large as its nearest European competitor. (more…)
Musti & Mirri’s winning concept goes through social media
Musti & Mirri with 126 stores takes a shortcut through social media when it comes to market research. It is very successful since the pet industry chain gains more market shares. “Last financial year was once again successful, and our plan is to grow at the same pace this year,” says Musti and Mirri’s CEO […]
Pandora appeals verdict
Pandora has done nothing wrong, says new President Peder Tuborgh stating that the board Tuesday night has decided to appeal the verdict, which was handed down against jewelery group on Tuesday. (more…)

Smarteyes replaces CEO
Optical chain Smarteyes is in its best period ever, according to the board.Then they replace their CEO. Thomas Kusoffsky is the new CEO as Fredrik Wistrand leave the job at Smarteyes International. (more…)

They will be clockwise in Finland
Klockkungarna, a larger retailer of watches online, targets Finland. Finland is a new market and a natural step in the expansion process of Klockkungarna. As the company already exists in Sweden, but also in Denmark and Norway, where branches have previously been established. Klockkungarna’s point is that the Finnish market is undeveloped and has the potential to […]