Primark is known for its gigantic high-street stores, which sell everything from clothing and homeware, to beauty products.
The largest is in Birmingham which, at 158,892 sq ft, isn’t just the biggest Primark, but holds the Guinness World Record for the largest retail fashion store in the entire world.
It has comparable megastores on London’s Tottenham Court Road and Manchester’s Market Street.
But now, the budget-retailer is backtracking somewhat on it’s ‘bigger is better’ persona, by introducing a mini version of the beloved store.
Where is the Mini Primark?
A little Primark is opening , a town which sits across the river from Lisbon. And, a second store in the UK, in Bolton, is set to open later this month.
At just 27,000 sq ft, the Montijo store is a far cry from the usual Primark behemoths – in fact, it’s about 40% smaller than its regular offerings.
But the idea is that these smaller, local stores, will attract shoppers who would otherwise have to travel some distance to visit the cavernous shops in some of Britian’s biggest cities.
The space is smaller but smartly designed. Think minimalist with stylish signage, and a smart layout that’s all about showing off the stock without the usual arrow-guided chaos.
The Montijo store also has a dedicated space for homeware, or what Primark’s director of store design, Mark Jordan, calls ‘fashion for the home’.
There’s also a brand-new beauty section, and a section dedicated to recycling old Primark garments.
Despite the smaller footprint, which about 40% smaller than a typical large Primark, the store is designed to still feel open and airy.
Primark has long been known for its big stores, but this fresh approach is designed to cater to smaller towns or city locations (like UK’s very own Bolton) that might not need a full-scale Primark.
The lesser-known high street store with prices from £1 giving Primark a run for its money
Ever heard of Miniso? Starting out in China as a chain specialising in household and consumer goods, it’s since expanded worldwide to include more than 6,000 shops across 100 countries.
In the UK alone, there are already 26 stores, including one on London’s Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Camden, as well as locations in Brighton, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Manchester and Leeds.
And there’s more to come yet, as the brand has submitted plans to open a store on the bustling Princes Street in Edinburgh, which would mark the first of its kind in Scotland.
So, what can you get at Miniso? Prices start as small as £1, including things like lemon-patterned wire storage baskets and dustproof containers, so if you’re looking to add a few trinkets to your home office, now’s your chance.
The spookiest season of the year is almost here, and there are Halloween offers in the likes of ghost string lights (£4), pumpkin ceramic cups (£2.25), bunting (£2.50) and even a paint-your-own cat head sweet jar (£2.25).
Miniso is famed for its brand collaborations, with ranges including Sanrio, Barbie, Minions, Pokémon and Disney, as well as the popular ‘blind box,’ which gives shoppers the chance to purchase a goody bag with a bunch of mystery offerings, including the Shrek (£13.99), Sanrio characters (£11), and My Melody Afternoon Tea collections (£19).
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