Søstrene Grene opens 61st UK store in Crawley: did you spot £1 finds and under-£10 treats?

Baskets filled fast as a fresh name on the high street drew curious crowds to a West Sussex town centre.

The arrival of a Scandinavian homeware favourite in Crawley has set phones buzzing and tills ringing, with locals seeking small, good-value upgrades for kitchens, desks and playrooms. The Danish retailer Søstrene Grene has now chalked up its 61st UK opening, adding momentum to a high street that has craved positive news.

A fast-growing name on the high street

Søstrene Grene’s Crawley opening puts a spotlight on how the right mix of price, design and novelty can still pull people into town centres. The brand’s mix of Scandi styling and practical, pocket-friendly items gives shoppers quick wins: a new basket for hallway clutter, a set of notebooks for schoolbags, a candle to lift a corner of the living room.

This new Crawley store marks the brand’s 61st UK location, signalling strong confidence in bricks-and-mortar retail.

Early interest suggests the formula is landing. The shop offers an approachable layout, compact displays and regular range refreshes that nudge repeat visits. Families and students stood shoulder to shoulder at the baskets, while home improvers compared textures, colours and storage solutions designed to tidy without dominating a small space.

Why Crawley matters

Crawley sits near Gatwick Airport, with reliable rail and bus connections and a busy, practical town centre. That mix of commuters, airport staff and young families creates steady daytime and weekend footfall. For retailers, the catchment promises regular, small-ticket spending rather than occasional splurges. That plays to Søstrene Grene’s strengths: useful bits and pieces that refresh a home on a modest budget.

• Town-centre convenience and public transport help casual browsing.
• Diverse shoppers: students, first-time renters, young families and downsizers.
• Demand for affordable storage, craft supplies, stationery and seasonal decor.

What the brand is known for

The Danish chain focuses on home accessories and everyday essentials with a soft, Nordic look. Expect a spectrum of neutral tones, natural textures and playful pops of colour. Lines tend to be compact and multifunctional, which suits smaller UK homes and rented spaces where heavy kit is a headache.

Popular categories include:

• Storage and baskets for hallway shoes, toys and under-bed organisation
• Kitchen tools, mugs, tea towels and tabletop accents
• Stationery, notebooks, diaries and desk organisers
• Craft materials for makers, kids’ projects and quick DIYs
• Seasonal accessories that refresh shelves without major expense
• Small toys and creative kits to keep young hands busy

Many items typically sit under the £10 mark, encouraging “little-and-often” visits rather than one-off hauls.

Prices, value and a smart basket plan

Shoppers who set a simple plan tend to leave happier. The most satisfied baskets seen on opening day revolved around three uses: tidy, brighten and reward. That means one thing to clear a space, one to add colour or scent, and one small treat.

Try a £25 visit strategy:

• £10: a woven basket or lidded box to reclaim a cluttered shelf
• £8: a candle set or a couple of cheerful mugs to lift a corner
• £7: a notebook bundle or craft kit for a midweek pick‑me‑up

Rotate that trio monthly and a home evolves steadily, avoiding the trap of expensive, single-hit makeovers that gather dust. For students and renters, small, movable items also dodge the restrictions that come with deposits and landlord rules.

How it fits a changing high street

Value-led chains have been one of the clearer bright spots amid closures and rising costs. Two things help here: tactile browsing and quick gratification. A mug’s handle, a basket’s weave and the shade of a notebook can’t be judged on a thumbnail. That tactile aspect still draws people through the doors, even when they price-check on their phones.

The opening will also add local jobs, from sales assistants to supervisors. Training on visual merchandising, stock flow and customer care often accompanies these launches, which boosts skills that move across the sector. For a town centre, every brightly lit window and steady footfall supports neighbouring cafes and service businesses.

Hands-on retail—touching fabrics, testing pens, pairing colours—remains hard to replicate online, and shoppers are voting with their feet.

Timing your visit and beating the rush

Expect opening-weekend curiosity to spill into the second week. Midweek mornings usually mean fewer queues. Late afternoons can offer a calmer browse before the after-work crowd. If you’re combining with errands, the town centre’s regular buses and nearby rail links keep travel simple. Bring a tote bag; it speeds up the checkout and reduces packaging.

What to watch for as ranges turn over

Ranges change frequently, which keeps the shop feeling fresh but also means popular lines can move fast. If you spot a specific colour or size you genuinely need, decide quickly. If you’re unsure, take a photo, measure the space at home, and return with confidence. Keep receipts in a wallet or a phone photo for easy returns within the stated window.

Make small things work harder at home

Focus on pieces that earn their keep. A lidded storage box clears surfaces and doubles as a side table. A shallow tray corrals keys, earbuds and coins by the door. A trio of jars brings order to pantry shelves and makes leftovers more visible, cutting waste. Rotate cushion covers seasonally rather than buying new cushions. Use a neutral base with one bolder tone to tie rooms together on a budget.

Tips to stretch value without overspending

• Set a budget before you arrive and list three needs. If a nice-to-have appears, put one item back.
• Measure shelves and drawers at home; keep the sizes on your phone.
• Choose multi-use pieces: baskets that fit both shelves and wardrobes, trays that work in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Check finishes and seams; pick the best-made item on the shelf.
• Pair new buys with what you already own to avoid duplicates.

For makers and families

Craft aisles can be a lifesaver on rainy weekends. Stock up on washable paints, simple bead kits and recycled paper pads, then set a time limit and a newspaper-covered table. Keep a small project box ready so you can set up in minutes and tidy away just as quickly. For older kids, choose kits that build a skill: basic embroidery, model-making, or sketching pencils with a sharpener and eraser block.

What shoppers said they wanted from Crawley’s newest arrival

Conversations near the till pointed to three things: stock reliability, clear pricing and a steady stream of small, tasteful updates that don’t require redecorating. If the store keeps those promises—tidy displays, frequent restocks, and lines that feel fresh without chasing fads—the footfall will follow.

For anyone planning a visit, think in zones: hallway, desk, bathroom, and bedside. Pick one area per trip and finish it. The satisfaction of a sorted drawer or a brighter shelf lasts longer than a random impulse buy. Pair that approach with a modest budget and a tote bag, and the new kid on the high street quickly becomes a handy habit rather than an expensive day out.