Lotte Korntved

The story of Søstrene Grene starts in 1973 in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, when the husband and wife team of Knud Cresten Vaupell Olsen and Inger Grene open a store which turns out to be one of a kind. The couple sets out to create a whole new and wonderful shopping experience that caters to the senses. A place where creative and inquisitive minds can feel right at home. They call the store Søstrene Grene (in English: The Grene Sisters), but today, the concept is also known as “the wonderful world of Anna and Clara”. With a history at the Ballet Academy in Aarhus and a love of classical music, Knud Cresten sets out to create a store concept that artfully combines music, beautiful product displays and storytelling. And in 1973, he comes up with the idea for the sisters Anna and Clara, who come to embody all of his and Inger’s values and visions for the company. From day one, Anna and Clara invite guests to explore the labyrinth of aisles, where pleasant lighting, classical music and the smell of untreated wooden crates create a unique experience for anyone who enters the store. Along the store’s aisles, the product displays stir the guest’s creativity as they make new finds and set their imagination free. Even more important, however, is that the guests leave their hectic daily lives behind before journeying through the wonderful world of Anna and Clara. Today, Søstrene Grene is represented in many countries around the world and the chain is owned and operated by the second generation of the family, the brothers Mikkel and Cresten Grene. The headquarters are situated in Aarhus – the city where it all began. There, a team of Scandinavian designers and purchasers ensures that the sisters’ distinctive Nordic feel is present in every design that ends up in the store. The aim is for the Søstrene Grene stores to continue to provide a refined and innovative product range, setting the stage for great finds and positive experiences.