Introduction to Stockholm

As the capital of Sweden, Stockholm is the country’s cultural, media, political, and economic center. It accounts for over a third of the country’s GDP, and is among the top 15 regions in Europe based on GDP per capita, according to 2017 data from Eurostat. Stockholm was named European Capital of Culture in 1998, and houses many cultural institutions and three World Heritage Sites: the Drottningholm Palace, Skogskyrkogarden and Birka. Stockholm was Europe’s first “green capital,” given EU Commission’s European Green Capital Award in 2010.

Demographics

Stockholm is home to an estimated population of 1.6 million. It is a diverse city with about 15% of the population foreign-born, the highest of any Nordic city. The largest foreign-born groups are Finns (18,000), Iraqis (16,400) and Iranian (11,600). With immigration, it is expected that Stockholm’s population will grow at around 1% annually.

Top Five Shopping Streets

1. Drottninggatan: Running from Vasastan at the top to Gamla Stan at the bottom, Drottninggatan is the longest shopping street in Sweden. The street is home to many gift shops, restaurants and cafés that suit all budgets. The street features the department store Ahlens City, at the corner of Drottninggatan and Klarabergsgatan. Ahlens City has a broad selection of fashion, books, homewares, makeup and more.
2. Gotgatan: Gotgatan is a long street that runs from Slussen to Skanstull. Known as Gotgatsbacken, the part of the street near Slussen is pedestrian, hosting a number of boutiques, including high-end designers such as Filippa K. Gotgatan. It also has many record shops, accessories shops, electronic stores, fashion and shoe stores, cafés and bars.
3. Biblioteksgatan: Biblioteksgatan is a pedestrian street known for red carpet along the whole street during the Christmas shopping season. The street is home to high-end fashion, with international brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Marc Jacobs alongside Swedish labels such as Acne, Whyred and Hope.
4. Hamngatan: Hamngatan hosts one of the most elegant department stores in Stockholm, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet). There is also a 28,000-square-meter shopping mall, Gallerian, with Swedish and international shops. Brands you will find there include Happy Socks, Bjorn Borg and the T-shirt Store.
5. Stora Nygatan: Located in the old town, Stora Nygatan is a thriving shopping street with all kinds of boutiques and art. Visit the street for local handicrafts and delicate Swedish designs. Stora Nygatan is also famous for its beautiful buildings with grand facades and cobblestone streets.

Famous Retail Events

IndustryForum Retail: IndustryForum Retail is an annual event that explores new digital transformations in retail and consumer behavior. The pre-booked, face-to-face sessions help connect solution providers with organizations with investment needs, and offer peer-to-peer networking.

Retail Experience Live: Retail Experience Live is a new retail event that provides retailers a platform to connect and boost commercial opportunities in the retail world. The event was held for the first time from May 15 to 16, 2019.

Top Innovative Retailers Designtorget [caption id="attachment_93618" align="alignright" width="300"] Source:designtorget.se[/caption] Desgintorget is a popular home improvement store selling functional and innovative pieces in Scandinavian design. It is a destination for visitors who want to discover design and designers. You may expect to find products in kitchen, living room, lighting, technology, jewelry and accessory. Designtorget hopes to build a marketplace which enables designers to introduce new ideas to the market. It is also constantly looking for new talent and products that could become tomorrow’s classic. Location: Gotgatan 31, Stockholm 11621

Fargfabriken

[caption id="attachment_93619" align="alignright" width="300"] Source: fargfabriken.se[/caption]

Located in an old paint factory, Fargfabriken is an innovative exhibition space that serves as a platform for contemporary cultural expressions with an emphasis on art, architecture and urban development. Past popular exhibitions include Animachines in 2015, a collection of moving sculptures drawing inspiration from traditional Indonesian shadow puppets and animated cartoons combined with a humoristic tone, created by Indonesian artist Heri Dono. Apart from its exhibitions, Fargfabriken has a café and a gift shop, and hosts parties, flea markets and club nights.

Location: Lovholmsbrinken 1, Stockholm 11743

Judits Second Hand

[caption id="attachment_93620" align="alignright" width="281"] Source: instagram.com/juditssecondhand[/caption]

Judits Second Hand is a consignment shop selling vintage clothing, shoes and accessories from the 50s, 60s and 70s mixed with latest trends from brands such as Acne, Whyred and Hope. The store’s inventory is continually updated with accessories from around the world.

Location: Hornsgatan 75, Stockholm 11849

Konst-ig Books [caption id="attachment_93621" align="alignright" width="346"] Source: konstigbooks.com[/caption] Konst-ig is an international bookstore specializing in books and publications on architecture, art, design, fashion, graphic design and photography. It stocks a selection of art books and exhibition catalogues from publishers around the world, as well as artists’ books and a smaller number of signed editions. The bookstore is known for its limited-edition Swedish photography books and artistic postcards. Location: Asogatan 124, Stockholm 11624

Skroten Café & Skeppshandel

[caption id="attachment_93622" align="alignright" width="309"] Source: skrotens.se[/caption]

Skroten Café & Skeppshandel is a boatyard café known for its fish soup and homemade pastries. The café is also famous for its “ship trade” – a collection of unique parts from old boats for sale (“skeppshandel” means “ship trade”). These parts come from all manner of boat, from row boats to large vessels. The parts are cleaned, repaired and polished for sale. There is also a handpicked selection of newly handcrafted ship trade products.

Location: Beckholmsvagen 14, Stockholm 11521

Caroline Hjerpe

[caption id="attachment_93623" align="alignright" width="290"] Source: instagram.com/carolinehjerpejewelry[/caption]

Caroline Hjerpe is both an independent studio and a boutique store offering handmade silver and gold jewelry by Stockholmer Caroline Hjerpe. Caroline and her co-designers aim to handcraft pieces that are not only have a Swedish elegance but are also individual. Customers can customize their jewelry and watch as it is designed and created. Featured jewelry includes rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and diamonds.

Location: Asogatan 132, Stockholm 11624

Papercut

[caption id="attachment_93624" align="alignright" width="302"] Source: instagram.com/papercutshop[/caption]

Established in 2008, Papercut is an independent retail store selling a handpicked and unique selection of magazines, books, stationary, films, music and DVDs. It has an ambition to be the ultimate store for people who consider fashion, art, design, music and film to be an important part of their life. The store refreshes its collection once a month.

Location: Krukmakargatan 24-26, Stockholm 11851

Asplund

[caption id="attachment_93625" align="alignright" width="297"] Source: instagram.com/asplundstore[/caption]

Located in the center of Stockholm, Asplund is a furniture and accessories store. With a philosophy of offering customers good homewares, sustainably produced and well designed, Asplund features a selection of its own brands plus design pieces from all over the world.  Founders Michael and Thomas Asplund consider every piece of selected furniture a piece of fine art.

Location: Sibyllegatan 31, Stockholm 11442

Acne Studios

[caption id="attachment_93626" align="alignright" width="299"] Source: acnestudios.com/us/en/home[/caption]

Acne Studios is a Stockholm-based fashion house with a multidisciplinary approach. Acne Studios has turned from a clothing collection into a creator of ready-to-wear, magazines, furniture, books and exhibition. Acne Studios also offers custom personal shopping service by appointment. It has a total of 60 stores around the world.

Location: Norrmalmstorg 2, Stockholm 11146

Grandpa

[caption id="attachment_93627" align="alignright" width="300"] Source: grandpastore.com[/caption]

Founded in 2003, Grandpa is a boutique of Scandinavian and international fashion, home décor and vintage furniture. Grandpa features a constantly changing collection of environmentally friendly clothing, accessories and housewares. There is also an in-house café serving coffee, grilled sandwiches, salads and lunch.

Location: Sodermannagatan 21, Stockholm 11640

Must-See Street: Flokungagatan Similar to New York’s SoHo, SoFo, or South of Folkungagatan, is a busy Bohemian district featuring vintage products from clothing to records and crafts.

1. 4Sound: A music store where you can find everything from recorders to recording studios, drums, guitars and keyboards. The store offers second-hand instruments at reasonable prices.
2. Material AB: A well-stocked craft store carrying tools and supplies of all kinds for any DIY craft/hobby project.
3. Retro etc.: Retro etc. is a thrift shop that sells a mix of second-hand vintage goods and newly designed gifts, accessories and homewares.
4. Krabat & Co AB: A small shop with a big selection, Krabat is passionate about protecting traditional games and hopes to sell toys attractive enough to entice children to abandon their phones and tablets.
5. Tambur: Tambur is a high-end interior design boutique offering artisanal kitchenware, home décor and accessories.