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Japanese giant moves into Lynn Valley Centre

Last fall it was Park Royal and now it’s Lynn Valley Centre’s turn to welcome popular Japanese retail giant, Miniso.

Last fall it was Park Royal and now it’s Lynn Valley Centre’s turn to welcome popular Japanese retail giant, Miniso.

For the uninitiated, Miniso, which is derived from the word “mini,” after Japanese minimarts, is a lifestyle brand which specializes in low-cost, high quality household and consumer goods including cosmetics, stationery, toys and kitchenware.

Miniso has been moving in on Metro Vancouver’s retail landscape in recent months, including the North Shore.

Lynn Valley Centre was chosen for Miniso’s latest location, which officially opened this past weekend, because its products suit the demographics and lifestyle in this area, according to Miniso national operations manager Bin Wang.

Located next to Winners at Lynn Valley Centre, Miniso methodically showcases its cosmetics, home furnishings, toiletries, travel items, electronic accessories and stationery – all packaged with a neat and clean esthetic.

Miniso’s prices start at between $3 and $5.

Asked about the inspiration behind the brand, Wang said Miniso’s Japanese designer and co-founder, Miyake Junya, has a heavy influence on the products and their design, which reflects a philosophy of “simplicity, nature and good quality.”

“Esthetics and intelligent design are built into Miniso’s products, making them intuitive to use,” added Wang.

Miniso essentials customers should consider include water bottles, hangers, storage organizers and power banks, according to Wang.

Currently, Miniso does not have a refund policy, but Wang said they are always collecting feedback from customers.

While the company is based in China, Miniso’s products are manufactured globally, with some beauty items imported from Korea, Japan and Europe and some textiles acquired from Vietnam and India.

Miniso’s more than 2,600 stores can be found in close to 60 countries worldwide.

Metro Vancouver is home to 13 Miniso locations, with plans to open seven to 10 more stores in the near future.

The addition of Miniso is part of Lynn Valley Centre’s ongoing facelift. Completed interior upgrades at the mall include new flooring, ceilings, washrooms, custom fixtures, art and handcrafted benches made from reclaimed wood from the old Lynn Valley library.

Other Lynn Valley Centre changes include Save-On-Foods doubling its size and moving to a more visible area of the mall, as well as the addition of a Starbucks coffee shop and patio, to be located off the new outdoor plaza.

In early 2019, the mall’s exterior redevelopment will start and include upgrading the entrance, storefronts and signage, as well the widening of sidewalks. Brand new bike racks and an additional level of underground parking will also be added.

The new design frees up 7,000 square feet of space in the current mall and creates 16,000 square feet of new space in the adjacent commercial podium.