Hidden amongst the old stone buildings on the backstreets of the popular Södermalm area of Stockholm is a mysterious little Lego shop selling the famous Danish construction toys. Outside you do not see any large, flashy signs boasting the name “Lego”, simply strategically placed colorful letters spelling out the name “Mr. Gill”. Mr. Gill is an independent Lego retailer recently opened by British native James Gill. After many years of long, difficult days working as a high-end pub manager and later a chef, he decided it was time for a change. “When I first came up with the idea for the shop, it seemed stupid enough that it might actually work,” Gill said with a laugh. Gill decided on Stockholm after falling in love with the country after visiting friends in 2013. “The people and the city are just fantastic,” he says. “The fact that Stockholm didn’t have a lego shop is just crazy because Sweden has one of the largest Lego markets in Europe."
And so began the two-and-a-half month process of fulfilling his dream to open a shop in Stockholm. But it was not without challenges. “It was a bit difficult to find a bank that would help me out because I have no credit history or work history in Sweden,” he explains. The Swedish language was of course another barrier. “I spent a lot of late nights simply translating documents using Google Translate,” he adds, “but luckily the government also puts a lot of information in English.” READ ALSO: "We drink our way through Swedish history" Next it was just finding the shop location, which with the competitive real estate market in Sweden, was not the easiest of tasks. Gill explains that he wanted to find a location on a back street, “I want people to be surprised when they find the shop". He added that the estate agent was a bit discouraging because of the location, but Gill himself thought it was ideal and in January he began creating his brand through various social media outlets.
“I started taking photos of the Lego, photos of myself, and things I was doing in Stockholm.” He adds, “ I also did lots of reviewing of sets and such.” On March 21st, the store was open for business and had more than 400 customers the first day. “It was just crazy!” Gill describes, “It was greater than I could have ever imagined.” The concept of an independent Lego retailer is still a rather unique concept and some people have found it confusing. “I get a lot of people come in and don’t understand the concept of a lego shop,” says Gill. “A couple of times per day people come in and ask why I’m here and how I’m here, they just don't get it!” Another unique aspect of Gill’s business lies in his marketing plan. “I don't do expensive advertising campaigns, it’s strictly word of mouth and social media.” For Gill, owning the shop is about more than the money. Creating a friendly atmosphere where customers feel welcome is just as important.
“I want people to come, not just to buy Lego, but to talk about Lego and be involved.” With this in mind, Gill has began hosting “speed-building” competitions on Sunday afternoons, and hopes to host a variety of other lego-centric events in the future. READ ALSO: "There were no good brunch spots in Sweden" Although he has only been in business just over a month now, Gill has already created a base of loyal customers. Currently the shop sells more than 650 different products, including about 500 sets, but Gill estimates that it will typically have around 1,000 different products at any given time. “I'm not trying to be the cheapest or have the largest range of products, I just want to be the coolest!” Gill says with a smile. “A place where people can go to feel happy.” Gill explains that he has long term goals of opening multiple shops of multiple different types, not just in Sweden, but all throughout Scandinavia. “I would honestly just be happy if this shop was successful and I can just be happy and doing something I love.”
To those wanting to start their own business in Sweden, Gill offers the following advice: don’t be afraid to ask for help. “I think a lot of people try to do a lot of things on their own instead of asking for help. A lot of mistakes are made when people think they know what they are doing but they don't and they are afraid to ask for help," he says.Caterham Seven 620Rproduct_label_list_price_accessibility 28 Reviews123451FIND MORE PRODUCTS LIKE THISCarsIdeasAdd quirky vehicle style to your shelf or desk! Caterham Seven 620R Reviews - page 2Josip Papac of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory - popped in a few weeks ago with the kids and spent an hour playing with the lego on display (and bought Maria MuammarNiklas RoséndAnders CarneMina PanicLars ErlandssonSynnöve Bergsten SchörlingJeppe D Larsenn!Björn LindholmSee allMr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreLittle extra of Ninjago this week. Open today 10 to 5pm. # # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego Store added an event.
The Ultimate Speed BuildMr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreSee allMr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreBook your place now for the Ultimate Mr. Gill Speed Builds! Heats start at 2pm on Sunday 19th March and will continue until one person is crowned the winner! # # # # # # # # # #Posted by Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreSpecial Sunday Deal: 76042 Helicarrier 3000kr 76052 Batcave 2500kr 😮👍 Open 11 to 16.... #mrgill #legostore #lego #legostorestockholm #stockholmlegostore #söndag Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego Storecurrent thinking....☺️👍 # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego Storea little update...thanks to everyone who has popped by so far. 🙌👍🙂 # # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego Storeex-display stock up for sale. Come in and make me an offer. 🙂👍 # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreSun is shining and it's freakin' fredag! Time for this classic on repeat! 🙂🙌 # # # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreShow Me Your Dream Contest!! --- Above
is a collection of shots of me opening my shop almost 2 years ago --- THIS IS AN INSTAGRAM ONLY CONTEST.... --- Mr. Gill's "Show Me Your Dream" Contest --- To celebrate the closing of my little shop, I wanted to do something special. One of the most fun things i have done over the last 2 years are my Instagram contests. So here is the final (for now) one. This will be a combined picture and creative contest. This means you can take a cool picture, build an awesome MOC or combine the two - as long as it fits the theme, then go for it! --- My awesome friend @davirasm will help judge the picture entries and my also awesome friend @tfolgirl & @mbl_designs will help judge any creative entries. --- The theme is "Shoe Me Your Dream"! I want to see what makes you gorgeous people tick. if all you wish for in life is a good book then show me, if you want to be rich and famous then show me, if you want to ride on Darth Vader's shoulders whilst fighting off an army of orcs from Lord of the Rings - then show me! --- Anythi
ng goes - multiple entries allowed - prize to be announced - awesomeness in all its forms will be celebrated. As long as you tag it #mr_gill_dream. --- Make sure you read the rules below and enter now! Winner to be announced 21st March 2017 Feel free to share this with all your friends! And remember to tag : #mr_gill_dream --- Rules: 1. Competition runs between now and and 12pm 20th March 2016 (Swedish Time = GMT+1) 2. Entry is open worldwide. 3. Pic must contain Lego and be themed as above. 5. Entries must be tagged #mr_gill_dream in the post (not in the comments) 6. Judges decision is final - beer is an acceptable bribe. 7. Prize to be announced. 8. Coolness is the be all and end all. --- #mrgill #mrgillsthlm #mrgillstockholm #mr_gill_stockholm #mrgilllego #mr_gill_contest #lego #legocontest #legoshop #legoaffär #legobutik Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreWOW! I am overwhelmed by the absolutely amazing messages of support I have received today. It has been incredibly humbling. THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH. 😍 I can't express how much this means to me and I promise that whilst this thing is coming to an end, there will be so much to come! I really want to see as many of my awesome customers over the next few weeks of "closing time" so please come by so I can thank you for your support in person. And if you don't make it then let's kee...p in touch - maybe organise a little party or meetup in the near future. My biggest thanks - i can't begin to tell you how much it means. 🙂👍 #mrgill #lego #stockholmlegostore #legostorestockholm #mrgillstockholm #legostore # Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreSo...the time has come. When I opened Mr. Gill almost 2 years ago I had a vision for a local, neighborhood Lego shop that celebrated creativity, community and rejected corporate, impersonal retailing. And I believe that with your help and support I achieved that. But this was a gamble and my plan was always to take the risk as far as I could. There was always a firm understanding in my head of not destroying myself in the process. Unfortunately
I have now reached the decisio...n that in its current form my little shop is not a viable business. There is no doubt that I make sales, however not in large enough amounts to reinvest and grow the business. The trading environment over the last 9 months has been exceedingly tough and I know many other retailers have been suffering. Opening a physical bricks and mortar store selling a highly discounted commodity product like Lego was always going to be a tough road. Couple that with my own ethical business decisions and I created a hill to high to climb. Making this decision has not been easy and nor will the process of closing the shop be a simple task. BUT...what does the future hold? I don't know yet except that in some form or another Mr. Gill will endure - whether it be as a purely social media presence celebrating Lego, a bricklink store selling parts or even a creative consultancy. I have enjoyed this journey too much and will fight to remain in some way "a different kind of Lego store.." For the immed
iate future there is one important thing. I have a large amount of stock that I need to sell - and for this I need YOUR help! For the next few weeks I shall be heavily discounting my existing stock to encourage you to come and take part in what can only be described as the "Greatest Sales Event in the History of the Universe!" 😉 Stay tuned for daily deals and announcements! So please, come and visit, come and celebrate this awesome little shop that I built with your help, love and support. And who knows...give me some time and a better, bigger and cooler Mr. Gill might rise again some day! With all my love, James Gill Feb 22nd 2017 Stockholm. # # # # Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreImportant announcement coming in 3 days. #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreMy favourite of the new City sets - can't wait to MOC this into various other food trucks. 🙂👍 # # # # # # # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego Store☺️ # # # # #Mr Gill - A Different Kind of Lego StoreI'm loving these sets for Moana (Vaiana) - very tempted by the big fig...🙂👍 # # # # # # #