IKEA's debut in New Zealand was nothing short of a shopping frenzy! On the first day alone, over 18,000 eager shoppers flocked to the new Sylvia Park store, ready to experience the Swedish giant firsthand. (And the numbers are quite impressive!)**
The star of the show? The iconic FRAKTA blue carrier bag! A whopping 4,200 of these practical, and instantly recognizable, bags were scooped up, making the humble $1 tote the top-selling item.
But it wasn't just bags. Furniture fans were also in for a treat. The classic white BILLY bookcase, a global IKEA favourite, was the very first item purchased when the doors opened. The KALLAX shelving unit, the LACK side table, and the GREJIG shoe rack in red and grey were also flying off the shelves.
And let's not forget the accessories! The BEVARA clips, ISTAD resealable bags, KALAS bowl sets, and the MOPSIG 16-piece cutlery set were all popular choices from IKEA's cooking and eating range.
IKEA's famous food was a massive hit too. The Swedish Restaurant and Bistro were packed all day. Kiwis devoured over 1,200 hot dogs and nearly 50,000 meatballs.
Online, things were buzzing as well. IKEA New Zealand reported around 245,000 website visits. The IKEA Family loyalty program welcomed 120,000 new members.
The busiest times in-store were between midday and 2 pm, and then again from 7 pm to 8 pm, as thousands explored the brand's first New Zealand location. This grand opening is a significant step in IKEA's expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.
What do you think? Were you one of the shoppers who joined the IKEA rush? What did you buy? Share your experience in the comments! And what do you think about the price of the FRAKTA bag? Is it a must-have, or just a novelty?
