Overview
Many people travel overseas in order to partake in a process of self-reflection and immerse themselves in foreign cultures that will somehow alter their character when they return home. Others love to travel overseas to undergo extensive retail therapy and eat food in humourously large quantities and levels of deliciousness never experienced in little old New Zealand.
After the recent explosion pop-up stores cropping up in the Auckland 'burbs, we decided to compile a list of businesses and brands that New Zealand not only wants, but needs. Let's face it - travelling across national borders to grab a burger or an item of clothing is deadset ludicrous, but we've all been tempted to do it (or actually have). Keep your fingers crossed and pray for one of these to land on our streets sometime in the near future.
Muji
Muji is Ikea's younger and slightly more efficient Asian brother. In compliance with everything that is produced by our beloved Japanese friends, Muji's products are focused on minimalism and practicality. They stock everything from stationary to storage units, all with a delightful simplicity that espouses neatness. Furthermore, their products are also environmentally friendly. With the company's expansion into South-East Asia, let's hope that New Zealand is the next stop on their global tour.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack describe themselves as a "modern day roadside burger stand," and we'd be delighted if one of these joints opened up on our local streets. Offering hot dogs, burgers and shakes, it's distinctly American and don't we love it. Shake Shack even have their own Shack Cam, which streams footage of their store in Madison Square Park in NYC to visitors on their website. The purpose? Allowing potential customers to check the size of the queue before heading down for lunch. Tasty and amazingly considerate.
Pinkberry
With the immense popularity of stores such as Wow Cow and Gelato Messina in Darlinghurst, we can only assume that Pinkberry would also draw massive crowds over on our ways. After initially opening in Los Angeles in 2005, the store has since gained an international cult following. Offering frozen yoghurt in a host of vibrant flavours with fresh fruit toppings, Pinkberry's menu would be a perfect accompaniment to sweltering summer days at any beachside suburb. Their products will have even the most dedicated and masculine carnivores digging into a wonderfully light pomegranade treat.
Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream
Oh Pharrell, you can do no wrong. He has not only crafted some of the most memorable beats in recent hip-hop history as a member of the Neptunes, but he has also dressed rap royalty with his BBC/Ice Cream brands, a collaboration with A Bathing Ape founder, Nigo. You may recognise some of their prints after they were bootlegged extensively at markets across the nation, but these items are of the highest calibre in streetwear. They'll cost you an arm and a leg too. However, as the recent Odd Future pop-up store and Adidas x Jeremy Scott sneaker launch have proven, Sydney definitely has its fair share of dedicated urban fashionistas.
Ichiran
Ichiran is for those who want a no-frills feed with no fluffing about. You order ramen noodles by filling in a questionnaire detailing exactly how you want your meal cooked. Each seat is fitted with a sensor, which allows queuing customers to know when a seat becomes available through an electronic panel. Each "table" is actually a small booth isolated from the wandering eyes of other customers. This might not be the most social eatery about, but it's ideal for those nine-to-fivers who want to get in and get out.
ASOS
With Zara and Topshop opening their doors to hungry audiences in Australia, there are murmurs that ASOS could be the next to follow suit, so surely that means they could trickle on over here too. Presenting customers with their own adequately-priced clothing line as well as premium fashion brands, if an ASOS store were to open anywhere in New Zealand, it may just be the cause of numerous hipster heart attacks.
In-N-Out Burger
After successfully taking over the American West Coast, In-N-Out has gained global fame with their simple menu of undisputed classics. After trying one of their burgers on a quick stop over in LA last year, I can say with complete confidence that the arrival of In-N-Out Burger in New Zealand would undoubtedly be to the demise of my waistline. But, there are some things in life that taste just wins out over.
Legoland
Lego is an integral part of everybody's childhood, and no child should be deprived of hours of countless fun building castles and all sorts of other cool stuff. But kids across the globe have been experiencing Lego on a whole new level at Legoland. These theme parks are made to appear like the rides are made out of the famous building blocks, and sections of Legoland are themed after existing Lego sets. Someone, make this happen.
H&M
Over 2,300 stores and not one in New Zealand? I know we're tucked away at the bottom of the global map, but kiwis need to be dressed too. H&M began in Sweden but has expanded exponentially across the globe, to pretty much everywhere except Down Under. Several years ago they launched a collaboration with Kylie Minogue, but the pop princess wasn't enough to entice them to open up our own store. Offering complete outfits from underpants to overcoats at reasonable prices, H&M would be a Godsend.