Ten Brands That Should Open Shop in Australia

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 Australia.

After the recent explosion of interest in the In-N-Out pop-up store at Barrio Chino in Kings Cross, we decided to compile a list of businesses and brands that Australia 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 Australia 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 shores. 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.

Denny's

Sydney and Brisbane are severely lacking when it comes to late night feeds, and a lot of the time the only option you'll have is a cold meat pie from the local convenience store. Enter Denny's, a restaurant which prides itself on being always open, serving meals around the clock. You'll find everything from steaks to banana splits, all at a reasonable price. This is definitely what the doctor ordered for those inevitable midnight cravings.

Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream

Pharrell Williams 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. After recently launching a dedicated Australian site which includes free shipping on all orders, ASOS have a healthy following that would also transfer to any offline stores. Presenting customers with their own adequately-priced clothing line as well as premium fashion brands, news of an ASOS store anywhere in Australia may be the cause of numerous hipster heart attacks.

In-N-Out Burger

You guys all heard about it on Concrete Playground. Some of you may have turned up to Barrio Chino only to be told that capacity had been reached, and walked away hungry and emotionally shattered. But we can only hope that last week's In-N-Out pop-up store will be a sign of permanent residence in Australia. After successfully taking over the American West Coast, In-N-Out has gained global fame with their simple menu of undisputed classics. After living off their burgers for four days on my recent trip to Los Angeles, I can say with complete confidence that a Quarter Pounder just doesn't cut it.

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. The theme parks are owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments, a British company who recently purchased a handful of Sydney attractions and are set to open Madame Tussaud's in May. Legoland should be next on their list.

H&M

Over 2,300 stores and not one in Australia? I know we're tucked away at the bottom of the global map, but Australians 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.