"A quarter of a century after she emigrated from Germany, and seven years since the store was first announced, Sattler was prepared to wait just a few hours extra to be among the earliest through the doors of Ikea's first outlet in New Zealand. She was joined by hundreds of shoppers queueing on Thursday morning to mark the end of the national waiting game."
"Ikea was founded more than 80 years ago and now has more than 400 stores worldwide but the Swedish furniture giant had until now been absent from these shores, making New Zealand one of the last developed nations to get a store. Sattler, who grew up with family trips to Ikea to furnish her childhood bedroom, says the opening event reminds her of home."
Ikea opened its first New Zealand store in Auckland after being absent from the country despite operating over 400 outlets globally. Hundreds of shoppers queued for the opening, with some prepared to camp overnight before a camping ban. The store was announced in 2018 and political moves, including an embassy opening in Stockholm, were credited for the arrival. Longstanding Ikea customers felt nostalgia, recalling family trips and bedroom furnishings. By 9am solid lines had formed at main entrances, local media ran live coverage, and road signs warned motorists to plan their journeys accordingly.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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