Aotearoa's biggest baby store is set to open by the end of this year - but in a somewhat surprising move, the retailer won't be located in Auckland, or even in the North Island.
Australian specialty nursery and baby goods retailer, Baby Bunting, is set to expand its reach in New Zealand with the opening of three additional stores by the end of 2023, including its first South Island location - which will mark the arrival of the country's largest bricks-and-mortar baby store.
It comes just over a year after Baby Bunting opened its first-ever New Zealand store in the northern Auckland suburb of Albany.
Two of the three additions will be in Auckland retail precincts Manukau Supa Centre (1700m2) and Sylvia Park (1320m2), while the 2095m2 South Island outlet is slated to open its doors this December in Addington, Christchurch.
The Manukau Supa Centre location will officially open for business tomorrow on Saturday, November 11.
Baby Bunting stocks a range of over 7000 product lines, making it a convenient option for new and expecting parents. Products include local brands, such as Haakaa and Edwards & Co, and span items such as car seats, prams and nursery furniture to clothing, toys, highchairs and feeding needs.
The stores are set to open on the following dates:
- Manukau (Manukau Supa Centre, 3/55 Lambie Drive, Manukau, Auckland) - November 11, 2023
- Sylvia Park (Sylvia Park Lifestyle Centre, 393 Mt Wellington Highway, Mt Wellington, Auckland) - December 2, 2023
- Christchurch (Tower Junction, 9/66 Clarence Street, Addington, Christchurch) - December 9, 2023.
"We have had an incredible response from Kiwis to our first retail store in Albany, so we're excited to be expanding our presence in New Zealand, supporting more Kiwi parents, extending our relationships with local suppliers and creating jobs. We are very much committed to investing in New Zealand and bringing Baby Bunting's extensive range of products and services to more parents," Baby Bunting CEO Mark Teperson said on Friday.
"We are confident these three new stores will build on our success to date in the New Zealand market, and hopefully lead to even more brick-and-mortar sites across the country."
The ASX-listed company currently operates 72 stores in Australia, with the three additions to its New Zealand network marking progress in its goal to have 10 outlets nationwide.
The company operates out of a 5000m2 warehouse in Auckland to support the fulfilment of local online orders, Teperson added.
The three stores will offer shoppers a variety of experiences, including a professional car seat installation service, product hire, click-and-collect, and 'Parents with Prams' parking bays, as well as catering for baby shower gift registries.
