IKEA’s first New Zealand store has pulled in an estimated 142,000 visitors in its opening week, with shoppers loading up on everything from flat-pack furniture to Swedish snacks.
But one small, and arguably obscure, item has been among the most popular buys.
The Swedish furniture giant opened its doors last Wednesday, drawing more than 18,000 shoppers on day one alone. Trolleys were quickly filled with queues snaking through the store as Kiwis got their first taste of the global brand.
The retailer’s FRAKTA blue carrier bag remained a crowd favourite as the most purchased item.
Bookcases and shelving units have been popular, the company revealed after day one.
And latest figures, released after a week of shopping days, showed the bags remain at the top of the list. Hot dogs, not the famous Swedish meatballs, are the most bought food.
But the item racing ahead of the pack is a little more unexpected: the TACKAN white soap dispenser.
At just $1.50, the bathroom accessory has become the store’s top-selling furniture item, beating out big-ticket pieces.
Furniture staples weren’t far behind. The BILLY bookcase, one of IKEA’s global bestsellers, was the first item purchased when the store opened its doors. Other popular picks included the KALLAX shelving unit, LACK side table, and the GREJIG shoe rack in red and grey.
Accessories from IKEA’s cooking and eating range also proved a hit early on, with BEVARA clips, ISTAD resealable bags, KALAS bowl sets, and the MOPSIG 16-piece cutlery set all best sellers.
On the opening day alone, more than 1200 IKEA hot dogs were sold, and close to 50,000 meatballs were eaten by Kiwis eager to try the chain’s signature dish.
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