Store Equivalents

Even though New Zealand is far away from, well, just about everything, it is still possible to find anything we need here. It’s taken some time to figure out some store equivalents, so I created a cheat sheet for some of the most common questions I get.

Now a word of advice about shopping anywhere in New Zealand: wait for the sales. Prices seem artificially inflated, but the sales are ubiquitous. It requires a bit more planning and forethought, but the effort pays off. I’ve noticed that this leads to a more conscientious approach to purchases and means that I definitely buy less, but I buy better quality and only when I’m really sure I want an item. And the sales are legitimately good.

What’s interesting about many of the New Zealand stores is that they tend to carry so much more than the highly specialized US stores. For example, Harvey Norman has all of the home appliances and electronics you could want, but they also have tons of furniture. Paper Plus is one of the few book store chains around - and by far the most common - and it also serves as the local post office. Spotlight has all of your crafting needs, party supplies, fabric, and, strangely, bed and bath linens. It’s an odd combination that somehow works.

A lot of the popular brands are actually Australian imports. I love some of the women’s clothing shops like Decjuba, Country Road, and Witchery - all with Australian roots. Plus, there are also lots of multinational brands that permeate the US that are also available in New Zealand: H&M, Lush, Zara, The Body Shop, Footlocker, Kiehl’s, Hushpuppies, Pandora, and every luxury retailer you can think of. And of course there are local places with unique products. Some of my favorites are: Deadly Ponies for gorgeous bags, Kate Sylvester for incredible clothing, LuluFunk for kids’ undies, and, of course, Wallace Cotton for bed linens and towels.

There are some stores with the same name as common US brands, but THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. First is Amazon. No, there aren’t amazing Amazon Prime stores here. Amazon is a shoe and skate brand that is in every mall. Second is Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Yes, they have some linens and towels, but it is a far cry from the US BB&B that has home goods stacked to the ceiling and 20% off coupons. And finally, the Target store in New Zealand - despite the same bullseye logo - is not like a Target store in the US. The one here only sells furniture.

So never fear if you’re moving or visiting New Zealand! If you forget something, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it (or a good substitute.) Don’t believe the horror stories about prices, and prepare to be a mindful consumer.