Our story

Retailing in New Zealand has undergone huge changes over the last three decades. The Warehouse and Sir Stephen Tindall have been a big part of that story.

In 1982, New Zealand was a very different place. Imports were restricted and consumers had no choice but to pay high prices for a meagre selection of goods. Stephen Tindall saw an opportunity to make a difference, and opened the very first Warehouse store in Wairau Road on Auckland’s North Shore.

It was a store unlike the high street shops and department stores of the time. It was a big red shed with concrete floors and racks overflowing with goods.

The Warehouse sold things you couldn’t buy elsewhere – banana loungers, rattan blinds and soccer ball radios. And it sold them all at bargain prices.

When sales took off, Stephen and his team headed offshore to source new suppliers who could feed Kiwis’ hunger for a bargain. With a relentless focus on keeping costs down, The Warehouse began to develop a reputation as a special place to shop, with a uniquely down-to-earth culture.