Two Kmart-ers camp out overnight for pole position as Blenheim store opens

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Johnny Hogeboom was jittery with excitement at 7.53am as he waited outside the Blenheim store. 'They're getting ready,' he said as workers arranged themselves inside.

Two dedicated Kmart-ers braved the overnight cold to bag first-in-line as the retail giant opened its Blenheim store on Thursday.

Father-daughter duo Johnny Hogeboom and daughter Jasmine Hogeboom got to Kmart at 9pm on Wednesday night, ahead of the grand opening at 8am the following morning.

Their reasoning was simple, 'because we want a goodie bag,' Johnny Hogeboom said.

Jasmine Hogeboom and Johnny Hogeboom huddling in the cold as they camp out overnight for Kmart to open in Blenheim.

'We're getting the first purchase,' he said. 'Probably chocolate, [we] need some energy after 11 hours waiting.'

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The first 250 shoppers to make a purchase received a Kmart goodie bag. One shopper's bag contained a neck pillow, gell pens, lollies and a water bottle.

Jasmine and Johnny Hogeboom were first in line after camping overnight since 9pm the previous night.

Johnny Hogeboom said they had a couple of 'cat naps' throughout the night. The temperature dropped to 3 degrees Celsius at 4am.

'When we got cold we would sit in the car and turn the heater on.'

Cupcakes and cake on offer at the Kmart opening in Blenheim.

Hogeboom was jittery with excitement at 7.53am. 'They're getting ready,' he said as workers arranged themselves and posed for a photo before the doors opened.

'If I have to dash and run, I'll give you my name later,' Hogeboom warned.

Blenheim Kmart enthusiast Linda van Kuyk is stoked the shop is open.

And then they were off, rushing in, crowds pressing in on one another, with excited faces.

The Hogebooms walked out soon after having made a purchase, scoring themselves a goodie bag and a $50 gift voucher as an extra little reward.

Kmart opened at the Westwood Development, on the outskirts of Blenheim, at 8am on Thursday. It will be open seven days a week, 8am to midnight.

Blenheim woman Kim Evans had been waiting in line since 6am.

Moments before the doors opened, her most overwhelming feeling was 'very cold'.

She had been wanting for a Kmart in Blenheim for years.

'It's the reason we go to Nelson. That and Hells Pizza (also expected in Blenheim later this year).'

She didn't care what her first purchase was, she just wanted to make one so she could get the 'goodie bag'.

Loloahi Vakaloa bought some clothes, and was clutching the all-precious goodie bag - which contained a neck pillow, some gell pens, lollies and a water bottle.

Vakaloa said she had to drop her children off before coming back for a proper round of shopping.

Over the years, rumours of a Blenheim Kmart had stirred residents into a frenzy. When rumours were seemingly quashed in April 2017, one Facebook commenter said they had lost all 'glimmer of hope'.

But when the news was confirmed in August 2017, a post on the 'Bring KMART to Blenheim Facebook page summed up the reaction: 'WE DID IT!!!!!! KMART IS COMING TO BLENHEIM!!!!!!!!!!!'

Other retailers at Westwood Park include Pak 'n Save, Bunnings Warehouse, Farmlands and PGG Wrightson/Fruitfed Supplies.

Last month, CPR owner Deborah Romano said they were set to open Catalyst Eatery next door to Kmart.

The cafe would be open seven days a week, and they planned to open from about 6.30am to catch Westwood workers, she said.

A Kmart spokesperson said Kmart Blenheim was their first new store to open in 2019, with another four expected later in the year.

The company had received more than 500 applications for the 70-odd fulltime, part-time and casual roles. The recruitment process was close to completion.