16/08/2026
Why I built this store.
This weekend, we opened the doors to our new flagship store in Christchurch.
It has taken a year to bring this space to life, and it has been a genuine labour of love. I wanted to create a one-stop destination where people could discover fashion, homewares, gifts and furniture, with Magpie Style, Magpie Home and our marquee brand, Paula Ryan, all brought together under one roof.
There is a reason I felt so strongly about building a physical store at this particular moment.
AI is changing the way we live and work, and online shopping has made life incredibly convenient. But as our lives become faster and more digital, I believe the experience of real retail becomes even more valuable.
A great store gives you something a screen cannot.
It lets you touch the fabrics, try on something unexpected, sit in a beautiful chair, find the perfect gift and talk to someone who understands what you are looking for. It gives you permission to slow down, look around and be inspired.
Most importantly, it can change the way you feel.
I wanted our Christchurch flagship to be a place where people feel better from the moment they walk through the door. Somewhere warm and welcoming. Somewhere you can linger, discover something new and enjoy the experience of shopping again.
Bringing Paula Ryan into the space was an important part of that vision. The brand has always been about helping people dress with confidence and ease, and now it has a home where customers can experience it alongside the wider worlds of Magpie Style and Magpie Home.
Creating a store like this takes an enormous amount of thought, work and belief. Every decision has been considered, from the mix of brands and products to the way the space feels when you enter it. Behind it is a wonderful team and a shared commitment to giving Christchurch something special.
To everyone who visited during our first weekend of trading, thank you.
Thank you for walking through our doors, exploring the space, sharing your kind words and supporting what we have created. Seeing you enjoy the store made the year of work behind it worthwhile.
I built this flagship because I believe beautiful, thoughtful retail still matters. I believe people deserve places that welcome them, inspire them and make them feel good.
We would love you to come in, take your time and experience it for yourself.
Bridget
P.S. A heartfelt thank you to Wyatt Construction, Horton Signs, Powdertech, Brook Electrical, Kolorful Kansas, Fyfe Painting, Delivery Dudes and Feather and Oak Interiors, as well as Gabe Rijpma, Rob and Maryjane Berry, Joanne and Paddy Brook, Maria Ryan, Morgan Sarginson, John Taylor, Sam Grundy, Catalina Bayer and the Magpie and Paula Ryan teams. You shared my passion and worked incredibly hard to bring this vision to life.
MAGPIE STYLE Flagship
12b Normans Road, Strowan
Christchurch 8052
NEW ZEALAND
