Samoan shopping chain expands to N.Z, aims to support producers here

17 November 2016, 12:00AM

Auckland’s Samoan community has a new cultural landmark in the form of Samoa House comprising of a Samoan traditional meeting house and a new three-storey building for the Samoan Consulate General.

Now, one of the motherland’s shopping chains, Samoa Stationery & Books Ltd (S.S.A.B.) is completing the picture by opening its doors at Samoa House.

S.S.A.B’s branches in Samoa (Upolu and Savaii) and American Samoa are well known for stationery, books, electronics, whiteware and furniture. 

But according to Owner, Fiti Leung Wai, S.S.A.B’s branch in New Zealand will be a little different. 

“We’re calling S.S.A.B’s Auckland branch ‘Sei Oriana Gift Shop’ since we’ll be selling a wide range of jewellery, clothes, shoes, handicrafts and Samoan books.”

Mrs. Leung Wai added that, “Included in such range are high-end Samoan fashion brands like Mena and Janet’s, which already have a huge following in New Zealand.”

But her other excitement in establishing Sei Oriana is the ability to help her people back home. 

 “Sei Oriana will also give the opportunity to small scale Samoan carvers, weavers, seamstresses, elei printers and artisans to export their products to a much bigger market,” said Mrs. Leung Wai. 

“Many small entrepreneurs back in Samoa cannot afford to risk exporting their products on their own, but as a large reseller, S.S.A.B. is able to help by shouldering the risk.”

S.S.A.B. exported a container of Samoan made products to New Zealand to stock Sei Oriana. 

According to Mrs. Leung Wai, “Sei Oriana will support our community back home. Hopefully Samoans in Auckland will show them some love by shopping here this Christmas and beyond.”

S.S.A.B. first opened its doors in Samoa in August 2008 and is the fastest growing business in Samoa. Its New Zealand shop will be its 6th branch.

Whilst the focus of Sei Oriana is on Samoan-made products, it will not completely stray from S.S.A.B.’s roots. S.S.A.B currently has an online shop where overseas customers can pay for electronics, whiteware and furniture for their families back home to collect. 

Sei Oriana will make this even easier with its “Family Corner” where customers can inspect display whiteware, furniture and beds and pay in-store while their family in Samoa can pick them up. Sei Oriana Gift Shop (S.S.A.B. Auckland) opens to the New Zealand public on Friday, 18th November 2016

The DETAILS

Address: 141 Bader Drive, 

Mangere 

Opening hours: from 9am in the 

morning 5:30pm 

Phone-022-5262008

Facebook: 

www.facedbook.com/ssabnz

17 November 2016, 12:00AM

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