Expat nabs 'elusive' Bunnings item after hunting for years: 'Officially Australian'
Josiah Hein, a 37-year-old Canadian expat, told Yahoo News on Tuesday that he reckons he's one of Bunnings' biggest fans. Since moving here two years ago, he's been on the hunt for the "elusive" trade merchandise the company drops every year, and despite being a teacher himself, he's been itching to get his hands on one item in particular.
"You know how Australians flipping love Bunnings, it's got a cult following element to it," he said. "And I've just seen these Bunnings hoodies around since I got to Australia. I've always gone up and asked [staff] about them, but they've always run out.
"It just feels like, when they're there, they're there, but they're never there, you know?"
However, all of that changed last month when word spread that Bunnings was hosting an early morning breakfast for trade customers at his local store at Burleigh Waters on the Gold Coast. Josiah, who has a trade account, practically ran there, still with sleep-filled eyes, to get his hands on a hoodie.
And he succeeded.
"I still can't believe I got one," he confessed to Yahoo.
Josiah shared a video of him finally getting a Bunnings hoodie online, and to say Aussies loved his enthusiasm was an understatement.
"Love that you're so excited. You need the straw hat to match now," one joked, while another declared he was "officially Australian" now.
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Josiash first started making videos for his nephews and niece in Canada so they could keep up-to-date with his life, and his curiosity and honest reactions to all things Australian have really resonated with his audience.
Most Bunnings stores in Australia host regular breakfast mornings where local tradespeople can meet up, enjoy a meal, nab some merch, and chat with fellow tradies and suppliers in the process.
Eleanor Gleeson, an electrical apprentice, told Yahoo last year attending one of the events is a "rite of passage" for those who work in the trades, with the freebies "highly sought after".
Josiah explained that despite being a teacher, he has his own ABN (Australian Business Number) as he is also a business owner. Having this qualifies him to have a trade account and PowerPass card, which in turn makes him eligible to attend the Bunnings breakfast mornings.
"The technicality is that any business owner with an ABN qualifies for a PowerPass card [business account with Bunnings]," he said. "So I requested one and it was granted."
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