How often do you get to the end of your day wondering why you haven’t achieved anything that you set out to do? Researchers like me call this the intention-behaviour gap, with some studies saying it happens about a quarter of the time. In other words, one day in every four, people fail to achieve what they intended to do that day.

Every few weeks, another thinkpiece appears promising to decode what Gen Z really wants, how Millennials think, or why Boomers are loyal but allergic to apps.

When IKEA New Zealand finally opened its doors at Sylvia Park on 4 December 2025, the global narrative was predictable: Sweden’s blue and yellow giant arrives in Aotearoa. But that framing misses the real story. IKEA didn’t simply enter the New Zealand retail market. New Zealand reshaped IKEA long before the first trolley rolled across the polished concrete.

Once upon a time, ‘second-hand’ was a necessity, often a distress purchase. Now? It’s a sport. It’s a ritual; practically a personality trait. We don’t just pop into Op shops anymore; across New Zealand, second-hand shopping has become a hunt.

At the Curiosity Company, our mission is to help decision-makers make better decisions. And there is no better time to talk about decision-making than while contemplating the wreckage of your New Year’s Resolutions.