Take Me Back Traders

Venture on a trip down memory lane at Take Me Back Traders, a family-run vintage and retro store located in the heart of Upper Hutt. Trading a unique range of collectables, furniture and homeware, each item is carefully sourced with a definite focus on quality and authenticity.

The interior of the store is truly something special. It is friendly, bright and welcoming, full of a diversity of quirky treasures from years gone by. Back in its early days, Take Me Back Traders had far less stock and focused on larger-sized, practical homewares. Over time, trinkets and knick-knacks have found their way in, bringing with them plenty of character, sentimentality and community interest. Although trends change regularly, consistent bestsellers tend to include the Crown Lynn pottery range, Murano glass and exquisitely designed genie bottles and lamps. 

The idea for the store arose when owner Hayley Munn was planning a huge 70s-themed birthday bash for her husband. At the time, collecting retro items was simply a hobby, although Hayley’s dad was a secondhand dealer and her husband already an avid collector, so you could definitely say it was in the family. Come party time, the house was entirely transformed to another era: from the disco dance floor to the foam pit, it was certainly a night to remember. Following the party (and a reluctant return to the 2000s), Hayley needed to get rid of all their decorations and props; she happened upon a place for lease, and, well, the rest is history. 

The family is always on the lookout for new and exciting treasures, with a ‘wanted’ section on the store's website. While she enjoys the hunt for new items, Hayley says the highlight of her day is always experiencing someone’s joy when they stumble across something that reawakens happy memories from long ago. 

Whether you're a collector after something specific, decluttering with a box of donations for the shop, or simply drawn in by the banging 70s tunes in store, pop into Take Me Back Traders to get lost in a time warp. They say one man's junk is another man’s treasure, and at Take Me Back Traders, you might walk away with a whole trove full.