A new collaboration between two Australian icons has officially launched, as home and lifestyle retailer Bunnings reveals their Bluey Hammerbarn transformation – Wackadoo!
Bluey, the globally recognized animated TV series and homegrown favorite, will take over the exterior signage of six Bunnings stores around Australia and one store in New Zealand with a Hammerbarn rebrand this month – inspired by the popular Bluey ‘Hammerbarn’ episode from Season 2 of Bluey.
Hammerbarn’s resemblance to Bunnings is no coincidence, with the episode taking inspiration from Bunnings Keperra in Queensland. In ‘Hammerbarn’, the Heeler family visit their local hardware store to get a pizza oven and end up with a trolley full of other items, which Bluey and Bingo use to make their own mini homes, complete with garden gnome ‘husbands’.
Fans in every state will have the opportunity to experience Hammerbarn in real life and take part in free Bluey-themed kids D.I.Y workshops every weekend in February. Customers will need to book their spot online with a new workshop theme running each weekend.
The Hammerbarn adventure doesn’t stop there, with fans able to get their hands on exclusive Bluey products available in store including garden gnomes featured in the Hammerbarn episode, pet toys and accessories, craft kits, and limited-edition Hammerbarn branded merchandise.
Bunnings Chief Customer Officer, Ryan Baker said the one-of-a-kind transformation is a chance for families to experience the joy of Bluey and Hammerbarn, featuring all the Bunnings elements customers know and love. “We’re excited to be working with BBC Studios and Ludo Studio to bring Hammerbarn to life in stores across the country. Our team across Australia have had kids and parents referring to Bunnings as Hammerbarn ever since the episode aired, so making this a reality in our stores for customers is really special. We wanted the Hammerbarn experience to be accessible to as many Bluey fans and customers as we could, so it’s great to have a Hammerbarn transformation in each state – even down to the kids trolleys that have been rebranded. For those who can’t make it to a rebranded Hammerbarn store, there will still be plenty of Bluey-themed fun at Bunnings stores nationally, including colouring walls, scavenger hunts and free kids D.I.Y. workshops every weekend.”
BBC Studios Director of Brands and Licensing ANZ, Kate O’Connor said: “Bluey is so relatable because it’s all about growing up as a kid in Australia, and going to Bunnings, a.k.a Hammerbarn, on the weekend is one of those quintessential Aussie experiences we all love. That’s why we couldn’t be more excited to see this iconic Bluey and Bunnings collaboration come together on such a grand scale, giving Aussie and Kiwi fans the world-first chance to experience Hammerbarn for real life, including exclusive and very collectable merch like Bluey and Bingo’s much-loved garden gnomes that feature in the episode!”
Created by Joe Brumm, Bluey is produced by Emmy Award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC KIDS and co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family.
Ludo Studio said: “’Hammerbarn’ is one of our favourite episodes as it’s such a relatable Australian and New Zealand experience that families do together. The design of Hammerbarn draws inspiration from the Bunnings Keperra store in Brisbane, the home of Bluey, which adds an extra layer of significance. We are thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to experience Hammerbarn for real life, it’s everything we’ve ever wanted!”
For more information including store transformations, workshops and Bluey merchandise visit Kids D.I.Y. Resources – Bunnings Australia