Two lattes and a wild rocket Mini convertible, please

It's caffeine and custom designs at the Mini Garage. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Mini's signalled a new sales direction, with the world's first Mini pop-up store open in Ponsonby.

The custom-designed premises was prefabricated in Europe, dismantled, packed in eight 12m containers, then assembled on site in record time - from bare earth to branded building in less than two months.

And Mini Garage - a division of Team McMillan - can be dismantled and relocated almost as quickly, says CEO Bob McMillan.

The Mini "Garage" aims to separate the funky brand from the predominantly older, more conservative buyers at BMW showrooms, while drawing in fresh blood interested in the ever-changing cafe, art and internet scene it'll promote.

Upstairs The Hubcap coffee bar will draw Ponsonby urbanites inside past static Mini demonstrators and computer screens that let you compile and customise your own Mini - then email the finished spec and price to your home address.

McMillan says the Mini Garage is the first Mini retail operation to feature multiple sales channels in which you can buy direct - or off the net. The second opens soon in Hong Kong.

"The idea is to get away from the car mile and get among the cafes and boutique stores; to make the Mini Boutique part of the local social life," he says.