The Spirit of Trade in The Northern Territory: House Of Darwin
‘This story isn’t about me, it’s about the Territory. The people that call this place home. I’m just telling it today.’
— Shaun Edwards, owner, House Of Darwin
As a kid, Shaun Edwards would travel to the mangroves at Mandorah Beach by boat with his sister and grandad to collect periwinkles. Bags full, they would head back to Darwin and trade with the old greek men for biscuits. It was Shaun’s earliest memory of trading and one he has never forgotten.
House of Darwin is a social enterprise. A for profit clothing company who reinvest their profits into social programs in remote Indigenous communities. Refurbishing basketball courts, creating sports programs and safe spaces for kids to gather and celebrate their culture.
Shaun started the brand selling out the back of his Troopy. Today House of Darwin is stocked in 80+ retail stores across Australia. Bringing the stories of the Territory to the world.
Shaun Edwards,
Owner, House Of Darwin
‘A new wave of trade has entered the Territory. The best from Darwin to the world. Diverse communities bought together by the spirit of the NT.’
The history of trade in the Northern Territory can be traced back to before colonisation. Makassar people from what became Indonesia would sail to the shores of Arnhem Land to collect sea cucumbers in exchange for axes, knives and rice.
The Afghan cameleers moved goods across Australia’s barren interior by camel train. They connected coastal cities with pastoral land and formed what became the Great Northern Railway, or The Ghan. The Ghan paved the way for the Stuart Highway. The camel passed the torch onto the four wheel drive. The trade routes carved out in the past are being used to create the future.
Today, a new wave of trade is entering the territory. Musicians, artists, tradespeople and chefs. Giving it a go and continuing to shape the paths created before them.
Tools to sell anywhere
‘Square creates a level playing field for businesses. No matter if you’re a big or small business. We all have access to the same tools.’
- Shaun Edwards, owner, House Of Darwin
House of Darwin needed tools that helped them sell anywhere. Whether it’s in remote communities out the back of Shaun’s Troopy, opening House of Darwin’s flagship store in Darwin, or purchasing inventory to stock 80+ Universal Stores across Australia. As they have grown, so have their Square tools.
- Sell anywhere with Square Reader and Square Terminal.
- Manage the store and team on the go with live performance and inventory management.
- Process card payments with Offline Mode.*
Square Terminal
Square for Retail
Offline Mode
‘I’m constantly on the go and Square gives me live data to check sales and make crucial business decisions. Whether I’m boarding a plane to America, Melbourne or Sydney.’
Scaling inventory with Square Loans
When presented with the opportunity to stock House of Darwin in 80+ Universal Stores across Australia, they needed access to cash flow, quickly. After trading with Square, House of Darwin accepted a Square Loan** which helped them to buy additional inventory.
- Take payments with Square, and our algorithm may create loan offers based on your Square sales, payment frequency, and new and regular customers, among other criteria.
- Repay as you trade with daily deductions.
- Get your money in days, not weeks, if approved.
‘We needed access to cashflow and Square Loans were able to offer us a loan that we could service but also keep our business operating.’
Square Loans
Square Register
Inventory Management
A point of sale for retailers
Selling in store and at remote pop up locations means House of Darwin need a POS system that could keep track of their constantly changing inventory, across locations. Square For Retail allows them to create a customisable and scalable catalogue, resulting in more efficient workflows and visibility for the whole team.
- Manage your inventory across multiple locations
- Keep track of your best sellers with real time sales reports
- Start selling wherever you are and we’ll help you succeed
Multi-store Management
Catalogue Management
‘Whenever I receive a new shipment of stock I’m able to log all of the units of that shipment and keep track of all of the stock. I can see what’s running out, what’s most popular, what we need to re-stock and it’s all right there in front of me.’
— Kelly, store manager, House Of Darwin
We’re here for you
Visit these additional Square resources for more information or get in touch with questions.
*Offline payments are processed automatically when you reconnect your device to the internet and may be declined if not processed within 24 hours.
**All loans are issued by Square AU Pty Ltd. (ABN 38 167 106 176). Valid Australian bank account is required. Actual fee depends upon payment card processing history, loan amount and other eligibility factors. A minimum payment of 1/18th of the initial loan balance is required every 60 days and full loan repayment is required within 18 months. Loan eligibility is not guaranteed. Eligibility criteria include consistent and continuous payment card processing through Square. All loans are subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply.