Get To Know SeKada
. . .Embark on a journey with us as we enter our tenth year of business here at Kollab! As we raise our glasses to the last decade, we are immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our cherished stockists who have been integral to our journey from the outset. In this special series, 'Celebrating Connections', we invite you to join us in getting to know these amazing store owners, friends and creatives, while also unveiling a global map of where you can find Kollab's treasures and some of the best boutique stores around!
Nestled in the vibrant city of Darwin, SeKada Lifestyle Co. sprang to life from a brilliant idea hatched over a very long and very fun Melbourne Cup lunch shared by best friends Lou and Mel. What began as a casual chat over drinks and laughter turned into a dream realised a year later when they opened the doors to their fabulous lifestyle store.
“We were chatting and throwing ideas around for fun and it all went from there…. The seed was planted and the idea of us owning a store together was born and we ran with it”
With a background in floristry and interior design, Mel had been dreaming of opening a homewares store, however it was a complete shift for Louisa, who was working as a nurse at the time. Despite this, they both shared a love for beautiful gifts, homewares, and fashion, as well as gorgeous gift wrapping.
Sekada began almost purely offering gifts and homewares, but it very quickly grew to include women’s fashion. SeKada Lifestyle Co has flourished into a well-known shopping destination with a beautiful and engaged customer base.
“We like to give our customers an experience and welcome them like friends into the store.”
It’s the little things that make shopping at SeKada memorable, like their gift-wrapping, something the customers love!
“We still enjoy gift wrapping, even after we have wrapped 10,546 gifts in the past 9 years! Packaging and putting in the extra effort and a little sprinkle of love is what makes SeKada special I think.”
With six kids between the two of them, Lou and Mel made a pact right from the start that the business needed to add to their lives - not take away from them.
“As there are two of us, it has been relatively easy to stick by that promise and make our family our priority”
Being incredibly supportive of each other’s needs and always having each other’s backs has meant they can schedule their work in a way that allows for flexibility with complete trust the store is always looked after.
And what a location to have a store!
“Darwin is such a unique place, there is a real ease of living here. Right now, we are enjoying the dry season and our little town is buzzing with tourists and things to do.”
With so many people passing through the town is friendly and inclusive, and with almost non-existent travel time, ticking off some things to do couldn’t be easier.
“When visiting Darwin it is a must do to go to the Parap or Mindil beach markets - people clap for the amazing sunset they get to witness at the Mindil night market! Litchfield park is also an incredible spot to visit and we always recommend to do a Katherine Gorge cruise - it is spectacular! “
With the outdoor lifestyle able to be enjoyed all year around, Kollab Picnic Mats are SeKada’s top pick.
“They are the perfect size and so easy to keep clean and neatly folded. It’s always exciting to see all the new designs you guys come up with - keeping it fresh and interesting. Our customers also love the Mini Cooler - perfect to take lunch to work.”
Keeping things fresh for their clientele is paramount for the SeKada ladies.
“Our store is very curated with different sections to inspire our customers which we re-arrange on a regular basis.”
And they are constantly looking for new and exciting products to stock, attending the Melbourne or Sydney gift fairs each year, to find new exciting goods for our lovely regulars.
With such a vibrant range of products in an incredible part of Australia, SeKada is a must visit when in Darwin.
