September 8, 2026 • 7 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, we talk a lot in this studio about difficult
and sometimes negative news on the show, but it's always
really nice to showcase something positive, especially when it comes
to business around town. And last week, iconic Darwin fashion
boutique Just Looking celebrated 50 years in business. And joining
(00:20):
us in the studio to talk more about this is
Susie Heskett. who is indeed the owner. Good morning to you, Susie.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
What an incredible amount of time to be in business.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yes. It's just gone by so quickly, but it's when
you look back, you think, oh my God, how did
I do that?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It's incredible. That's such a phenomenal amount of time for
any business, but particularly, I think, a retail business to
go through the highs and lows and to still be
really strong after 50 years?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Well, there have been lots of highs and lows, but
luckily I've been able to hang on. I mean, I'm
very grateful for my staff and the customers and just
riding it through and paying your bills first.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, yeah, so true. Tell me about, you know, some
of the highs and lows that you've seen over 50 years.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Oh, well, of course, when I went into business was
not long after the cyclone and then Darwin was growing.
So by the time I'd moved down to the mall
and I stayed in that premises for 29 years and
that was Pasipali. Yeah. And they were fantastic landlords as well,
fair with the rent. And we boomed, you know, it
(01:42):
was a time, the 80s, the booming and there were
a lot of, Functions on in Darwin at that time, nightclubs,
the girls would buy a new outfit on a Friday
or Saturday night and then work wear, all those sorts
of things. But, yeah, and then the downturns, well, you've
just got to carry it through.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Got to ride through them. Kathleen and I were having
a laugh about this the day before yesterday and we
were saying, yeah, back in our nightclub days where you'd
pop in on a Friday or on a Thursday and
be like, ooh, what can I buy? LAUGHTER When you
had a bit more disposable income. Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And the thing was, in those days, everything was made
in Australia. Yeah. So I've only got one label now
in my shop that's made in Australia. Everything else comes
from overseas. It's just the way it is. Yeah. So,
you know, we'd get new boxes in each week and
open them up.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Sometimes we hadn't actually seen what they were sending us beforehand.
But now everything comes via photos and, you know, I
go on buying trips as well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah. Tell me, you know, you must have dressed so
many women in the Northern Territory over that period of time.
Have you loved it? Like you must– the thing– I
was saying to you off air, I worked in retail
when I was much younger. I loved it. And I
love seeing the look on people's faces when they were
really happy with something that they were wearing.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
That's what we get back. Or they come in and
show us a photo of their daughter wearing her graduation
dress or dress they bought to wear to a wedding.
And they give back. I mean, that's part of why
you'll see the big smile on my face when that happens.
And my staff as well because, you know, they're part
of it. But, yeah, they're the sort of things that
(03:30):
make me go, you know what, I love what I do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Susie, have you had women that, you know, that come
in to get dressed and now they bring their granddaughters
or their daughters in?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, yes. Especially school formals. That's a big thing for sure.
And some of the posts that have come up that,
you know, on Facebook and Instagram at the moment, oh,
I remember I bought my dress in the, you know,
my wedding dress. They're things, just those memories that bring
you back because, I know what it's like to wear
something new. It feels good.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And you get a compliment. Well, that's really nice.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And it's important that you're honest with people when they
do come to you. And if it doesn't look right,
I'll say, well, let's try something else. I don't like
the idea of talking people into garments that they don't
look good in. Yeah. It's not fair.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
And it's not a good advert.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
No. Well, and this is the thing, but that's probably
part of your success as well over those 50 years
is being really honest with people and helping them to
feel really confident and comfortable in themselves. Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
And sometimes that takes quite some time. You know, they
can try on a lot of dresses until you get,
or sometimes you might pick out the first one and
they'll try, and that's the one they go back to.
But that's our job, having an eye about somebody, reading
their you know, body language. That's important. We can tell, yeah,
body language will tell us as they come out of
the fitting room.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh, I feel good in this.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And Susie, I mean, over those 50 years,
continuing to do business over such a long period of
time and continuing to sort of, you know, to ride
the changes, I guess, in the fashion industry too, in
the sense that, you know, online shopping's become something that's
very prevalent and But you've managed to keep yourself and
(05:18):
to keep that business relevant for such a long period.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well, that's one thing. I refuse myself to go online.
It's another job, right? So I'd rather people come in.
And if you, you know, when I first saw what
was going to happen with online, I gave myself a
time limit. I thought, oh, this is going to fade
me out, you know, maybe within 12 years of when
(05:42):
I first saw it. But I can see that we...
The boutiques we have here in Darwin, we're holding on.
There's some fabulous operators. We stay out of each other's
area and we work together. And I think that's a
really important thing about a small town. Yeah, I love that.
That you can encourage each other and help each other
(06:04):
in a way. I always send people to the other
shops if I don't have what they've got. And the
same thing happens with me. So that's part of... You know,
making business work.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah, that's a really nice thing to hear. And it's
respectful of one another as well, right? Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Hey, what is your message to Territorians, you know, to
shop local?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Well, try local first, right? Because we often get, you know,
I've ordered dress online, it doesn't fit.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Okay. Try local first. And if we don't have it, well,
who do you think might have something for me? And
that's the best way. And it's not always... We get
stock every week. So then there might be something the
next week or you might walk and think, oh, that's
a bit young. But I do a very broad area
of ages in a very small shop.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Well, Susie, I'll tell you what, what an incredible, you know,
an incredible period of time to do business and really
What a wonderful success story for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
50 years.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You must have been about 10 when you started, were you?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Actually, no one's asked me how old I was. But no,
I wasn't 10.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Well, I tell you what, you're always dressed absolutely beautifully. And,
you know, like what a phenomenal businesswoman and a phenomenal feat.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
50 years of business.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
A massive congratulations to you. And thank you so very
much for joining me in the studio.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Thank you. Thank you, Katie.
Now, we talk a lot in this studio about difficult
and sometimes negative news on the show, but it's always
really nice to showcase something positive, especially when it comes
to business around town. And last week, iconic Darwin fashion
boutique Just Looking celebrated 50 years in business. And joining
(00:20):
us in the studio to talk more about this is
Susie Heskett. who is indeed the owner. Good morning to you, Susie.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
What an incredible amount of time to be in business.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yes. It's just gone by so quickly, but it's when
you look back, you think, oh my God, how did
I do that?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
It's incredible. That's such a phenomenal amount of time for
any business, but particularly, I think, a retail business to
go through the highs and lows and to still be
really strong after 50 years?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Well, there have been lots of highs and lows, but
luckily I've been able to hang on. I mean, I'm
very grateful for my staff and the customers and just
riding it through and paying your bills first.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, yeah, so true. Tell me about, you know, some
of the highs and lows that you've seen over 50 years.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Oh, well, of course, when I went into business was
not long after the cyclone and then Darwin was growing.
So by the time I'd moved down to the mall
and I stayed in that premises for 29 years and
that was Pasipali. Yeah. And they were fantastic landlords as well,
fair with the rent. And we boomed, you know, it
(01:42):
was a time, the 80s, the booming and there were
a lot of, Functions on in Darwin at that time, nightclubs,
the girls would buy a new outfit on a Friday
or Saturday night and then work wear, all those sorts
of things. But, yeah, and then the downturns, well, you've
just got to carry it through.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Got to ride through them. Kathleen and I were having
a laugh about this the day before yesterday and we
were saying, yeah, back in our nightclub days where you'd
pop in on a Friday or on a Thursday and
be like, ooh, what can I buy? LAUGHTER When you
had a bit more disposable income. Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And the thing was, in those days, everything was made
in Australia. Yeah. So I've only got one label now
in my shop that's made in Australia. Everything else comes
from overseas. It's just the way it is. Yeah. So,
you know, we'd get new boxes in each week and
open them up.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Sometimes we hadn't actually seen what they were sending us beforehand.
But now everything comes via photos and, you know, I
go on buying trips as well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah. Tell me, you know, you must have dressed so
many women in the Northern Territory over that period of time.
Have you loved it? Like you must– the thing– I
was saying to you off air, I worked in retail
when I was much younger. I loved it. And I
love seeing the look on people's faces when they were
really happy with something that they were wearing.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
That's what we get back. Or they come in and
show us a photo of their daughter wearing her graduation
dress or dress they bought to wear to a wedding.
And they give back. I mean, that's part of why
you'll see the big smile on my face when that happens.
And my staff as well because, you know, they're part
of it. But, yeah, they're the sort of things that
(03:30):
make me go, you know what, I love what I do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Susie, have you had women that, you know, that come
in to get dressed and now they bring their granddaughters
or their daughters in?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, yes. Especially school formals. That's a big thing for sure.
And some of the posts that have come up that,
you know, on Facebook and Instagram at the moment, oh,
I remember I bought my dress in the, you know,
my wedding dress. They're things, just those memories that bring
you back because, I know what it's like to wear
something new. It feels good.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And you get a compliment. Well, that's really nice.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And it's important that you're honest with people when they
do come to you. And if it doesn't look right,
I'll say, well, let's try something else. I don't like
the idea of talking people into garments that they don't
look good in. Yeah. It's not fair.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
And it's not a good advert.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
No. Well, and this is the thing, but that's probably
part of your success as well over those 50 years
is being really honest with people and helping them to
feel really confident and comfortable in themselves. Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
And sometimes that takes quite some time. You know, they
can try on a lot of dresses until you get,
or sometimes you might pick out the first one and
they'll try, and that's the one they go back to.
But that's our job, having an eye about somebody, reading
their you know, body language. That's important. We can tell, yeah,
body language will tell us as they come out of
the fitting room.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh, I feel good in this.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And Susie, I mean, over those 50 years,
continuing to do business over such a long period of
time and continuing to sort of, you know, to ride
the changes, I guess, in the fashion industry too, in
the sense that, you know, online shopping's become something that's
very prevalent and But you've managed to keep yourself and
(05:18):
to keep that business relevant for such a long period.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well, that's one thing. I refuse myself to go online.
It's another job, right? So I'd rather people come in.
And if you, you know, when I first saw what
was going to happen with online, I gave myself a
time limit. I thought, oh, this is going to fade
me out, you know, maybe within 12 years of when
(05:42):
I first saw it. But I can see that we...
The boutiques we have here in Darwin, we're holding on.
There's some fabulous operators. We stay out of each other's
area and we work together. And I think that's a
really important thing about a small town. Yeah, I love that.
That you can encourage each other and help each other
(06:04):
in a way. I always send people to the other
shops if I don't have what they've got. And the
same thing happens with me. So that's part of... You know,
making business work.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah, that's a really nice thing to hear. And it's
respectful of one another as well, right? Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Hey, what is your message to Territorians, you know, to
shop local?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Well, try local first, right? Because we often get, you know,
I've ordered dress online, it doesn't fit.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Okay. Try local first. And if we don't have it, well,
who do you think might have something for me? And
that's the best way. And it's not always... We get
stock every week. So then there might be something the
next week or you might walk and think, oh, that's
a bit young. But I do a very broad area
of ages in a very small shop.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Well, Susie, I'll tell you what, what an incredible, you know,
an incredible period of time to do business and really
What a wonderful success story for the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
50 years.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You must have been about 10 when you started, were you?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Actually, no one's asked me how old I was. But no,
I wasn't 10.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Well, I tell you what, you're always dressed absolutely beautifully. And,
you know, like what a phenomenal businesswoman and a phenomenal feat.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
50 years of business.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
A massive congratulations to you. And thank you so very
much for joining me in the studio.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Thank you. Thank you, Katie.
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