Your guide to Christmas shopping in Smith St Mall Darwin
With Christmas just days away, Darwin’s Smith St retailers have something for everybody. Read what’s available.
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From fashion to homewares, books to chocolate, there is something for everyone in Darwin’s long-time retail strip, the Smith Street Mall.
The NT News caught up with dozens of retailers in the city heart shopping stretch this week to showcase what they have on offer in the lead up to Christmas.
Aboriginal Art Gifts and Souvenirs
For 30 years, remote community artwork has been promoted by the Aboriginal Art Gifts and Souvenirs store.
“We’ve been dealing with (remote communities) for a very long time, so you’ve got a really good relationship with them out there,” manager Annette Caird said.
“We take all the canvas and paints and everything out bush to them so they don’t have to budget their money and come into town.”
With a price range of $5 to $2000, customers can buy merchandise items or wall-mounted, handcrafted Aboriginal artwork.
Ms Caird said her store was popular among collectors.
“We have collectors coming in because they know we’ve got reputable, good quality art and because we have promoted our artists,” she said.
“There are some very, very famous artists whose work we’ve sold – hence the price tags.”
The store will be open Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm and Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
Kaiser Craft
Arts, crafts, candles and “lots of kids stuff” is what customers can expect at Kaisercraft, says Kaisercraft manager Rachael Anzolin.
“A lot of mums with kids come to our store and even government workers who are here in the city pop in.”
The price range varies between a $4 squishy toy to a $100 candle set, and Ms Anzolin assures customers “there’s something for everyone”.
“(Our items) are for anyone who’s got young kids, but we there’s also something for everyone, including men.”
Kaisercraft will be open over the festive season Monday to Friday from 8am – 4.30pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm.
Magnolia Flower Merchants
Magnolia Flower Merchants has a flexible price range and can deliver for “any occasion”, says manager Ngawang Pelden.
“Our shop is a flower boutique and we have other different gifts as well to go with flowers,” she said.
“So at the moment we have lots of Christmas stuff and they are sold with up to 50% off.”
The cheapest flower “bunch” sells for $50, with the most expensive at around $500.
Closed between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Magnolia will otherwise be open Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 2pm.
Blooms Chemist
The Chemist is a “low-key great” place to do your festive season shopping, according to Row Kern.
“We’ve got a lot of different stuff to buy which can help people with anything from medical to comfort-related issues,” Ms Kern said.
“We have a lot of specials too so our prices are affordable.”
Confectionary can be bought for as low as $3 and the most expensive items – blood pressure monitors – reach $400.
Ms Roe confirmed gift pack items with candles and fragrances were particularly popular and likely to be snapped up.
Blooms Chemist will be open Monday to Friday from 8am – 4.30pm and Saturdays from 9am – 3pm.
OPSM
OPSM on Smith Street have been trusted to serve Territorians who need prescription eyewear support.
Additionally, the store also sell lenses and frames with the cheapest at $149 and the most expensive at $4000.
Manager Renee Hofer said the store could cater for anyone concerned with their vision.
“(We help) everyone from little kids getting eye tests to right up elderly people – I think our oldest customer is 100 years old.”
Ms Hofer confirmed OPSM would be available over the festive season, with doors open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm.
The Rugby Shop
The “love of the game” is why the Rugby Shop exists, says owner Bruce Kennon who set up shop nearly 30 years ago – but not always on Smith Street.
“We had small beginnings, most of our trading had been done from Mitchell Street previously, but now we’re here trading.”
Beyond jerseys and footy shorts, customers also have a wide selection of crocs and stubby coolers to choose from.
The cheapest item – a stubby cooler – sells for $10 and the most expensive item are the representative jerseys for $180.
Trading seven days a week, The Rugby Shops from Monday to Friday opens from 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Larrakia Nation Art
The peak advocate body for Darwin’s First Nations people, Larrakia Nation Art have a shop selling the art of both its people and neighbouring tribes.
Amber Shepherd said the store was about promoting its people.
“We sell a lot of Larrakia peoples’ art and our neighbouring tribes from places like Borroloola, for example, so we help the artists get out there and promote their work.”
The cheapest items sell for $30 and the most expensive items – paintings – sell for $5000.
The store shuts its doors on December 22 until January, but will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm.
Tommy Bahamas
Manager Tina Stanley describes her store in four words: “Beautiful, tropical, colourful, perfect.”
Tommy Bahamas is an American store that sells resort clothing for men and women, as well as fragrances, sunglasses and other giftware items.
The cheapest item is a pair of socks for $20 and the most expensive a luxurious pair of sunglasses for $700.
Ms Stanley said her store attracted particular customers, but was open to “anybody”.
“(Our customers) normally (are) living the dream, don’t work so much anymore, constantly going on holiday – but we’re open to anybody,” she said.
“We get a lot of teenagers in here because we do the most beautiful embroidered silk shirts and the boys love them.”
Tommy Bahamas will be open seven days a week, with Monday to Friday open from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 4pm and Sundays 10am to 3pm.
Bright Eyes
If you want glasses for sports or outdoors, Bright Eyes is you go-to.
At Bright Eyes, Territory families gearing up for the outdoors are treated to a comprehensive selection of polaroid sunglasses.
Beyond high quality sunglasses, Rosa Abah said the store sold hats and had something “for everybody”.
“We do hats and other garments as well, we have something for everybody really.”
The cheapest item starts from $20 with the most expensive around $500.
Open six days a week, Bright Eyes opens its doors Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9.30am to 2pm.
Coinbear Collectables
Brian Story is proud of his “mixed store”, Coinbear Collectables.
“We’re a very mixed store, we attract a lot of different people because we do sell a lot of unique stuff.”
Mr Story said his store sold everything from Aboriginal art, jewellery and coins to gold and silver.
“A lot of people do come to us for our gold and silver, it’s quite interesting.”
The cheapest items falls as low as $7 with the most expensive Aboriginal art as high as $1000.
Mr Story confirmed his store would operate through the wet season seven days a week from 7am – 5pm.
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