Raquel Todd is a proud Banyjima and Kariyarra woman, and founder of Blak Line Industries, a 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated business.
Founded in 2022, Blak Line Industries began delivering design, signage, and printing services throughout Australia with the goal of positively impacting the lives of Aboriginal people by providing jobs and supporting local Aboriginal communities. Since then, the company has continued to expand and evolve, building a strong reputation in the industry and expanding its capabilities.
A major milestone came earlier this year when Blak Line acquired Design Direction and Print, allowing the company to bring production in-house and gain greater control over quality, costs and delivery. For Raquel, the acquisition was a natural next step in the company’s strategy.
“When you’re acting as a broker, you don’t have any control over costs and the quality of the product that you’re producing for your clients. If we wanted to continue to grow, we needed to be able to control the cost of the product that we’re manufacturing or purchasing for our client, and the quality,” she said.
“When you can’t control costs and quality, what else are you going to do to continue to grow your business and be different?”
The acquisition has transformed Blak Line into a fully integrated design and print business, creating new opportunities to scale operations while continuing to deliver value for clients.
Raquel’s journey with the Waalitj Hub began in the early stages of her business when she was operating under a joint venture.
“Because I was still so new to business, we were using the Hub to engage with some marketing services and in particular, we were engaging with that because we had Blak Business Coaches in there that understood how to market Blak businesses to the market.”
Her business then progressed to become a service provider for the Hub, supporting other First Nations businesses starting out. Following the end of the joint venture, Raquel accessed support through the Hub to help her navigate the transition.
“The support that we got was significant when I was going through dissolving the joint venture. I received legal and accounting support through the Hub,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey, Raquel believes accessing support early can make a significant difference for emerging Aboriginal entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating partnerships, joint ventures and business growth.
“If you’re looking to start your own business, I highly recommend going down into the Hub. They’ve got the capacity and capability to assist businesses in kickstarting their journeys.” she said.
“And in particular, those thinking about partnering or starting a joint venture, to go and have those early discussions. Understanding why you’re going in to have that meeting, what it is that they want from you and what can you get out of it before you even sign the piece of paper. I think that’s very important and ensuring that all the IP, as the Aboriginal business owner coming into that joint venture, leaves with you.”
Looking to the future, Raquel plans to continue growing Blak Line, with plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities and client base and explore future opportunities.
“We’re just going to keep growing,” she said, “We don’t really have an end goal of what we’re able to achieve here. It’s just about how do we continue to provide cost savings and get a quality product? And who knows, maybe one day we will be franchising Blak Line!”
From startup founder to business owner leading a major acquisition, Raquel’s journey is a testament to her determination and the impact that the right support can have at different stages of business. As Blak Line Industries continues to expand, the business is creating a strong foundation for long-term success while demonstrating what First Nations entrepreneurship can achieve with the right support and vision.
The Waalitj Hub supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wanting to start, grow or sustain their businesses through a combination of in-house business coaching and access to professional support and is supported by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and Corporate partners. Find out more.
