An organic lifestyle at your fingertips

Henriette Lamprecht – The initial idea was to create her own herbal skincare products, prompting her to do research and try and find local suppliers of raw materials for cosmetic products. Victoria Toivo saw a gap in the market - creating a web-based company that supplies and retails 100% pure essential oils, organic butter, carrier oils, raw materials, dried herbs, and preservatives for food and cosmetic-grade products.“I started in late 2015 at the age of 22, searching across Africa for reputable producers who were able to supply and are manufacturers of these raw materials. We started a web-based shop, Hambelela Organic, to enable customers to shop and buy from anywhere, at any time, and have them delivered at their convenience.”Hambelela means 'praise' in the Oshiwambo language and they found it suited the business, as it embodies the concept of “praising and taking care of your overall-wellbeing”, Victoria explains.She always had an interest in healthy living and having a holistic approach to life, says Victoria. “Adopting new habits and ways to take care of our health, body, mind, and overall wellbeing is very important. We need to be cautious and intentional about the things we consume and the products we expose ourselves to on a daily basis.”Victoria and her team conduct market research on their targeted customers in order to be able to source products that would meet their demands and needs. It also enables her to determine the demand for the products and strategies.“We need to adapt in order to advertise and educate potential customers about our existing and new products.”The products available online are sourced from various suppliers and manufacturers within Africa - predominantly Southern Africa - while some are also locally sourced. While all the products are popular according to the website’s metrics, a few continue to stand out as clear favourites. This includes the unrefined, raw shea butter which possesses many ingredients beneficial for the skin and hair. This includes alleviating dryness and sensitivity, and making hair more manageable. The whole cloves are also on most buyers’ lists - containing fibre, vitamins, and minerals with great health benefits. It also soothes toothaches and is known to promote hair growth. African Black soap - made from natural ingredients - is also a favourite for healthy skin and hair. Many Namibians are moving towards a holistic lifestyle, especially after the turmoil and devastation of the Covid-pandemic, says Victoria. “Many are becoming more health conscious, especially with the ease of accessing information. They are able to decipher which products contain ingredients that may have harmful effects on their skin and the environment.” The primary reason for going online and their “unconventional approach" to distributing their products was due to external factors such as minimizing the cost of products and being able to keep up with customer demands, explains Victoria. “We are happy our customers have embraced the culture and trust buying online from our website, but we do have the prospect acquire an outlet for our products soon!” – victoriatoivo@gmail.com; www.hambelelaorganic.com*HEALTHY HABITS*LOCALLY SOURCED

An organic lifestyle at your fingertips

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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An organic lifestyle at your fingertips

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-06

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