Capitalising on her senses

When you are able to use what you see to help to bring virtual concepts and goals to life while entertaining people and making money, you don't only know, but you are a mastermind. Anittha Gertze has managed to turn her passion of cooking and decorating into a business. She describes herself as someone that thrives in a happy environment and is driven by happiness and her desire for success. “My main aim in life is to see people happy because I believe happiness that comes from passion is contagious,” says Gertze.

Gertze grew up in the dusty, quiet streets of Tses in the //Karas Region where she enjoyed the vast open spaces and sunsets on the Brukkaros mountain. “That experience taught me how to be caring, because in the community I grew up in everybody was family and we were taught to respect the elders, so good, strong moral values where instilled in me at an early age,” Gertze recalls.

She started her catering and décor business three years ago.

“A friend of mine was getting married and the person that was hired to do the décor backed out at the last minute.

Because I am driven by happiness and wanted to see my friend happy I decided I was going to do it and that is where I started with the décor business,” said Gertze.

She maintains that she did not know that she had a hidden talent for the finer details of décor and when she realised this about herself she hasn't looked back.

“This is when I decided to turn my passion into a business,” she said.

Gertze decided to venture into this industry because she loves cooking and her escape from stress and all other negative things is in her kitchen.

“I find peace in my kitchen and cooking is like therapy for me,” says Gertze. She also believes cooking is second nature for every African girl and thus that is how she has combined décor with her kitchen to start her business ZG Investments.

Gertze praises the Namibian décor and catering industry because in Namibia people in this industry are not threatened by the global competitors.

“The good thing about it is everyone is trying to keep up with trends and everybody is willing to invest in this sector for it to grow,” says Gertze.

She adds that the other good thing about Namibia is people can use the country's natural resources that are easily available to bring in the cultural element when decorating or when preparing food.

“We combine the African element with the modern contemporary décor and the results are amazing,” she adds.

Everybody is willing to invest in this sector and make it grow and the other thing good about our country is we can use our own resources that are easily available, to bring in the cultural element.

“We combine the African element with the modern contemporary décor and the results are amazing,” she said.

Just like any other trade Gertze is also faced with challenges. She highlights being a woman as one of the challenges in the business world, because business has always been regarded as a man's practice.

She also points out her age as another challenge because the confidence that people have in what you do is sometimes defined by your age. “People always ask where I will get resources at my age and how will I execute my tasks,” says Gertze.

Gertze maintains that she has not let these challenges stop her from pursuing her dreams and has managed to use her determination and focus to overcome these challenges. “We grow through challenges,” Gertze stated.

She advises young girls that draw inspiration from her work to have passion for what they do and to be sensitive to the senses because decor is about senses.

“You need to taste, see, touch and hear that your clients are happy,” Gertze said.

She says that it should not just be a business venture but a passion where you need to be able to make people happy at the end of the day.

Most importantly Gertze says one needs to know how to plan, execute and satisfy clients as well as know how to exceed expectations for your clients at all time. She maintains that people should be selfless and always want the best for other people by helping them

Gertze concludes by stating that her business has taught her a lot of qualities in her that she did not know she had prior to launching her business.

“My business has taught me so much about myself and I have grown as a person because of the lessons. I get to work with different people more often,” she said.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE