Almost 10 years after opening her online store, Be Original, local artist, Bernadette Swartz, has finally opened a store in Jeffreys Bay, where she has a larger space to display her unique African clothing, crafts, curios, and accessories, while providing a physical shop where her supporters can buy products.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, in 2015, Swartz’s desire to share her handmade jewellery and African clothing on an international platform inspired her to establish her own online store, named Be Original.
“I have always had a passion for different cultures and Be Original was an outlet in which I could live out my passion,” said Swartz.
While continuing to cement her online store on the international market, she received many accolades over the last few years which included showcasing her products at the Beautiful Things Exhibition in Graskop, Mpumalanga, in 2022, while in the same year she received an award for Craft Producer by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
To add to this, in 2022 and 2023, Swartz was chosen to showcase her products at the China International Expo in Shanghai, and she received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Kouga Business Chamber in 2023 as well.
Finally, on December 6, 2023, she opened the doors to her own shop and factory in Jeffreys Bay.
Swartz said that since opening her online store she has been working in her studio at home.
She said that in February 2023 she received a grant from the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Craft Council, which included machinery, fabric, and stock, among other items, which prompted her to find a larger space for all her equipment.
“I did not have the space for the equipment or everything else I received. There was also a need for customers to come to a physical shop to buy their products, which was also my motivation to move everything from the house to a physical store,” said Swartz.
After making the decision to find a larger space for her products, she found the perfect location for her store at Shop 3, 34 Diaz Road, opposite Jeffreys Bay Main Beach.
Swartz said that the products at the shop are quite unique, and that since it is located opposite the beach, both locals and tourists can now purchase curios and gifts that have been produced by local women.
Since her products are produced by local women, she said that buying her products at the store will assist in creating employment and will support local families.
Swartz said that it has been a dream-come-true to finally open her own shop, and that the best feeling is the process happened gradually.
“I prepared myself to be able to be ready for when it happened, like doing courses, getting my products ready and building up stock so that when the opportunity came I was ready to take the leap of faith,” said Swartz.
“I give all honour to God.”
Swartz said that her next step is to find shops across South Africa and overseas to supply her products to, which will further enable her to provide a sustainable income and secure employment for the women who help produce her products.
For more information contact Bernadette Swartz on 073 099 3418 or email berni@beoriginal.co.za.
