Blumen Margot: Namibia’s floral wonderland

Lientjie van Zyl is the owner of Blumen Margot, one of the oldest flower shops in Namibia. It was originally founded by Margot Harbade and has seen a few owners – one of the notable ones being the "beloved and famous" Verina Schulte. Sadly, Schulte passed away in February 2019, and in August 2021, Van Zyl assumed ownership of the business. She now leads the shop with a team of seven dedicated employees.

Van Zyl has a background in teaching and the corporate training environment aimed at customer care and service delivery.

“While I was passionate about teaching, I have always dreamed about owning a small business that would enable me to nurture my creative side. For it to come to fruition has truly been a dream come true," she explained.



A source to be reckoned with

From the onset, she made it her business to provide her clients with a wide range of flower varieties that are not readily available in Namibia – from South Africa, Kenya and the Netherlands. She has also established relationships with several local suppliers (Namib Roses, AvaGro and Henn’s Farm) that help her business maintain a diverse inventory of over 100 different varieties in stock.

While they recycle their paper and use dead roses for confetti, they have other local suppliers who provide them with eco-friendly wrappings for their pot plants and flower sleeves. Van Zyl gave a special mention to their two local suppliers, fondly known as Dube and Maria, who make their flowers' metal containers and weaved baskets.

“They are all part of our family now. We are deeply committed to supporting local communities and hope the Namibian floral industry will be a source to be reckoned with someday.”



Floral wonderlands

Van Zyl said they have undertaken extensive research on flowers and their needs.

“We've had our water tested by a microbiologist, and, as a result, we take special care in treating our water to ensure our flowers can stay fresh for a longer period. Additionally, we uphold a strict standard of cleanliness and sterility in our environment, which further contributes to the longevity of our beautiful flowers.”

Van Zyl said they are privileged to have some of the best florists in the industry on their team. Their florists bring floral dreams to life – creating any arrangement, bouquet or design that a client envisions.

The Blumen Margot team goes above and beyond to do flower deliveries on request, whether early or late. Additionally, they have a Function Junction department that deals with floral decoration services for special occasions, transforming venues into floral wonderlands.



A tight-knit family

She admitted that despite their passion for customer care, they are not entirely perfect and do not always meet their customers’ expectations. However, they view mistakes as opportunities to grow and improve.

“We always make a plan if a client has a special request, and we rarely, if ever, decline – the word 'no' is not a part of our vocabulary.”

A business owes its success entirely to its team, and this is especially true at Blumen Margot. With a collective experience spanning over 80 years in the floral industry, their dedicated staff plays a pivotal role in making Blumen Margot the thriving business it is today. Guided by Van Zyl, they collaborate to keep abreast of the latest floral trends and styles.

Their commitment knows no bounds; whether it's late nights, covering long distances, handling challenging situations or fulfilling last-minute orders – they do it all with a smile.

“How do we do it? We infuse our workplace with fun – laughter, dancing, and plenty of jokes – all while working diligently. I value my staff because they are, without a doubt, our most valuable asset. We're not just a business; we're a close-knit family. Having such a dedicated and harmonious work family is a privilege."