I started writing this blog in 2025 and before I knew it, it was 2026! Phew! And now more than half of it is already gone!
Not everyone embrace change, but at Meelbroeke, it is a constant. So many things change every day. Fabric is sometimes available in abundance, sometimes we wait weeks. We add styles, sizes and new prints. But some things stays the same. Our dedication to you as a buyer and lover of our product.
Die wonderlike van die lewe is dat daar tog soveel konstante is. Elke oggend kom die son op en elke aand word dit donker, rustyd, familietyd. Ons bly diep onder die indruk dat ons elke dag soveel genade ontvang, ons hoef nie te wonder oor die son en die maan nie. Soms druk die lewe, maar een ding weet ons – môre kom die son weer op en dan lyk die wêreld weer nuut. Dankie dankie dankie daarvoor!
Die een konstante wat enige oomblik kan verander, is die mense om ons. Ons familie, ons vriende en die mense wat help om Meelbroeke op die rakke te sit. Enige van ons kan in ‘n oogwink nie meer hier wees nie. Hoe werk ons met die mense om ons? Is ons dankbaar vir hulle? Nooit sal ons weet watter indruk ons op ‘n ander laat nie.
Asking AI, the answer goes like this : The impression we leave on another person is a powerful effect of our interactions, influencing their future perceptions and behaviors through a mark or imprint, much like a potter’s touch on wet clay. These impressions can vary in weight, with positive actions like a smile or a thank you potentially shaping a person’s future, while a negative remark can ruin their day. To leave a positive impression, focus on authenticity, confidence, empathy, and positivity, as these qualities are magnetic and leave a lasting, memorable impact.
Yes, we get angry, yes we sometimes say things that we should not. We are all human. But there should be an underlying love that radiates from us. To all humans, to animals. If we can master that, I believe we can move mountains. So with this blog, I want to pay tribute to people that makes Meelbroeke tick. I do not think that I can ever thank them enough, but I am going to tell you a bit about them, they are all an integral part of what we love to do – making Meelbroeke!
Simon and Alex runs the cmt (cut make trim) or in layman’s language, the factory. I have seen them worried about not enough fabric fast enough and power cuts. But never have I seen them angry. Never have I asked for anything which they could not do. And believe me, sometimes we quickly need something that they are not busy working on. They would leave everything and make what we need! Never in all these years have they stepped into the offices without a wide smile and a loud HELLO! They run a cmt with about 25-30 seamstresses. Those are real angels, we are only too aware of all the hard work and love that goes into stitching a Meelbroek.
I have known Michele for many, many years. She absorbs everything that goes on between my office and the cmt. She handles all the trim – thread, cord, elastic and much much more. She is the one to whom my orders goes, she relays it to the cmt and she is also the one who can fit garments on a roll of fabric that it looks like a puzzle. Michele is a wizard when it comes to patterns, I would be lost without her!
By die kantoor is daar 6 dames en ‘n Eddie wat sorg vir drama, baie pret en wat deur frustrasies en moedelose dae aan my sy is!
Santa hanteer die personeel en ‘n gedeelte van die boekhouding van die besigheid. Seker die geduldigste en rustigste mens wat ek ken. Sy doen die dinge agter die skerms wat die wolwe van ons voorstoep afhou – admin!
Toe Antonette by ons begin het, was die plan vir haar werksdag heelwat anders as wat sy nou doen. Uiteindelik het sy haar spasie oop gewerk en gesels sy nou op ‘n daaglikse basis met al die agente en kliënte. En is sý nou vir jou ‘n raakvatter! Ons is bevoorreg om haar hier te hê en hoop sy sal nog lank by Meelbroeke werk.
Nelie en Michelle is verantwoordelik vir onderskeidelik die gekleurde en natuurlike kledingstukke. Elke liewe gekleurde stuk is deur Nelie se hande. Sy is die grapmaker, lief vir musiek (haar radio speel heeldag) en baie, baie deeglik. Nelie weet presies wanneer ek koffie moet kry – en wanneer daar ‘n lepeltjie suiker nodig is!
Die natuurlike items word van begin tot einde deur Michelle verwerk. Sy hou my op my tone, want sy is vinnig! Net wanneer ek dink sy het genoeg om te doen, staan sy voor my, reg vir nog. Michelle, jy is kosbaar en ons is lief vir jou.
Liezel – wat kan ek sê? Liezel doen die kleurwerk. Haar hande wissel van turkoois tot pienk tot enige skakering tussenin! Handskoene? Nee, sy pak alles kaal hande aan! Soms krap ons kop oor kleure wat nét nie wil werk nie, maar sy het telkemale ‘n oplossing. Liezel, jy is ‘n meester wanneer dit by kleurwerk kom!
Linah is die een wat al die alternatiewe “prints” verwerk, van wasmasjien tot opvou en kantoor toe stuur. En sy is ma vir my hondekinders wanneer ek besig is by markte en feeste, dit maak my hart warm!
Joyce sorg vir die netheid van die kantore en werk metodies deur die groot gebou om alles netjies en skoon te kry – en as sy in ‘n goeie bui is, kry ek suiker in my koffie – lekker!
Eddie started out as the garden guy, but soon enough, he was needed inside where the packing and closing of the boxes happens. Then he also started packing the bus and trailer before markets. And then I took him with, he is a wizard with the gazebo. Gardenwork is now just a small part of what he does as he is so good with the garments, that he is mostly helping with that. With his unique and good sense of humour, he calls himself “Eddie the Box-man” or “Mrs Eddie” or any other fitting description for what he is busy with at a time. Thank you for the good humour you bring to the office!
Zelda het onlangs by ons aangesluit om te help met fakture en ander kantoordinge waarby ek nie uitkom nie. Vinnig het ek afhanklik geraak van haar manier om sommer net ‘n oproep te doen as ek begin wonder oor ‘n diensverskaffer. Haar ondervinding in die tekstielbedryf en die kennis wat sy daarvan het, is van onskatbare waarde.
I would not have known most of these wonderful people, if it had not been for Meelbroeke. They have taught me so much. None of us are perfect, but we have the wonderful opportunity to learn from each other. And a sense of humour goes a long, long way!
Oh and just back to change and new things. We have proudly added Cheers! , Castle Beer and Koerant to the Meelbroeke family – and there is more to come! Visit www.meelbroeke.com to see the options and remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram Meelbroeke.
Mag ons vir die res van hierdie jaar onthou om “Dankie” te sê, om geduldig te wees, om te verstaan dat elkeen wat oor ons pad kom, iets unieks het om tot ons lewens te voeg. Want ons het nog baie om te leer.
Dankie dat jy ‘n Meelbroek dra. Dankie vir al die idees en voorstelle, ons hoor elkeen van hulle en daarom beplan ons nog nuwe ontwerpe vir hierdie jaar en 2027. Want elkeen wil ‘n Meelbroek dra, sommige het net ‘n ander prentjie nodig! Dankie vir al die inloer en “Hallo” by feeste en markte – julle maak die lewe lekker!
Wees lief
Mari