A glimpse at the sensational singing of Jolene Leeuwner Maritz.

Founded by SACCI Business Woman of the Year award winner, Jolène Leeuwner-Maritz; Jolè Designs includes many distinct facets namely, Jolè Printed, Jolè Corporate, Jolè Luxury, Jolè Exclusive, Jogi Designs and Jolè Jewellery. The store concept appeals to both sophisticated men and women who want beautiful homeware, bath and body products and accessories. Delectable eats, goodie bags and well-known faces ensured for a successful and enjoyable morning.

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10 December 2014

Joléne developed an interest in the protection of Human Rights and subsequently chose law as her main field of study, successfully contributing to her industry in addition to creating a one-of-a-kind sophisticated and effectively integrated legal communication system, not to mention the several accolades acquired over the past 5 years.

Content with making the Rule of Law accessible to her community, Joléne has subsequently moved forward in establishing several additional businesses including: Leeuwmar Consult (Pty) Ltd; Bon-Jolé (Pty) Ltd and Jolé Designs (Pty) Ltd, which has successfully branched out into Jolé Printed, Jolé Corporate, Jolé Luxury, Jolé Exclusive and Jogi Designs.

 Jolé Designs (Pty) Ltd – creates, produces and markets handbags, fashion accessories, beauty products, décor items and artwork linked to a range of female characters. Each character comes from a specific demographic – Southern African, West African, Zulu, Indian, Turkish, Greek, German, French, Brazilian, Spanish, Russian and Afrikaans.

She points out: “To succeed as a nation we need to export more. This means we have to exploit our resources, and not just minerals. We have to optimise every special advantage we’ve got. Our diversity is a wonderful asset. On a business level, we shouldn’t just talk about diversity, we should commercialise it. That means creating a face, a story and a product. In the process, the Entrepreneur can support the local creative community and provide an international showcase for their work.”

Asked about her view on Entrepreneurship in Africa, she replied: “As Africans we don’t believe we can compete internationally…but I believe we do and can.”

Joléne is already exploring export potential for products from the Jolé Designs range.

She notes: “Because government has failed to protect so many local manufacturers, small value-adding producers have to import fabrics, crockery and other items. As the rand drops, import costs rise. Instead of creating a ministry to help small business, government should do a better job of encouraging local manufacture through subsidies, tax breaks and tariff protection.”

In regards to her view on the Creative Economy, Joléne’s response was: “South Africans are creative, energetic and resourceful. Even the smallest South African entrepreneur could have big impact if we only had the government support that is the norm in other developing countries.”

A Proudly South African woman pursuing her dreams and rightful place in this world; Joléne Leeuwner-Maritz is definitely an individual to watch out for.

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 Ideate | Business resources, tips, success stories, interviews and business ideas

Author: Staff Reporter | November 18, 2014 | Entrepreneur Life | Women

it seems excellence has just become habit …

She’s pretty far from the stereotyped women working in law. Yes, she certainly can be the sophisticated lawyer walking down the court room hallways on three-inch heels and radiating confidence, but there is much more to Jolene. At a young age Joléne already knew she wanted to pursue a career in law. Her father, Pieter Leeuwner is an advocate and she has been exposed to the profession her whole life. With time she further became inspired by the fact that every sphere of life is in fact subordinate to law.

“In a formal setting the government of a country is subject to the directives of the law, so is the management of major and minor companies, financial institutions and more. On a personal level, the relationship between lovers, husband and wife or life partners also is governed indirectly by legal principles and rules, so is the relationship between contracting parties, citizens and so forth. Our entire lives relate to the rule of law,” explains Joléne.

Joléne spends most of her spare time studying diverse fields not directly connected to her profession – simply for personal enrichment. She already has graphic design and digital marketing under her belt by which she explores new developments in social media and she is currently studying for her diploma in Communication and information technology law to advance her conveyancing practice. “In the law industry it is preferable to be inquisitive, and you certainly should be determined and willing to be a lifelong student,” says an energetic Joléne. The list doesn’t stop there. She’s a dedicated mother to her two daughters Gizelle and Jolaine, as well as a wife to her business partner/ lawyer hubby, Jan Jan Maritz.

“As a family we love discovering quaint little places to have breakfast as well as short break-aways to spend quality time together. “I think being a mother is the most amazing gift. To me it means that my every thought and action are coloured by the presence of my children. My girls and supportive husband literally make my day every day.

“The first thing I do when I get home is kiss them.”

For stress relief Joléne says she enjoys playing electric guitar and action netball. She was a provincial chess player and a JKA South African Karate Championship medallist a few years ago. Joléne is also an entrepreneur and owns four businesses. (Did we mention she’s dynamic, vibrant, driven and energetic?) Recently Jolene opened a beauty salon ( being a city slicker girl herself) in Little Falls, and so Bon-Jolé Beauty salon was born.

Her partner, Bongi Majola is responsible for the functional side of the business. Then there’s Bon-Jolé (Pty) Ltd and Jolé Designs – a company with distinct facets. Jolé Printed (a range of products developed into printed artwork), Jolé Corporate (a range of corporate gifts, which incorporate exclusive art branded as her clients prefer), Jolé Luxury (a luxury beauty range such as bath oils, bath salts, body butter, hand lotion, heel balms and anti-aging hand creams that are sold at Bon-Jolé Salon), Jolé Exclusive (where paintings, hand-painted pottery and more are sold) and lastly Jogi Designs (a children’s range designed by her children that includes plastic crockery, cutlery and more).

Finally there are Leeuwmar Consult (Pty) Ltd and Leeuwner-Maritz Attorneys. “I feel very proud of what I have accomplished. Jolé Designs is still in its infant stage but I look forward to it becoming what we know it can be. I think with that and the success of Bon-Jolé Beauty salon, some of my proudest moments include the establishment of Leeuwner Maritz Attorneys when I was 26, being nominated by my clients for a variety of business awards and the inauguration of our two branch offices for Leeuwner Maritz Attorneys in 2012,” says Jolene.

When asked what drives her success Jolene happily answers, “Dopamine and endorphins. Also the appreciation of well-served clients and the fact that every day brings unexpected turns, which keep me on my toes.”

To the point:

• My home in Featherbrooke is …
spacious with a fine balance between family and art.

• Holidays are spent … in New York (my favourite city)
and Zimbali coastal resort (my place of rejuvenation).

• I can be a tad … authoritative, but I’m working on it.

• I can’t stand … unwarranted ignorance.

• Working with your husband in the same office is …
rewarding; we’re on the same team.

• I wouldn’t be seen without … confidence.

• My most treasured memory was … hearing the
first heartbeat of both my children on sonar.

• My favourite West Rand restaurant is … Casalinga.

• I’m definitely not … old yet!

• I will never spend money on … no, I will.

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Chemelle Barnard / 31 July 2014

Photographer: Adele Moolman, 082 509 5352; Make-up artist: Chanel du Toit, Pinups Culture; Hair stylist: Bianca Botha, Pinups Culture.

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Last Saturday (1 March 2014) a team from Leeuwner Maritz Attorneys, a legal practice in Strubens Valley, accepted a facebook #neknomination from First National Bank and entertained Roodepoort children.

At the St Laurence Children’s Haven, “Leeuwnies” (as the staff referred to themselves) and their families joined the residents for a fun day on the premises, as business development manager Nadia Hurter explained to the Record.

“We identified the St Laurence’s Children’s Haven in Discovery in Roodepoort as a place of need,” Hurter told the Record.

“This home usually has about 30 children living there and their mission is to offer abused, neglected and abandoned children love and care in a secure and warm environment.”

The fact that St Laurence does not receive government subsidies and that the Haven solely relies on fundraising events and donations made them the perfect choice, said Hurter, saying that they later discussed “making their lives more comfortable on a permanent basis”.

“Our marketing staff were involved in arranging the entertainment; it included jumping castles, a magic show, candyfloss machine, balloons and face painting to keep the children entertained.

“We also arranged for the children to be taken for a drive in the owner’s Porsche and this proved to be a thrilling event for all of them.”

Read in the next print edition of the Record about Leeuwner Maritz Attorneys’ plans for permanent involvement with St Laurence .

She is a founding partner of Leeuwner-Maritz Attorneys, a legal practice she started in 2008 with her husband, Jan Maritz. She also has several other ventures which reflects her artistic flair and her passion for entrepreneurship.

Leeuwner-Maritz is the 2014 SA Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (Sacci) women in business & entrepreneur award winner. Though she’s no stranger to awards, this one is close to her heart. “It is a platform that I take incredibly seriously. It’s an important sounding board to voice some of the concerns I have about the business environment in this country.”

Her main concern is the lack of manufacturing capacity. “Everything I want to manufacture is problematic, even something as simple as crockery. SA has an abundance of resources, but our knowledge and our entrepreneurs are exported. I have to import from China and France.”

Leeuwner-Maritz says the solution is a greater focus on entrepreneurship and support for companies that still manufacture in the country. Skills must be developed and retained.

Government keeps saying it is supporting, subsidising and promoting small businesses and entrepreneurs. However, this is not visible on the factory floor, says Leeuwner-Maritz.

Though it is almost impossible to find manufacturers for the range of goods her companies produce, she is not ready to give up.

“I will never give up, but for me to establish manufacturing plants will be incredibly difficult. Therefore it is so important to use the Sacci platform to campaign for growth in manufacturing. I want to hold government accountable on its pronouncements.”

She launched Jolè Designs and its subsidiaries, including Jogi Designs, named after her two daughters Jolaine (7) and Gizelle (5).

She does the graphic designs for the products and her mother, Mart Leeuwner, does the artwork. Her daughters receive an income from Jogi Designs as all their artwork, under the artistic guidance of their grandma, is printed on gifts and handbags.

They have been taught lessons of entrepreneurship from a tender age. They have to plough some funds back into the business, but they also save for their future studies and for property.

Leeuwner-Maritz is a big dreamer. She wants to establish her own independent medical research institute one day. “I know it is an ambitious project, but I believe I can do it.”

She says South Africans give up far too easily. “We are not prepared to make mistakes. People do not fight hard enough to find the solutions.”

Leeuwner-Maritz is deeply concerned about violence in the country. She once considered entering politics, but sage advice from her father, Pieter Leeuwner deterred her. He said: “If you want to enter politics you must have an answer, and for as long as you do not have it, stay out.”

Leeuwner-Maritz says she did not have the answer then so she chose to stay out of politics. She still doesn’t have the answer, but it is something she is working on.

FINANCIAL MAIL

BY AMANDA VISSER, NOVEMBER 20 2014, 08:58

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