Mutindi Jacobs is fascinated with all things beautiful, especially flowers. In fact, she’s the ultimate flower boss.
A lawyer by profession, she completed her studies at the University of Namibia and later went on to specialise in the law of the sea in New York. But her love of flowers and making things beautiful has always been lingering, eventually leading her to start her own wedding planning business in 2011, creating glamorous and memorable moments for couples across the country. Jacobs loves meeting new people, conceptualizing and styling events and gets immense joy from seeing the excitement and satisfaction on her clients faces when she unveils her creations.
“I come from a family of outgoing, hospitable people and during family gatherings, I would always be called upon to decorate venues, make meals and create a beautiful environment for our guests to enjoy. Starting my business was therefore a natural progression for me which also served as an outlet for my creativity”, said Jacobs.
Karibu Flowers was launched in 2016 and immediately made its mark in the local flower industry by being the first florist in Namibia to retail distinctive flower boxes, a unique design concept that uses luxurious designer hat boxes to host floral arrangements. The company became synonymous with glamour and was a sought after provider of luxury flowers, serving clients all over the country.
“When I am arranging flowers for clients, I want the person receiving them to feel thought of, appreciated and loved. Each bouquet is designed with love and care and tells its own story of passion, remembrance and celebration”, said Jacobs.
However, life doesn’t always go according to plan and in 2017 Jacobs had to make the painful decision to close her business in order to focus on her family. Fast forward to 2019, Karibu Flowers is back in business. Always a trailblazer, and in true Jacobs fashion, she’s once again carving out a niche for herself by being the only florist offering preserved flowers in hat boxes to the Namibian market.
“Preserved roses are 100% real flowers. These flowers are preserved from natural, high-quality floral breeds using state-of-the-art technology which enable flowers to maintain their natural beauty, texture and soft natural touch. Preserved Flowers do not wilt like fresh flowers and side-by-side, they are indistinguishable,” said Jacobs adding that preserved roses require no maintenance, no watering and can be used to add a touch of colour to a home, an office and can even be used at weddings and funerals.
“I know a lot of people are usually hesitant to gift flowers because they don’t last very long. With preserved flowers you can be assured that your bouquet will stay fresh and beautiful for 12 whole months, with little to no maintenance whatsoever”, said Jacobs.
The world is going green, as more and more people embrace practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. People are looking at ways in which they can prolong use, recycle, reuse and reduce consumption, and the creation of preserved roses speaks to that. Karibu Flowers’ preservation technique makes use of non-toxic, cosmetic grade chemicals whilst having regard to the highest floral standards.
Always keen to keep up with industry trends, Jacobs said that this year will see people looking for alternative and cheaper ways to decorate events and gift their loved ones.
“Given the current financial landscape, it’s understandable that most people are hesitant to spend their money on flowers. The good news is that with preserved flowers, you can make one investment at the beginning of the year and enjoy those beautiful flowers for the rest of the year”, said Jacobs.
Jacobs said that Karibu Flowers is proud to be pioneering the movement towards sustainable and affordable flowers in the Namibian market for private and corporate use and has various projects in the pipeline that will enable people rent instead of buying real flowers for their events.
Having experienced the highs and lows of running a business, Jacobs is passionate about empowering others and as a parting shot, she offers this advice to current and aspiring entreprenuers.
“For the longest time, people have been saying follow your passions, do businesses that you are passionate about. My advice is that while there is nothing wrong with following your passions, rather focus on your gifts. Your gift is that thing which you do the absolute best, with the least amount of effort. The bible says in Psalms 18:16, ‘Your gift will make room for you, and bring you before great men’. I believe each and every one of us was created with a gift which must be used to serve humanity. When we use our gifts to start a business, we are manifesting greatness, we are self-actualising and serving the world. The world needs more people who are operating in their gift, so use your gifts”, said Jacobs.
