No stopping these bakers
NORTHCLIFF – The store has hit milestone after milestone but the 40th birthday is the biggest celebration they have had so far.
Four decades of giving women a place to earn an income from their baking, cooking and crafting skills are celebrated as Tuismark turns 40.
How many businesses in Northcliff have been around since Beyers Naudé Drive was referred to as DF Malan Laan? A home industry store and coffee shop called Tuismark has and, on 2 October, they celebrated their 40th birthday. That’s four decades of offering some of the area’s best, delicious homemade goodies such as decadent cakes, cupcakes, savoury products, platters and so much more. The team has invited women from all over Johannesburg to sell their goodies at the store and it has been quite successful for both parties.
Chairperson and 32-year-long Tuismark baker Lenie Brandt was present to celebrate the occasion and share well wishes and thoughts of the store. She said, “My birthday wish for Tuismark is to go on for another 40 years and another 40 after that. I wish them more members who are passionate about baking and taking our store forward into the future.” With the Tuismark team being historically made up of women who came from a baking and cooking background, all the treats here are expected to be five-star. From the very beginning, all the women coming from different homes joined as one. Brandt said, “It’s always been like a family here, it’s what’s been able to keep us going all these years.”
She described the team as wonderful, passionate, loyal and disciplined. “We keep motivating each other and everyone always brings their A-Game. It’s a great team to work and be with.”
The store has hit milestone after milestone but the 40th birthday is the biggest celebration they have had so far. Brandt said that the store once formed part of a trio of bakeries across Johannesburg. As of 2020, the Northcliff location is the only one that still stands.
Like many other businesses, Covid-19 did harm the store but they are slowly bouncing back. Brandt explained, “We closed for two months like many others but we are getting back to normal, it’s slow but it’s coming together.”
Being able to see their loyal and happy customers walking into their stores again has been the greatest joy to the team of bakers, cooks and crafters. They look forward to ending the year putting a smile on as many faces as possible and continue to pray that all businesses recover from the difficulties of 2020.
