Sales Year End at the Westcliff

The Strijdom Park office celebrated at the Westcliff this past Friday.

Nothing beats High Tea except a single malt Scotch in the Polo Bar.

Optima Year End 2008

The braai at Kya Sands was the best ever. Our staff works hard but also plays hard.
Chris in the center of the picture must be a Chiefs supporter:"Love and Peace"

December player of the month is Shepherd-Well done.

World Aids Day 1 December 2008

Stefan Marais creating awareness at Optima around World Aids day,
please read the article below by Ian Macdonald




There is precious little good news about the South African HIV/Aids epidemic. To mark World Aids Day, we examine what South Africa can learn from Uganda’s successful Aids policies, we look at the challenges facing our war against Aids and we applaud the heroes that are making a difference.
Some sub-Saharan countries have taken decisive action to curb the spread of Aids. Uganda, for instance, owes its success in reducing high HIV infection rates to a high-level political commitment to HIV prevention and care. Right from the start, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni adopted a policy of frank and honest discussion on the causes and consequences of HIV/Aids. A well-managed public education campaign changed sexual behaviour and challenged the stigmas attached to the virus. Uganda was also one of the first African countries to distribute anti-retroviral (ARV) medication. In 2004, the Ugandan government – with the financial assistance of the World Bank and the Global Fund for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria - began dispensing free ARV treatment to its HIV positive citizens. Uganda’s progressive HIV/Aids policies have ensured that the HIV prevalence rate has dropped from around 18 percent in the early 1990's to 7 percent in 2004.
According to Wikipedia, in countries where there is access to antiretroviral treatment, both mortality and morbidity of HIV infection have been reduced. Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment can extend the healthy life of someone living with HIV. However, side-effects of these antiretrovirals have also caused problem such as lipodystrophy (abnormal or degenerative conditions of the body's fat tissue), dyslipidaemia (high blood cholesterol), insulin resistance and an increase in cardiovascular risks. Although treatments for both Aids and HIV exist, there is no known cure.
South Africa’s alarming HIV infection rate is well documented. We have a full-blown crisis on our hands. That is the reality. The government, and particularly the Minister of Health, has frequently been lambasted for their hazy, slow-moving and controversial Aids policies. Too much time has already been wasted quibbling about the link between HIV and Aids, courting the opinion of so-called Aids dissidents and discouraging the use of antiretroviral medication.
Recently, the South African government has made progress. Two years ago, a sound Operational Plan for Comprehensive Care and Treatment for people living with HIV and Aids (promoting prevention, education, and the roll-out of antiretrovirals) was approved.
The government’s treatment plan has had its glitches and delays, and the ARV roll-out has not been as wide-spread as planned, yet it is heartening to see that, finally, we are moving in the right direction. This is thanks in no small part to the tireless activism and action of the likes of the late Nkosi Johnson and Zackie Achmat and the thousands of grassroots activists of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
Our South African spirit of activism, so powerfully forged during the struggle against apartheid, lives on in the 21st century!
Education is of paramount importance in the battle against Aids. Twenty years after the virus reared its ugly head, Aids still carries a social stigma in South Africa. Our leaders and indeed all South Africans need follow the bold example of Uganda’s President and speak loudly and clearly and unambiguously about Aids. As the antiretroviral rollout begins to enable HIV positive South Africans to lead healthy lives, the pool of people able to transmit the virus will increase. Education will be needed to prevent an increase in new infections.
Initiatives such as loveLife have been launched to educate the public about HIV/Aids. While their off-beat advertising has built a funky and well-recognised brand, the message is quite obscure and sophisticated and may be missed by target market – 12- to 17-year-olds. However, loveLife has been endorsed by Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and UN Aids experts and claims to have had a significant impact on its audience. Among those that are sexually active and know the loveLife brand, 78% say that loveLife encouraged them to use condoms and 69% reduced their number of sexual partners.
The South African business sector has taken proactive steps and has been lauded internationally for their progressive Aids policies. South African-based companies lead the way in the response to HIV/Aids, according to a World Economic Forum study. The study found that up to 91% of South African companies have an HIV/Aids policy in place.
Their best practices could act as a guide to business in other developing countries. Some of the strongest HIV/Aids business efforts in the world are in Africa; they include workplace programmes at Anglo American, BMW, Heineken, VW, Standard Chartered and Eskom. In fact, data from 500 large businesses in South Africa show 86% have policies and prevention programmes in place and 65% offer treatment and care to their employees.
The battle against Aids is also being waged at the coalface by dynamic and brave individuals who are tackling the enormous social consequences of the Aids pandemic. Armed with passion, inspired by love, emboldened by conviction, and not overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, these champions are having a profound effect on the lives of those ravaged by the virus – the HIV positive and the children orphaned by Aids. People like Agnes Qwabe (http://www.childrenofthedawn.org.za/), Anthony Farr of the Starfish Greathearts Foundation (http://www.starfishcharity.org/), Dr Greg Ash of Noah (http://www.noahorphans.org.za/) and Rev. Sunette Pienaar of Heartbeat (http://www.heartbeat.org.za/) are making an unquantifiable difference in the lives of the growing number of Aids orphans of South Africa. It is estimated that some 3000 care centres have been set up by ordinary South Africans. Approximately 900,000 of the estimated 1,000,000 Aids orphans are being cared for in one way or another
Aids is a serious threat to South Africa’s economic, political and social prosperity. As can be seen in the Ugandan example, the battle against Aids can be won. We cannot afford to rest. We cannot wait on the government to beat back the tide of Aids. Each of us, as individuals or as a collective, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Just ask Anthony Farr or Agnes Qwabe or Greg Ash or Zackie Achmat or Sunette Pienaar. These, and countless others, are the heroes of the ‘new struggle’. They can’t do it alone. Aluta continua. The struggle continues.
By Ian Macdonald

Celebrating the Move

Our First Friday on the First floor, and what better way to celebrate, than with a Home made hamburger Grilled to perfection on the Weber!


Mixed grill: From left to right: Karel Willems (Sales), Douw Marais (Installations Manager), JT(IT), Pat Geroni (Accounts)


Smooth operators - Chris(BeeGee), Johan(IT) and Johan(JT) of JL Conradie IT services, the guys responsible for the unhampered move to the top, and installation of a new server!


Family(mostly staff) and friends(Monica) enjoying the new space!


Fanie showing the young guns how its done!

Moving up in life

Hello all!

Don’t we all love good news!

And with all the talk of recession in the current financial circumstances, with future growth being less positive than before, and Rating agencies getting a kick out of dissing the South African economy, it seems hard to believe that there is any hope left.

Yet at this troublesome time Fanie Marais, Managing member and co-owner of Optima - despite his shrewd business sense, and 38-and-a-bit years of experience in the industry - opted to raise the Bar, and to elevate us to a higher state of being.

In fact in this time of crisis he went as far as giving the entire sales team a raise! Lifting our weary spirits (and tired body’s) to the first floor above our showroom!

Optima is proud to announce that we have moved offices, upstairs that is!

The long awaited move happened suddenly after a collaborative effort of about 3 months from suppliers, management and staff alike, which turned a once dingy and dark factory into an incredibly creative interactive space, with room to grow

And here is proof – an office with a view!

This is but a one of several phases, in the process of adding and upgrading our showrooms to a modern lifestyle centre – watch this space for more!

And if the photos were not enough, please don’t wait for our Grand opening in the first quarter of 2009, pop in or swing by and say hi!

See you soon!

Optima

Bosch Siemens Gaggenau interactive training

Its Crazy season again. That time of the year when our production pulls out all the stops to manufacture a record number of kitchens, for all our customers who have invited their families over for Christmas, to their hope-to-be-completed-in-time new homes. Despite the high drama, and Sales Management attending the Robin Sharma leadership seminar - Optima was well represented at the BSH Home appliances Cook-up (Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau) at their showroom in Midrand on Thursday the 6th of November















True to my nickname, the Lone Ranger, I flew the Optima flag high, as the BSH team introduced new dishwashing technology and some new and alternative cooking methods to various industry members.
In the Gaggenau kitchen we prepared steamed veggies in the counter top steamer, Prawns grilled on the Tepanyaki in lemon, butter and garlic, Pizza on the Pizza Stone and a beef fillet in the steamer.

















In the Siemens & Bosch showroom there was a pastry showdown, as industry members prepared an array of creative bread to be tested in both a Steam oven, and a regular oven. Needless to say it was Optima’s creative genius that won hands down; despite the other teams having the advantage of baking their bread in the steam oven, as the bread out of the steam oven was notibly both crispy-brown and moist.
An afternoon of learning about Ceramic grillers, quantum speed ovens, and EPS plus ovens, was hard work, as sausages, flapjacks, muffins and more pizza, fed more than our intellectual hunger.

















And alas, alls well, ends well, as the hard work of both the hosts and the attendees was rewarded with a swell sociable supper at the Grill shop in Monte Casino.
A big thank you, to the entire BSH team for a well rounded day!
Ciao,
Karel

Robin Sharma on Leadership

Stefan and Fanie Marais attended the "Leadership without title" this past Thursday at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Other companies can copy our product or our name but they cannot copy our culture (our people)

It is our people that sets Optima Kitchens apart from our competition.
I would like thank all our staff for leaving their family at home to be at work today, for giving us the best hours of their day.

Optima Kitchens is a passionate organisation because we are all Craftsmen at what we do.

Regards

Stefan

Order books

Our order books are closed for 2008.

We expect all appliances to increase in price by approximately 15% in 2009, it is advisable to order and pay for these items by 30 November 2008.

Optima Kitchens resident cat

I wonder if this cat's favourite food is Lasagne?

Eid Bumarak

Rosh Hashanah

Optima Open plan office and showroom

We are in the process of suspending the ceiling above the island with cables from the factory roof. Once this is completed the Siemens island extractor will be fitted.

Optima Renovations

The picture above features our Renovations team.
Vusi top right is the team leader followed anti-clockwise by: Patrick, Robson and Albert.
We are currently busy with the painting of our deck and the open office floor.

"Check out the smiles"

Regards

Stefan Marais

Deepest sympathy

It is with much sadness that I heard the news of a valued client of ours son, Martin, passed away due to tragic circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Paddy and her family.

Sincerely

Stefan Marais
Optima Kitchens

KSA 10 Years + Award and Optima's17th Birthday

Optima Kitchens was awarded the KSA (Kitchen Specialist Association) 10 Year plus award at the annual KSA Golf day yesterday. September is also the month that Optima turned 17 years old.(Established 1991)

New Miele Range

Wake up and smell the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee! What will it be...a rich Espresso or a Cafe Latte Macchiato?

Like Miele ; Optima Kitchens is a family owned business and we are proud to boast the new Miele range in our showroom.

Please join us for a Cappuccino or visit http://www.miele.co.za/za/ for more information.

Linda Recovery

We wish Linda a client of ours a speedy recovery.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Spring Day

1 September 2008

Spring is the time for renewal and we started right here at Optima.We are planing to expand our showroom by moving our offices upstairs.The open offices will be used as board rooms, sample rooms and added display areas.A gallery of photos will be featured in our passage.

Things to look out for is our planned window in the factory roof and our new Grey colour scheme. We also plan to display our Rooms on View Kitchen of 2008.

Regards
Stefan Marais
Optima Kitchens