Business is blossoming at Wonderland
Marietjie and Richard Dalbock, co-owners of Wonderland Lifestyle Nursery in Sandbaai, have no fear when it comes to launching new business ventures.
Both hailing originally from Klerksdorp, the couple owned a lodge in Mpumalanga before relocating to Hermanus in 2009. They started Wonderland Cafe and Play Park in 2011, with its jumping castles, pirate ships, many climbing frames, train and aviary, and in 2015 bought the existing Superplants nursery, through which one had to walk to get to Wonderland.
‘I originally just wanted a coffee shop, but we ended up with everything here!’laughs Marietjie.’ Once we had taken over Superplants, we could do anything we wanted to, so we added a skate park and a putt-putt course to Wonderland, In 2016, we started Wonderland Woodyard, selling braai wood, and in September this year, we started a Cape Town Wonderland Woodyard branch in Brackenfell.’
There seems to be no stopping this enterprising pair and Superplants today has expanded its offerings to way beyond those of a simple nursery. They currently employ 40 staff members, with Marietjie’s sister-in-law Nadine de Beer as the company’s bookkeeper and Superplants manager.
The nursery supervisor is Sizwe Mbali, who has been with Superplants since 2004, under the previous owners, and he has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to plants and fertilisers.
Alongside the thousands of different indoor and outdoor indigenous and exotic plants on sale, the substantial business offers a range of home decor items, gifts, toys and games, as well as patio and ‘beach house* furniture, water features and a variety of ceramic and other braais. There is even a ‘fairy room’, which has become popular with little ones who come to marvel at the quirky characters and magical lights.
In October, they began a hydroponics tunnel project alongside the nursery, where they are growing vegetables for use in the cafe, which serves light meals and tea-time treats.
‘We’re selling three different hydroponics systems and the necessary nutrients, and have an indoor display which we can use to explain the process to customers and give them advice.’ Marietjie says.’We just decided one day that we wanted to do our own veggies, the healthy way.’
Including a paintball target shooting zone and a North American Indian inspired teepee area, Wonderland offers five function venues.
‘We can host birthday parties, talks, even weddings, baby showers and stork parties. We sometimes have between two and five functions in one weekend!’enthuses Marietjie. Over the Christmas period, there will be additional activities for children, such as cupcake decorating and fairy garden building.
Throughout the year, Marietjie also hosts a variety of workshops, including one on Tjhoko chalk paint.
‘Buddy, the talking tree, is also really popular with the children.’she says.’ He’s the only one in South Africa and we imported him especially from China, with African inspired kiddies’ and now Christmas stories, which are activated by motion sensors’
Superplants/Wonderland caters for so many different age groups and interests that one could almost spend an entire day roaming around the premises.
For Marietjie. Hermanus is now home. ‘We love it here. It’s like being on holiday all year round.’ Although with so many lines of work to keep her busy, it’s a wonder she ever gets a chance to relax, especially with the busy festive season approaching. By mid-November, she’ll be putting up the Christmas display, and even Buddy can expect to get a ‘Santa’ makeover!