In a daring leap of faith, Glowney Naris, who once thrived as a Portfolio Administrator at Momentum Metropolitan Namibia, traded her stable job to satisfy a burning passion for transforming spaces into stories through her décor and events management company, Shekinah Events.
The company, which quickly became tantamount to elegant sophistication and stylish classiness, caters for special occasions of any magnitude including weddings, corporate events, bridal and baby showers and birthdays.
After noticing a recurring hiccup of third-party caterers who often mismatched her aesthetic vision, Naris spotted the gap and envisioned Charlotte’s Bistro – a restaurant subsidiary blending gourmet cuisine with the artistic flair of décor.
“We have a reputation for our whimsical precision. And being determined to control every detail of the events I manage, I couldn’t help but birth Charlotte’s Bistro, which makes us a one-stop shop for all events’ needs,” said Naris.
While the transition was not seamless, she has since cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry, having already showcased instantly attractive masterpieces from enchanting fairy light settings to the most creative balloon and floral arrangements.
“I’d wake up at 3 a.m., wondering if I’d ruined my life,” she laughs now, recalling her first few months after becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. “Early clients were scarce, and budgets were tight. But my breakthrough came when I started doing décor for weddings with more than 100 guests. Then came the corporate events, and before I knew it, I was in business more regularly,” she recalls.
Following the addition of Charlotte’s Bistro, which was officially launched on 24 January, Naris shared that the true test of her first dual-service event, including services from both Shekinah Events and the restaurant, is yet to come but that she is up for the challenge.
“I am expecting it to probably be a chaotic perfection, but with all hands on deck, my wonderful team and I should be able to manage. I know we will,” she gloated.
Moreover, Naris’s experience spans almost a decade, with her mother being her initial source of inspiration. Her empire spans a combined 13 employees and she eyes expansion into destination weddings and events that she can turn into unforgettable spectacles, one breath-taking event at a time.