The Family Behind Home-Dzine
Home-Dzine.co.za is one of South Africa's leading home-related websites that also attracts a lot of attention around the world, but who is Home-Dzine?
02/01/2019
Home-Dzine.co.za will be celebrating 15 years online next year in 2020, and that's no small feat for a website that is a privately run operation catering specifically for those interested in do-it-yourself topics. The woman behind Home-Dzine is Janice Anderssen, who is also the founder and still currently runs workshops for DIY Divas at her venue in Randpark Ridge.
Janice launched Home-Dzine way back in 2005, when many of us were still using MWeb's Big Black Box to connect to the Internet. After a disastrous attempt at launching her own magazine, On The Homefront, in 2003/2004, Janice saw the potential in moving her ideas online, and trained herself in all aspects of website coding and design. From this humble beginning Janice launched Home-Dzine and since 2005 has continued to feature easy DIY projects, topics relating to home maintenance, home repair and home improvement, as well as craft and lifestyle articles that she herself finds interesting and informative.
"I think the popularity of Home-Dzine lies in the fact that we try to cater for everyone. All the projects and articles that are featured on the website are easy to understand, easy to make and aimed at those looking to have a beautiful home - without the expensive price tag." says Janice. "I do believe that as a privately-run website, we are not governed by an organisation that is defined by its profit margin and can concentrate on what we believe our readers want and what I feel readers will enjoy," she states.
"I also think it is important that we can be honest and true to what we believe in," says Janice. "Readers have come to count on our impartial and unbiased approach and we will continue to do this in the future," concludes Janice.
Over the years Janice has made more than a few appearances on TV and radio, and says she has definitely had her "five minutes of fame" after a few years as a DIY guest expert on Talk Radio 702, Cape Talk and a host of other radio shows, as well as DIY slots on Expresso, Lunch Box and other well known TV shows on SABC, MNet and DSTV's The Home Channel.
What does the future hold?
While Janice was diagnosed with severe-onset rheumatoid arthritis in 2018, she has enrolled the help of her son, Brett, to assist with assembling projects. "I can't see me ever wanting to stop what I'm doing right now, I just love what I do too much!" she claims. "I might be limited with some projects, but that won't prevent me from doing what I enjoy most."
In 2019, and moving forward, you can expect just as much in terms of articles, features and projects. With son, Brett, taking over some of the harder project assembly work, and hubby Greg helping with design and layout for the website, Janice plans on doing much more to ensure fresh, daily content, inspiring DIY crafts and projects, and is looking forward to getting South African businesses onboard to provide information that readers will enjoy.
