About the Home-Dzine Network

2012

Today I realised that Home-Dzine has been online for 7 years. How time flies when you're having fun!

Once again my thanks to all the readers who have made Home-Dzine so successful. Without you it would not have been possible.

Why is Home-Dzine so successful? We are always on the lookout for ideas and inspiration that we can share with South African's who want to have that dream home - without the exhorbitant price tag. We expend a lot of time and effort to design and make, or source, interesting projects that you will enjoy. Ultimately, you spend less time looking and more time doing!

This year once again promises to be even better. In February 2012 the DIY Divas, in conjunction with Builders Warehouse, will be centre stage at the Homemakers Expo at the Coca Cola Dome, bringing you a selection of projects and showing you that it can be easy to do-it-yourself. Be sure to join us - we'll be there every day from 10:00 to 16:00. And it's free!

Later this year, and again in conjunction with Builders Warehouse, we will be participating in Grand Designs Live at the Coca Cola Dome - yet another one to watch out for.

And the fun just keeps on coming!!!!

Janice Anderssen

2011

Thank you to all our readers. You have made Home-Dzine one of the leading home-interest websites on the Internet - globally!

This year we have reached up to 4,500 daily visitors (not page views) and that shows that you are enjoying the content. I would also like to thank those whose projects and ideas have been featured on Home-Dzine and Home-Dzine Online.

This year the DIY Divas launched our very own book - and we hope to be able to bring out a project collection from all the DIY Divas for the next issue.

We continue to provide South Africans with local and international content that is relevant and practical.

Home-Dzine is about making it easier for anyone who doesn't have the time - or the budget - to spend hours looking for home solutions, ideas and inspiration for decorating, or do-it-yourself advice.

On this note we would like to say that we will continue to do our best in 2012.

Janice Anderssen

2010

Another exceptional year lies ahead of us and has already started with an appearance on The Home Channel - Show Me How, and an invitation to present a do-it-yourself room setting for the Homemakers Expo - Decor on a budget display. We have been interviewed and featured in some of SA's leading publications, been on 5fm and are in the process of launching our very own series of books: DIY for Divas.

Janice Anderssen

2009

Established in 2005, Home-Dzine is now one of the top home interest and DIY websites. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, to the readers, the sponsors, and even the occasional visitors.

2009 sees a few changes, which will even more increase our visibility and popularity. As of January 2009, the Home-Dzine.co.za website becomes even more interactive. New and updated content will be added each week, and that's in addition to our monthly online magazine (Home-Dzine Online). We are going to be concentrating on more projects and crafts for amateur do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts, we're busy negotiating more competitions and giveaways, and we will continue to have plenty of feature articles on decorating the home to keep you busy!

Accomplishments during 2009:

- Property24.com (Guest Expert - Decor & DIY)
- Women24.com (Guest Expert - Home & Decor)
- Homemakers Online (Decor & DIY)
- The Home Handyman (DIY project features)
- The Gardener magazine (DIY project features)
- Home magazine (DIY blog)
- Decorex 2009 (Theatre of Ideas - Workshops)
- Gardenex 2009 (Workshops)
- Radio 702 - SAfm - CapeTalk 567 - Radio 2000 - Radio Sonder Grense (RSG)
- SABC Lunchbox - The Power Within
- Launch of Easy DIY Workshops in association with Builders Warehouse

Janice Anderssen

2005 - 2008

I thought it was about time to introduce myself so that you get to know the person behind the scenes, as well as provide you with a bit of insight as to how Home-Dzine came into being.

Let's start at the beginning...

Being involved in research for various publications, it was necessary for me to source information relating to home-interest topics. It came as quite a shock to realise that, (pre- Home-Dzine), there were absolutely no South African sites offering topics relating to caring for and improving the home. The only sites available were site directories, quick links to site directories, quick links to quick links for other site directories and those sites located overseas and, that all the information provided was relevant to companies not situated in SA. I spent hours going around in circles and ending up right where I started.

As an avid DIY, decorating and craft enthusiast - ask anyone who knows me - I decided that it was time South Africans had their own local site devoted to home decor, decorating, craft and DIY - and everything else that came along with it.

It took six months of 50/50 perspiration and inspiration to finally get Home-Dzine the way I wanted it to look. It had to be easy to use, interesting to look at, and have pictures that you didn't need a magnifying glass to see. It also had to have content that applied to us here in SA, with easy links to advertisers and, most importantly, offer practical and affordable projects and inspiration.

Finally, on 1 May 2005, Home-Dzine went live on the internet and I was overwhelmed by the response. You loved it as much as I did, and that made all the hard work worthwhile!

Home-Dzine has since taken to the airwaves, with several guest appearances on Radio 702, we've featured ads on The Home Channel, and Home-Dzine.co.za has now launched Home-Dzine Online, your online magazine for information relating to decor, decorating, DIY and so much more.

Home-Dzine has also branched out onto other platforms:

- Property24.com (Guest Expert - Decor & DIY)
- Property Scout
- SA Property Forum
- Women24.com (Guest Expert - Home & Decor)
- Q & A for Timbercity
- Kulula.com ('comic life' Inflight Magazine)
- Rapid Info
- Property Classifieds
- Homemakers Online
- The Home Handyman (DIY project feature)
- Timbercity (DIY project feature)
- PG Bison (DIY project feature)
- Virgin Money 'Extra-Extra' newsletter
- The Gardener magazine (DIY project features)
- Home magazine

and many more.

Stay tuned folks, it only gets better!

And thank you for making Home-Dzine what it is today.

Janice Anderssen