See photo gallery of some of their
unique Pesach lines below story.
Personal service and unique, personalised products are what Itzik and Dina Barta have built their business on. And Yonteivim is when they are really in demand. The Bartas have become the go-to guys when it comes to Pesach gifts in Joburg.
Whether one is looking for those unique items for one’s own home, or different and unusual gifts for the price of a good box of chocolates, Gil-Adi Gifts is the place to go.
Stop by and see what Dina (pictured, above) has to offer on her tables at Norwood Mall’s Pesach Market until 18 April - or pop in to hubby Itzik’s shop above KosherWorld in Glenhazel. Either way you’re in for a Pesach treat. Their unique home, gift and Judaica items are a treat. And most of their lines can be personalised.
Itzik personalises a large range of products, from household and kitchen items such as dishcloths, oven-mitts and tablecloths, to religious accoutrements such as Briss pillows, Talleisim, Tallis and Tiffilin-bags, wassing towels, and kipot. And, for this hard-working couple, no order is too big or too small.
They carry different and unusual products, quite unique, and at prices one would expect to pay for the ordinary. Unique items one wouldn’t find elsewhere. There is something for everyone, especially for those who thought they had everything.
Itzik and Dina Barta are rooted in the community
Itzik and Dina Barta have been married for 25 years. They have a pigeon-pair: with son Gilad, 15, at King David High School in Victory Park and daughter Adiel, 10, at King David Linksfield. Their kids are the namesakes of their business, Gil-Adi.
Dina hails from Rumanian parents who moved to (the then) Rhodesia for two years on a contract and ended up staying for 18 years. Her parents had three children while in Africa and then made Aliyah. So Dina grew up in Zimbabwe until the age of 15. She completed her schooling in Israel, did her army service and graduated from teachers training college.
While studying teaching, Dina met Sabra, Itzik, in Netanyah and 25-years ago they married. They made their reverse-Aliyah to South Africa 20 years ago looking for greener pastures. Itzik got a job and Dina worked in a shop.
“We were looking for a second income,” says Dina about their initial entrepreneurial goals. Some additional pocket money.” One day the Bartas were walking around looking at shops and suddenly thought it would be nice to personalise items for people. They had friends in a business who agreed to embroider items for them.
The first product that they started personalising were bath towels, dressing gowns, kipot, all personalised with embroidery. They produced at home sold at markets. When their kids were born Dina stopped working and this became the family’s second income. Something that Dina could now do from home.
Dina has been doing markets for the last 10 years. They bought the products and had them embroidered and Dina was selling the finished product. Then they started marketing other peoples’ products at the markets. They increasingly specialised in the Jewish market and sold mostly from home or at Yom Tov markets.
The business started doing well enough for Itzik to leave his job and join the business full time six years ago. They bought their own embroidering machinery and Itzik was trained on operating it. It moved into their home. The next nearest place to have embroidery done is over 10 km from the shtetl.
Along the way, Dina started doing the Rosebank Rooftop Market where she has become a regular face among the stall-holders. But they didn’t take their Jewish products there. On Sundays dina changes gears and stands behind a completely different stall – selling various items including African-themed kiddies clothing.
Their customised embroidered business serves both the retail and corporate markets. Two years ago they bought a fabric printing machine printing machine - which also moved into their home. This allowed them to do orders as small as one or two t-shirts. Again this was unique in that people used to have to travel to Sandton to have t-shirts printed.
Last year Gil-Adi moved out of the Barta family home in Lyndhurst and into a shop in the new Glenhazel Centre (above KosherWorld).
Gil-Adi also caters for Simchas and their corporate work is growing quite fast. They have recently landed orders for Harvey Travel Fairmount, Kind David School Linksfield.
Other corporate clients – for whom they embroider shirts, caps, bags and just about everything else include Ace Auto Scrapyard, Magen David Adom, Corner Café, the Chevrah Kadisha, KosherWorld and Executive Carriers.
GIL-ADI - This must be the safest and best Pesach gift available. Personalised vassing towels - add the name of the family you are joining for a seder. All for less than the price of a nice box of chocolates.jpg
