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We are ready to help #CreateNostalgia for you, with a custom built, custom designed and exclusive event that will suit your needs. Whether a luxury business event, Networking session or Special Baby Shower we are here to help make it memorable forever. Our 1st Floor, Private Suite at Lifestyle Garden Centre is the perfect venue for those wanting to simply enjoy a private event with minimal disruption with friends, colleagues or family and where every need is catered just how you envision it. Elaine is the GM of Operations of the Freedom Space and is really passionate about serving your needs, creating perfect memories and is always ready to help make your occasion spectacularly successful. As a former hair stylist she is Creative to the Core and that makes her a considerate and professional Hostess. She is ready to serve! The Freedom Space is very centrally located in Randpark Ridge, just off Beyers Naude Drive (entrance on Ysterhout) and ensures that all your guests can travel easily to the venue from all over Gauteng irrespective which direction they start from. We really can take care of all your needs from Invitation design and mailing , custom decor items, catering and any other special little items you desire - we will get it done - We are able to host small intimate events for up to 30 of your closest and dearest with all the work done for you.

A Quick Guide to protect you from buying a fake and some rules of thumb i use! What a complex world we live in with buying opportunities coming at us from every angle, from the traditional TV, Radio, Magazines and Newspapers to the more socially connected platforms. This is the time when we will be buying special gifts and wonderful memorable pressies for family, friends and loved-ones. Its also the best time to get taken for a ride. Here is an important read for you - especially if like me - you love giving gifts that matter, mean something to the recipient and dont neccesarily have to be brand spanking new. It also means we need to be cautious for those who wish to take advantage of our good nature and pockets! Hard-Earned In the used good markets antiques stores, charity stores, pawn shops, home sellers and traders of all sorts - we are many! We offer products to our target market to lovers of old or vintage but also collectors who are more specific in what they buy. Product range and options abound and seems everyone has something to sell - including us at NostalgiaNique. There are some amazing items on offer and yes we have the priviledge of buying them from sellers after we research/curate and make an acceptable, market related, fair and honest offer - all that adorne our shelves today. Most of us do the right thing to varying degrees and try our best to ensure we run an honest and trusted business. We at NostalgiaNique focus on three key areas - the best quality, unique and authentic pieces for our store and are careful to ensure that each piece lives up to its name, stamp, markings, reputation and is correct to the manufacturer, designer or artist. On that front we take our time to ensure that you - our customers are safeguarded from spending money on anything but an Authentic #AlwaysLoved piece. If you've managed to read our Interview with SA Decor and Design (follow the link if you read my interview with the CEO of SA Decor and Design) recently you would have seen that curating is our single most important activity as we look to ensure authenticity for our clients. The process for each object is quite different and cannot use the same process for crockery as we use for a vintage watch or an old woodcarving. This is Obvious I guess but through our interactions we have come across both sides of the spectrum genuine and fake. I will also delve a bit into "Homage" and " Reproductions" version which means in simple terms - means that another manufacturer copied the design of an original from another designer - they are both authentic but the design is copied. We see homage version across the spectrum from crockery, cutlery, watches, figurines,etc. Don't just give it away! Reproductions and Homage Personally I feel that a "Homage" version is not a fake as the manufacturer of the "Homage" version is an authentic manufacturer but I would love to know your thoughts on this matter? Yes its a copy of another design or designer but its genuine and often sold at a fair market value from the manufacturing. This happens across industry and I think as long as the product is not marketed and soldnto deceive the buyer its a fair and honest trade. I am sure that the originating brand may not like it very much. That being said Reproductions by the same manufacturer are also genuine and authentic. Being a vintage and antique store we try and get the original and stick to the conventions within the industry of an older version rather. Almost all top sports and luxury brands have launched a "Retro" range which gives a nod to the original piece of the 50s through to the 90's. I certainly wear reproductions if manufactured by the same original brand. Again, if made by the original manufacturer there is nothing to fear reagrding reproduction pieces. FAKES!! FORGERIES!! which are defined very accurately in The Cambridge Dictionery " an object that is made to look real or valuable in order to deceive people" . Ja Hey!! I love the "in order to deceive people" part at the end because thats exactly what happens when people pay genuine prices for non-genuine pieces - they are deceived or lied to. Look after it! Tiny Details are everything! A good friend of ours recently paid R9000 for a painting by a well known artist and the certificate of authenticity valued it at R23000. The purchase was intiated on a social media site and concluded after he went for an inspection. He was happy and relied on the certificate of authenticity and purchased it after a bit of a haggle. He brought it in to me for reframing and relayed how he came by the painting. I was initially very excited for him and he asked for my opinion. As requested I took a close look (does the paint lift off the painted surface, is the signature in line with the artist, was the subject matter within the realms of the Artist and was it consistant with anything else I may have seen. I could not see the texture of the paint lifted off the paper but rather on the paper - that miniscule detail did set off low sounding alarm bells but I was careful and respectful not to say anything to him. My advice was to send it to an expert for a re-evaluation and certification and whom I use regularly - he could verify it for him under microscope and I would be happy to arrange for him. We did! Welllll - it was not genuine and the seller as promised, was unwilling to take it back nor provide a refund - "voetstoets"- to this day I believe they are still "in negotiations." I hear you ask about the Authenticy certificate - FAKE!! as well everything and alles was created for the sole purpose of deceit - a quick buck and of little or no consequence to the unscrupolous seller. Addresses, company, contact numbers, registrations, logo were all not worth the paper it was printed on. So lets consider the total loss to my friend was of R32 000-00 - R9000 paid plus R23000 potential value as promised and if it was authentic - which is why he bought it in the first place as an investment and the fact he loved it for the aesthetic appeal for his home. This is a very simple equation to illustrate the loss and haven't considered what that painting could have been worth in todays market or other external factors. Fakes are by its nature simply their to con you into thinking you are getting the real deal with an implied future value! (which will never materialise). There are no safe zones when it comes to Fakes - jewellery, scent bottles, alcohol, food items, watches, figurines, artwork, lighters, crockery, cutlery, car parts even ancient artifacts- and the scary part is just how authentic fakes are made to look, they are getting better and better at producing almost identical look alikes with better quality materials to be as exact as possible. We are talking about the high-end luxury branded sunglass at the traffic light that sells for R200 negotiable and at the brands retail outlet costs upward of R3000 non-negotiable. Sure they are cheaper and most definitely will do the job (for a time and depending what it is) but at some point through normal function or at the time to sell - it will let you down. Get under there! Do the work upfront So how can you protect yourself against being scammed. Well you need to some work upfront to really be sure. The first rule should be to buy from a reputable person/business. Its so much easier these days to Check references from online channels, to contact the compnany itself or simply read the reviews. Get comfortable before you buy with with the upfront work on who are you buying from. I spend such a big portion of my week simply checking and double checking and doing research on every item - to ensure you get the real deal. I am proud we have never had a return for any reason to date. Rule 2 - Check the item thoroughly as there will be tell tale signs of mass production or rushed jobs, - inferior materials which are lighter are more modern which could indicate a fake - old stuff was just made to last and therefore in my experience made out of heavier materials and superior craftmanship and care was off the charts. Don't be afraid to use a search engine. I use the internet as well as reference books, brand websites and databases and experience to ensure correctness but a quick search is where I start. All great luxury brands were METICULOUS about the overall quality of the products they made, there were no short cuts. Yes wear and tear will always play a part but it is also a sign of correct age so check that wear marks are consistant with the item you are buying. Old wooden chairs in original condition for example are almost always scuffed/worn on the legs, arm rests and the top of the chair backs (due to hands resting on them or frequent touching. TIPS Are Free at NostalgiaNique haha . When inspecting start simple with the eyes and hands. Look for small inconsistencies - spelling errors even - if there are markings use your mobile to find a match - dont be afraid to lightly clean around markings to get a clear view, always ask questions and always listen to the answers. Hallmarks, stamps, engravings and other manufacturer markings are vital to determine the genuine article. Look closely at these. On crockery for example porcelaine is far easier then earthenware to research due to hallmarks, names, dates and artist stamps normally being evident on them. Watches are getting seriously difficult to asses and I often take up to two weeks with an assesment - especially with high-end luxury brands. Fakes watches are lucrative! With a relatively small investment in comparison to the real thing - they get churned out quickly using modern design tools and manufacturing standards - there almost no tell tale signs on the exterior of the piece with faces, hands, crowns, back plates, straps and back stamps all look near identical and sadly they are not as cheap as you would believe. At NostalgiaNique every time-piece is thoroughly researched and verified through certified professional before we even make an offer to purchase. Any reputable seller/dealer should be willing and able to tell you specifically how they went about Authenticating a piece. I have heard, seen and read of so many deals concluded in Social media sites that have gone south so always try and buy from someone who is trusted and reputable. which brings me to my last important word of advice, if there is doubt - do not part with your hard earned money. If details of ownership or how was it acquired seem far fetched or with serious lack of proof - walk away with your money in your pocket. If questions are not answered thoroughly and you get the sense (gut feel) that the deal is too good to be true - it probably is. If the price is not in line with reputable dealers ask many many questions because in those instances - only one person in the transaction is gonna win - which one remains to be seen through time. in Conclusion You will notice I have not made referecne to any specifc brand in my examples which is done on purpose. The second-hand or used market is especially susseptible to fakes and forgeries so I am ultra conservative when assessing, buying and putting a value to the all the items we stock - for the safety and security of my clients this is important work. However, I also know the second-hand market is full of great pieces at amazing prices for genuine and authentic pieces. My rule of thumb is to personally check the item before buying either driving to a home or arranging for in-store inspection before any purchase, consulting with other experts and tradespeople and even my clients who have a wealth of knowledge. I am equally careful about receiving cash in the store - due to - You Guessed it FAKE MONEY!! I also agree that there is a market for fake/knockoffs/forgeries due to brand association, affordability, ego, etc or else they would not exist..But if, like me care and want the real deal hopefully the advice that I've shared helps and protects you from becoming a victim. Luxury Brands suffer massive income losses and Reputational damage because of these fakes, artists lose much needed income and businesses and store owners could lose everything they work so hard for, you get "conned" out of hard earned money and savings! The only real winners in the Fake market are the produces and sellers of such items who often walk away unscathed due to little or no accountability and recourse. Be safe shopping this festive season and we hope that every gift received or given creates a long-lasting and wonderful memory. #LoveAlways Nicholas Feel free to browse our selection of quality, authentic and rare gifts at www.nostalgianick.com/shop or visit our Lifestyle Boutique if you prefer to see, feel and touch and give a gift that matters. Nostalgianique Gift cards are available - https://www.nostalgianick.com/gift-card

Being bold is being firm, sure, confident, fearless, daring, strong, resilient, and not easily intimidated BE BOLD campaign is a celebration of YOU!! The ability to BE BOLD  is not a feeling it is an ACTION  and is often so hidden from our personal vision - we dont even realise the power of our action and how bold we really are. We often think of explorers, pioneers, thought-leaders, designers and even artsists as BOLD which were all my initial "programmed" thoughts of who I could reference as the most bold people I've heard of. YOUR actions are an inspiration, to think differently and to push the boundaries of possibility, simply to create #AbetterTomorrow. You, our #FriendsofNostalgia are the best part of NostalgiaNique as we look for the uniqueness of jouneys, overcoming challenges and the ability to BE BOLD. Its you our pioneers that we respect for what you've given us...INSPIRATION to BE BOLD! Your stories are inspiring and deserves respect, recognition and celebration and your stories and life expereinces matter to us. To BE Bold is to never forget our small wins, what we do in the moment and how we continously overcome what is in front of us (good, bad and ugly), how we put others above ourselves and how we selflessly give to the world. It's not something we advertise and most of us quietly and consistently WIN for others and in so doing change lives. As I read, research and do my best to understand the co-existence of art and business from the Masters of their craft (Potters, Artists, Musicians, Poets, Modern Tech Leaders, Business leaders, Glassblowers) I noticed a common thread and that is they were indeed very BOLD. Taking leaps of faith to consider other techniques, pushing conservative business thinking and tested paths to challenge conventional forms, forcing us to think differently and being BOLD in conceptualising a different future. Visionary thinkers that practiced and were able to articulate the art of imagination and in so doing, create a different understanding of the world for us. We should look to them for inspiration and also I am equally respectful and mindful of the everyday people, you whose battles and accomplishments are equally important and deserve recongnition . Bold and Nostalgic Nostalgia r efers to that warm, sentimental feeling or wistful affection for times in the past, often connected to happy personal memories. It's a yearning for the joy and comfort of bygone days. Nostalgia is associated with a memory flashback that is unexpected with a smile or a tear almost always near. Memories like fingerprints are exclusively ours and unique - to remember and to hold on to, to be surprised and elated by every so often. Nostalgia- U nique combines these two main elements of memory recall Nostalgia and Unique. It so happens that nique and nick are prounounced the same..."happens chance" (purposely coincidental) as they would say in the olden times, but our mission is to create unique memories, joyful experiences and celebrate the Boldness we've witnessed with every one of our #friendsofnostalgia. We want to celebrate your success and the fact that you take a leap to BE BOLD and courageous multiple times in a day, the bravery to pursue a dream and hold true or welcome a newborn baby into the world that needs more of you now - You are BOLD, LOVING and KIND. It would be amiss of me to exclude any of you as examples of BOLDNESS if I were to truly think and act in accordance with my vision for #Abettertomorrow cause you all have given me #thebestyesterdays. Hence my undying gratitude towards everyone who has supported us and shared just a moment of their complex and beautiful lives. Your bold stories are cherished just like our #AlwaysLoved pieces. Our celebration to BE BOLD is exclusively about the power of the human spirit, the ability to overcome, to stand tall, choosing to buy differently with bold uniqueness. The BE Bold message is for YOU! We deeply care for the magnitude of the impact you have made on our lives. We hope to see you before the end of 2024 and we wish you a safe and amazing holiday filled with happiness, love, joy, great stories and amazing new memories and especially a safe return. Look after yourself and remain amazingly BOLD. #LoveAlways Nicholas

27 10 24 WE DID IT AND IT FEELS SOO GOOOD!! The journey of 1000 kilometers starts with the first step but the journey only truly starts when your first step is taken. Our First Step happened!! The Hosting of our first (of many) Cancer Awareness Paint and Sip event was hosted succesfully yesterday (27 10 2024)...and what a success it was!! We always believed that when we pay it forward, when we include and not exlcude and when we acknowledge pain it makes it easier to bear! For those engaging with the Freedom Space for the first time, it is our hope that two things happen - You are inspired to support our various upcoming initiatives and that you feel cared for! You see - The Freedom Space and Nostalgianique (Antiques) is the culmination of my lifelong yearning to help transform what good and fair business looks like, by Creating businesses that from the outset and at its core and is focused on making a difference and designed to create good memories (nostalgia) for all who enter while investing in tangible difference solutions to soicietal challenges. Certainly we aim to have a sustainable and profitable business for all our stakeholders. We enjoy turning the script of "Normal" business to what a small business should look like. #Heartfirst I believe, when we do the right things with the right intent; make the right choices - the right things HAPPEN . Well, this is exactly what happened as we prepared and hosted our first Major event in the Freedom Space. We chose Cancer Awareness as our theme not because its topical and colourful (October being the month of Breast Cancer Awareness) and could simply leverage a global theme and make money off of it. We chose it because it was HARD and close to the bone - Hard because - as recently as a month ago our family buried a brave and strong POWER WOMAN (Aunty Jessie) who fought valiantly and bravely for over three years but sadly succumbed to Cancer in September, Hard Because - to the wonderful #freindsofnostalgia and personal friends with Cancer diagnosis and who feel alone in their situation and uncertain about "what comes next". Hard because -it's sensitive and hard because of stigma and being afraid to ask for help or feeling undeserving of help. Hard because - its difficult to comprehend and feelings are scary in uncertainty and despair is real. Hard because - it's the reality of so many of us where Cancer directly has impacted every one of us - OUR Family - Friends - Colleagues - Neighbours - Children. It really does not discriminate! Hard because - Talking about it may be uncomfortable, painful and rather left alone. Hard because - We ran the risk of no proift - well risk to reality is always a difficult pill to swallow. YES! We didn't sell out the 30 planned tickets but we did our damndest to make a difference and I know we did make a difference to all who entered and have nine new wonderful and amazing #friendsofnostalgia and we know the journey may not be profitable but the message and impact is far more important. When we considered all the HARD things about Cancer the clearer it became that it was something we needed to talk about, to create an event around and do our best to make it professional and memorable - and we have the Free-est Space to do it in. WE DID IT!! A DAY TO REMEMBER The day would not have been possible without our guests and certainly the impact of our speakers who both spoke from the heart and we were honoured by all who attended. Our Amazing Speakers Boy oh Boy!! did they blow us away! Mrs. Gerda De Koker. She is in a nutshell - A TRUE LEGEND - a client of the Antiques shop but also an amazing human-being, full of life, always a hugger, creates smiles wherever she goes and is just an exuberant life of the party person. Up until a few months ago I had no idea about her Breast Cancer diagnosis and when I found out it was surprising as she never showed it, wasnt mopey or sad ever!! its how I often imagine how I would feel along with depressed, lonely and angry - Not HER! a POWER WOMAN of extraordinary strength, courage and Love for everyone. Her story often interupted with an overflow of emotion and was thrilled when she agreed to share at our Event - She was was unbelievably touching, laced with bits of humour of how she was young and nursed her Aunt, how she became compelled to be tested, her reaction to getting her diagnosis, how she felt and the impact to her family and friends with ongoing treatment. Emotional, expressive and a real life Cancer Warrior whose story resonated with so many of our guests (male and female) with tears being shed in solidarity with her. Gerda, Andre' (husband) and Megan (Daughter) we Love you for sharing a piece of your lives with us and we are eternally grateful and at your service. Your collective Spirits of perseverance, courage and passion for changing OUR WORLD and OUR LIVES will be remembered for all our Lives! #CreateNostalgia We then had the priviledge of introducing Dr. Leonie Harmse and again my mind was blown and world ratlled and shaken by her deep knowledge and articulation on the subject. Leonie and Callie (husband) and I have become really close and great friends as collectors of Fine Antique pieces and our tastes are often in-sync when it comes to old and beautiful items. She is An astonishlingy beautiful human being with a heart of gold that is always selfless, loving, kind, always ready with a kind smile and warm hug. A true inspiration! Leonie is a Senior Lecturer at Wits University that leads the Pharmacology Cancer research team. With her amazing calming and assuring voice she took us through how Cancer cells develop, change/evolve and the wide range of medical treatment options that are availabe and most importantly a medical view of fact vs theory vs untruths and how and what to look out for. She gave sound advice on the importance of questions and why questioning treatment, side-effects, recovery do and donts are important and what to be aware of during each stage of treatment. On the more technical side she took our guests through the structural makeup of a Cancer Cell which is her area of expertise. We also went into an in-depth discussion around the various types of treatments avaible and she really did (backed by many years of experience and Her own extensive research) advise on what are the best treatments available today. and some that look promising through clinical trials. She highlighted that there are always Medical trials using various treatments and highlighted that at the moment the best results are being achieved by treating individuals rather then a collective set of patience. Again - a Thoroughly enjoyable, enlightening, practical talk - done with Love, Care and visbile dedication to her career . I cannot in this forum try and explain the do and don'ts for one simple reason - I am not a doctor! so I can only urge you ensure ask as many questions as possible from your medical professional. The Impact We were proud to create an event that encompassed very personal and societal challenges and to show our heartfelt support to those battling a really horrible illness. You know, we often only see and witness change in exceptional circumstances - life often only changes when something catastrophic happens or some major incident forces changes to our lives! This is the reality for so many people around the world whose world is that sometimes just need to share their story and share their knowledge and we could bring those together and make tangible things happen. One of our guests shared how her daughter had just been diagnosed - her own confusion and anger but how through listening to both Gerda and Leonie she is more capable of offering better support as her own understanding, empathy and knowledge increase and is better equipped to assist and support her daughters journey. We also had both males and females committing to being tested and at least 4 appointments were made by Monday as confirmed. We also have a wonderful new and amazing organisation from the Reach for Recovery ( https://www.reach4recovery.org.za ) who attended and were also so supportive and caring. They are a non-profit organisation that "aims to provide practical and emotional support to breast cancer patients and their families throughout South Africa." We will continue our relationship with them as they continue their amazing work. Conculsion I do believe we are changing perspectives on many topics, while addressing key societal and personal challenges faced by our South African Brothers and Sisters - head on. Our next series of events will be around Gender Based Violence, Youth Employment, Youth in Art, Digital Animation and employment and many other important issues. Our Freedom Space welcomes everyone! Thank you to our Prize Sponsors - Silver Birch Restaurant https://www.thesilverbirch.co.za - Buff and Blade Nail Salon https://myappointment.co.za/buff-and-blade - Ultimate Hair - https://www.ultimatehair.co.za Iris Optical https://irisoptical.co.za Congratulations to our winners who took home some amazing self-care and lunch vouchers. Also thank you to our Wine Sponsor Nanola Wines with their generous sponsorship of all the Sips - https://nanola.wine Invitation to you! Your voice can and will make a difference to our events as we hope to bring about real change at community level. Feel free to reach out to us should you require any assistance or have an idea you would like to see happen - we are open to you! contact Elaine on elainef@nostalgianick.com and she will be happy to assist with a custom program.