Lady of Luxury

In the words of Oprah Winfrey: “The key to realising a dream is to focus not on success, but on significance – and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” No individual better exemplifies this advice than the delightful Barbara Lenhard, co-owner of Opulent Living, the brand for the finer things in life.

Lenhard – who views each interaction with her clients as a significant moment in her own life and not just another cog in her welloiled machine – is an inspiring enigma among successful business women. “In our modern world of social media, I still believe in the value of real connections. I love engaging with all the wonderful people my business brings me into contact with, and I believe that what makes Opulent Living special is that we make time to find out what people want, and deliver that. My ultimate aim is that every customer leaves my store loving what they have purchased. And I’m proud to say that, since we opened in November 2016, I’ve only had one customer return to ask for an exchange,” Lenhard says.

Focusing rather on the happiness of her clients than on the profit, Lenhard believes that luxury – even just a touch of it – is a necessity everyone ought to be able to afford. “I don’t believe my customers need to break the bank in order to afford luxury. Granted not everyone can afford an original artwork, but they can invest in a limited-edition print. Likewise, they can embellish an outfit with a simple but sumptuous cashmere scarf, or a one-of-akind necklace. It’s about investing in a quality product that will stand the test of time.”

Lenhard, together with her partner, Florian Gast, relocated from Germany to South Africa in 2009 with the aim of creating their own coffee-table magazine that would showcase the many incredible destinations that Southern Africa boasts. “It was a project that would combine my knowledge of luxury travel, sales, and marketing with Florian’s experience in the publishing industry.”

Lenhard gained her travel experience following her student years. After completing her teaching degree in Germany, Lenhard decided to take a break and indulge in her desire to travel by enrolling in a tourism apprenticeship and later working for British Airways. Following this, she began working for one of the top tour operators in Germany. “It was here that I got my first taste for luxury travel, and I was hooked. I got to stay in some amazing places, and who wouldn’t love five-star comforts and gourmet dining? It also taught me a lot about what discerning travellers expect from top establishments.”

But luxury travel is dear to Lenhard’s heart for much more significant reasons as well. “I didn’t travel extensively as a child. My father was a vet and self-employed, so if he didn’t work, he didn’t get paid. Taking time off for big family holidays was a luxury in and of itself. That is why bespoke tourism is more than just booking luxury hotels. It’s about matching people to the places and experiences they’ll love so that you create a hassle-free holiday filled with memories that families will cherish forever,” she explains.

With a passion as wholesome as this, it is no wonder that the Opulent Living brand has grown into so much more than just a coffee-table magazine. “Readers who loved our magazine would often contact us to help us plan their holidays, so we started Opulent Living Travel, a bespoke travel company for tailor-made holidays. Beyond this, the luxury brands we featured were looking for other opportunities to market their products, so we began to organise high-end events. As an example, the chefs and artists we met through our editorial features inspired our unique charity gala event, ‘Chefs who share – the ART of giving’.

“We also came to know many talented entrepreneurs and artisans. It was all these burgeoning relationships that led to us opening a Concept Store & Gallery to exhibit the amazing art and luxurious hand-crafted products that the African continent has to offer,” Lenhard explains when asked how her business evolved into the well-recognised brand it is today.

“I appreciate the finer things in life because I work hard for them. I grew up in a very downto-earth family, and I learned the importance of a solid work ethic from an early age. Luxury is not something I have ever taken for granted, nor should it be taken for granted by anyone of us,” she concludes.

You can meet this wonderfully charming lady of luxury for yourself at her current base of operations, the Opulent Living Concept Store & Gallery at 24 Kloof Street in Gardens, Cape Town. Showcasing the key pillars of the Opulent Living brand – lifestyle, art, and travel – the store offers many opulent brands. These include Coco d’afrique – a range of exquisitely crafted leather handbags – as well as glamorous accessories by designer Beryl Dingemans, the Legacy Collection of jewellery and art, and so much more.

For more information about the Opulent Living brand, visit www.opulentliving.co.za and www.shop.opulentliving.co.za.