IN THIS TOWN KNOWN FOR SEA, SURF AND SHELLS THE SHELL SHOP HAS BEEN A BEACON IN JEFFREYS BAY FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.
Holiday makers, residents of Jeffreys Bay, as well as shell collectors have been familiar with this little gem of a shop for more than 50 years. As far as could be ascertained it is the oldest shell shop of its kind in South Africa, still in business.
The friendly owner, Isabella Botha, was looking for retail space about 27 years ago and came across this little shop still packed with shells and other related stock. Public interest, at the start of the holiday season, was almost immediate and she made the wise decision that the shop should remain open.
The Shell Shop already exists since 1969 and is world renown. Many requests are received from shell collectors all over, so a courier service is in place to accommodate such requests. Business was so good that shops have now also been opened in Port St Francis and Victoria Bay.
As Isabella comes from a fashion background, she quickly realised that she would have to sharpen up and expand her knowledge. A lot of her knowledge comes from firsthand interaction with and from the books written by Prof Douw Steyn, as well as from “tannie” Susantjie van Schalkwyk who used to be employed by the previous owner.
Isabella is at ease when talking about shells and according to her Jeffreys Bay has the largest collection of small species shells, with the bigger ones, but a smaller variety, being found more towards the east coast of South Africa.
They work a lot with shell collectors and traders and Isabella found that collectors are unique individuals, documenting the shells according to their scientific names, their indigenous names, as well as the place and time where it was found.
Picking up shells without a permit is illegal and can be obtained from the municipality or post office. Only “dead” shells are being sold and as sea horses are on the red list of endangered species you will not find them in the Shell Shop. A few of the local residents supply the shop with shells, shell ornaments and decorations.
Whenever there were cyclones or big storms elsewhere, or by means of the sea currents, a variety of shells and e.g. sea stars can normally be found on Jeffreys Bay’s beaches. When this happens the Department of Environmental Affairs will give instructions for clean-up operations. The shells will then be sterilised and dried before it is purchased by the shop.
Isabella also gets very excited about the pearls that she purchases from all over the world.
The shop is open 7 days a week.
(Credit : Veronica Fourie)
The Shell Shop specialises in seashells and offer a wide variety of different shell species.
They also sell …
- The popular “meelbroek” range in a variety of colours and styles
- Sterling silver jewellery
- Nautical ranges
- Model boats
- Souvenirs
- All types of shell jewellry
- Shell ornaments
Contact info
Follow any of the links below to call or visit.
Discover the Timeless Charms of The Shell Shop in Jeffreys Bay.
Holiday makers, residents of Jeffreys Bay, as well as shell collectors have been familiar with this little gemof a shop for more than 50 years. As far as could be ascertained it is the oldest shell shop of its kind in South Africa, still in business.
The friendly owner, Isabella Botha, was looking for retail space about 27 years ago and came across this little shop still packed with shells and other related stock. Public interest, at the start of the holiday season, was almost immediate and she made the wise decision that the shop should remain open.
The Shell Shop already exists since 1969 and is world renown. Many requests are received from shell collectors all over, so a courier service is in place to accommodate such requests. Business was so good that shops have now also been opened in Port St Francis and Victoria Bay.
As Isabella comes from a fashion background, she quickly realised that she would have to sharpen up and expand her knowledge. A lot of her knowledge comes from first hand interaction with and from the books written by Prof Douw Steyn, as well as from “tannie” Susantjie van Schalkwyk who used to be employed by the previous owner.
Isabella is at ease when talking about shells and according to her Jeffreys Bay has the largest collection of small species shells, with the bigger ones, but a smaller variety, being found more towards the east coast of South Africa.
They work a lot with shell collectors and traders and Isabella found that collectors are unique individuals, documenting the shells according to their scientific names, their indigenous names, as well as the place and time where it was found.
Picking up shells without a permit is illegal and can be obtained from the municipality or post office. Only “dead” shells are being sold and as sea horses are on the red list of endangered species you will not find them in the Shell Shop. A few of the local residents supply the shop with shells, shell ornaments and decorations.
Whenever there were cyclones or big storms elsewhere, or by means of the sea currents, a variety of shells and e.g. sea stars can normally be found on Jeffreys Bay’s beaches. When this happens the Department of Environmental Affairs will give instructions for clean-up operations. The shells will then be sterilised and dried before it is purchased by the shop.
Isabella also gets very excited about the pearls that she purchases from all over the world. “They are semi-precious stones, God’s creations.” The Shell Shop’s emblem is the Pancy (flower) which has a religious connotation.
Isabella’s daughter, Isabel van Huysteen, is an accountant and also a woman with a head for business. She basically grew up in the Shell Shop and is currently about 20% accountant and 80% involved in the shop. Due to her time spent with the shop’s business she knows the likes, dislikes and needs of many of the collectors and traders. As she loves the atmosphere and working with people, December is her favourite time of the year.
Isabella, the mother, confirms that it is hard, but satisfying work. The shop is open 7 days a week which allows little to no time for off days and holidays; hence she relies heavily on her staff. According to shop assistant Tessie Wood, it is a pleasure working in the shop as it feels like a work family.
FOLLOW US
