Lost in the midst of the village of Palma just outside Quatre-Bornes, stands a small but flourishing company. Recto Verso, the sandblasting specialist, is the story of one woman: Annick Clarisse Willequet. Since the birth of her company, with her mother as partner, she has always given her full attention to it.

The initiative came quite naturally to her after a trip to South Africa. Sad circumstances brought her into that business: a friend of hers, who had set up such a business in South Africa, had to get treatment and needed help with her business. Annick naturally offered to go and she stayed there for two years.

?Actually, this is a very frequent activity in South Africa. Some people do it for a living but there are many who do it just as a hobby.? When she came back to Mautitius, it immediately became clear that the field could be exploited. This is how Recto-Verso came into being in September 1999.

?At the very beginning, four years ago, I used to do everything in the firm: from the marketing to the production itself through the design?, the manager explains. She then had only her mother and one employee to help her. ?Since then, fortunately, the company has worked pretty well and we now employ seven people.?

But, ?it remains a family business all the same,? she adds. Indeed, her sister, who has just come back from London, now deals with the marketing. Her sister-in-law also works in the company but she rather deals with hand-made manufacturing like Annick?s mother.

As soon as Annick finishes the computer design, the logo goes to the plotter, which transfers it on VINYL; then her sister-in law and her mother cut out the logos and paste them on the glass. ?This is not a difficult job actually but it demands much precision?, Annick explains.

The products are then sandblasted by the specialist, Amrita. She has been in the company since the outset and the way she handles the sandblasting machine speaks for itself. The ?neighbour?, as her manager likes to call her since she lives just next door, is concentrating on her work: she puts her gloved hand in the machine and takes the spray gun to give the glass its opaque effect.

After being thoroughly cleaned and packed, the products are ready to be delivered to hotels, companies or individual customers. Recto-Verso must be appreciated for their commitment to adapting and satisfying the customers. Since they do not have any shop yet, the marketing for individuals is done through the annual ?Salon de la Maison?. People discover the products there and call back as soon as they need a present for special occasions like weddings, engagements, and so on.

By the end of the year, the customers and those who do not know the business yet will certainly be happy: the company intends to open a shop in Rose-Hill ? in the New Magic Lantern complex. ?It will be an opportunity to adapt even more to customers? needs. Recto-Verso will be able to suit even more special requirements.? Annick is very excited at the idea of expanding her activities.