We scream and shout through the day until five when we sit together and enjoy a glass of wine,” is the secret of success for Arie and Karen Tuit of Walvis Bay-based Tuiton Services. Their customs clearing and forwarding agency handles some of the biggest clients in the area, with some having been with Arie for more than 15 years. Karen joined relatively recently, after a whirlwind romance in December 2001 that saw her return from Australia where she had emigrated, in order to marry Arie. Not only did she decide that Arie was the man for her after just eight days, but Karen also joined the business – getting married on a Saturday, and in her “chair” at Tuiton on Monday. She had emigrated to Australia from South Africa, and had in the meantime returned to sell and pack up her possessions before returning for the marriage. “We only really got to know each other after we were married,” admits Arie, who has been in freight since 1989, and has mentored and tutored his bride. For him, it is a match that works on both the romantic and business levels. “Women are better at money than men,” he says. “I have a simple philosophy. We need to get paid for what we do,” adds Karen, who is a highly qualified paramedic, sport fanatic and Ironman enthusiast. As part of the company’s social outreach, Tuiton handled the clearance – at no charge – of the equipment needed by teams competing in the African Gymnastics Championships that was held in Walvis Bay earlier this year. Another secret of success is that the couple has clear areas of responsibility within the business, with each focusing on their strengths. Arie handles the ship’s agency side of the business, and Karen the customs clearing and forwarding of imports and exports for air, sea and land freight. This focus has helped the company grow organically and steadily over the past few years, according to Arie. For Karen, this is another challenge. As one of a handful of women in freight in Walvis Bay, she says it is difficult to be taken seriously. “But, she is not scared to get her hands dirty. You will find her in the harbour in cargo pants and boots, with her hard hat, to make sure that a client’s cargo is handled properly,” says Arie with pride. Next step for the couple is to move their business out of their home and into the industrial area of Walvis Bay. And, as for the “screaming and shouting,” it was said with a smile.
