Darren Griffith

Femail.com.au - Males Unmasked

Profile:
I grew up in a small country town on the outskirts of Melbourne called Yon Yean. The word Yon Yean means big waterhole in Aboriginal. Our family property is outside the main gates to the Yan Yean Reservoir, this is where the majority of Melbourne's water comes from.
I grew up as a country boy with a love for animals and gardening. I began breeding pure poultry, dogs and horses at the age of nine, with many a win at Melbourne Royals and many shows around the country. Horse showing and breeding has been in my family for years so it was inevitable that I would continue in this field. I showed Shetland ponies, showing dogs is something I have always wanted to do and so I did. I was given my first Shetland Sheepdog at the age of nine for Christmas and have continued to have them since this day.
I completed college at the age of 18 and during this time I was offered part time work at a florist shop in Whittlesea where I had completed some work experience.
After finishing college I was offered an apprenticeship. This was something I had to think long and hard about because I wanted to study Agricultural Science, however my love of flowers and gardening overwhelmed me and I accepted the apprenticeship. Three years later I was an award winning qualified florist and on my way to the great Kevin O'Neill florist shop in Toorak Rd, South Yarra. I was senior floral designer and consultant at Kevin O'Neill for six years but after this length of time I felt it was time to move on and broaden my horizons. After a short holiday to relax and recoup from a long hard six-year slog, I found a florist shop in the city with much potential and room for growth.
That shop is Vivaldi Four Seasons of Flowers, and I believe it will be a shop to be reckoned with now and in the future, the level of quality and attention to detail would be hard to find anywhere else.


Questions:

1. Occupation/Title
   Senior Floral Designer and Consultant
   
   
2. Company/Organization
   Vivaldi Four Seasons of Flowers, 600 Bourke St Melbourne
   
   
3. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
   I always wanted to be a vet when I was growing up but unfortunately I cannot stand the sight of blood. My passion for flowers took over. I feel I need a softer, prettier side of life so I chose floristry.
   
   
4. How did you get to where you are today?
   I got to where I am today through a lot of hard work, sweat and tears. Never give up because you can always achieve your goal no matter how high. I have also had much help from family and friends, their support is always invaluable.
   
   
5. Have your career expectations changed along the way?
   My career expectations have changed along the way, I was happy to be a florist but there are florists and there florists. I am one of those rare florists where my heart and soul goes into creating a piece of work for my client. My late boss Kevin O'Neill always said to me "Boy, detail, detail, detail" and I have always stuck by that golden rule and that is what makes the difference in that final product that is sent to a client. I want to be remembered as a great florist when I finally retire.
   
   
6. What is a fun aspect of your job?
   The fun aspect of my job is having beautiful flowers and products to use when creating work. Other great things are meeting customers who I always manage to charm and having a client buy a piece of work I have made and hearing them say it's 'beautiful, divine, exquisite', that's the fun and also pleasurable aspect of my job!
   
   
7. What is the worst aspect of your job?
   There is really no bad aspect of my job, my days of cleaning buckets and vases are over, I did all that in my apprenticeship. If there has to be a bad aspect of my job it really would have to be a client that is organizing a funeral for their loved one. I am very emotional and passionate about life, this to me is very upsetting.
   
   
8. What is the best advice given to you?
   The best advice given to me is "You are never too old to learn and if you think you know everything then you should give
   
   up"
   
   
9. Can you name anyone in particular who has played an integral role along the road to your success?
   There are a couple of people who have played an integral part on my road to success.
   The first person is my mother who has always been there to help and support me whenever I have needed it.
   The second person is the late Kevin O'Neill who gave me freedom of expression and cherished everything that I strived to achieve in floristry and in life.
   
   
10. Have you ever had a mentor or still have one now?
    (who?)I have had a mentor. He passed away 5 years ago now, he was the late Kevin O'Neill. The man of flowers, as he was often called by the press. It was such an honour to work with him for as long as I did until he passed aways. He would always listen and gave me the right advice when I needed it, he would always be interested in what I was doing at work and outside of work. His help and devotion to his staff was unsurpassable, I will never forget him.
    
    
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
    In five years time I hope to see myself traveling around the world a little more and bringing back new ideas and products to use in the floristry industry. I truly believe you must travel and look at what other florists are creating and producing so as not to become stagnant in your thoughts and ideas. I would also like to do a little less floristry in 5 years time and more interior designing, this allows me to still use my creative flair.
    
    
12. What is your ultimate dream?
    My ultimate dream would be to be retired at 40 and be able to breed horses and dogs and use that as my business and income. Also being able to travel at any given time without a worry in the world.
    
    
13. Put the following in order of importance to you
    (1) Happiness (2) Personal Fulfillment (3) Recognition (4) Success (5) Money

• Your Full Name: Darren Lachland Griffiths
• Starsign: Cancer
• Your ideal partner: blonde hair, blue eyes with olive skin
• Describe the perfect date: a candlelit dinner for two with a vintage bottle of red wine and good food and great company to match
• Big Boobs or a big heart? Big heart
• What makes you laugh? There's a lot of fashion victims out there, eg. Chapel St, South Yarra (VIC)
• What makes you cry? Poverty & war
• Who's your best friend? My dogs
• Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind of guy? I'm sort of a bar, club kind of guy but I love fine dining and good wine
• What is your dream car? A Rolls Royce convertible
• Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life?
  Good food, Good wine, Good friends, A little bit of cash, Regular exercise
• What do you like to do when you're all alone?
  When I am alone I love to read and listen to classical music, however I don't seem to be alone that much but when I am I do so very much cherish those hours.

About Vivaldi

Vivaldi is a florist situated at 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria. However they can be reached Nationally via their internet site (details below)

They boast a staff of 10 who are dedicated to helping their clients in all aspects of floristry. Vivaldi has a wonderful reputation for corporate flowers. This is a very special area in which they pride themselves very highly.
When you walk into an office often there is not a lot to look at, a receptionist behind a desk and 9 out of 10 times, a vase of flowers. So as you can well imagine, this is very important from an office point of view, as flowers can give a very strong impression to a prospective client. This is where a good florist is needed, to be able to blend and design flowers to accentuate the office of which they are surrounding.

Vivaldi not only provides floristry brilliance to the corporate sector but also to hotels, restaurants and private homes. Detail is of paramount importance to them and this is the reason why they are in such demand for functions and parties.
However no budget is ever too big or too small. Some of their clients spend $15 a week and some spend $400 per week. No matter what their clients spend, they are treated with equal importance and courtesy.

Vivaldi also prepares & provides fabulous hampers of gourmet food, wines and champagnes as well as many other delights.

Vivaldi is always willing to be of assistance to anyone!
You can visit their site at www.vivaldi.com.au
A note from Darren:
I hope this small insight to the life and quirks of me, a floral designer has been of some interest to you all,

Cheers on behalf of myself and the team at Vivaldi,
Darren