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GAIL ARMYTAGE FLORIST
Gail Armytage's career has been as colourful and exciting as one of her fabulous floral displays!
How long have you been in business?
I have been in floristry for thirty years this year. Coming into it having grown up on a commercial nursery of horticulture, always spending most of my time outside.
How did you get into floristry?
I went to college and did commercial horticulture and floristry for three years in north Wales. I decided to go to teacher training college after, for a year and also won a scholarship to Germany to a floristry college. There I met florists from all over Europe and decided I wanted a bit of the action somewhere in Europe.
Tell us about your career.
I got a job in Bern, Switzerland, in the biggest florist business in the country. The shops were open 365 days a year from seven in the morning to eleven at night. A real buzz, I was hooked where next!
The Society of Floristry invited me to demonstrate in London during that year so I returned and during that weekend I was approached by the president and asked if I would go to South Africa and work and teach for Interflora. Although I had six months left in Switzerland and had arranged another job in Gstaad, the celebrity Ski resort, I decided to go to South Africa and deferred the Gstaad job. I spent the year teaching, training florists in shops and demonstrating floristry all over the country.
In Gstaad my role was to look after a client list that included famous film stars past and present, pop stars, wealthy business people and the flowers for The Palace Hotel. A great experience!
I then went to Japan to train in the art of Ikebana and work in floristry. I travelled all over the country and also visited China to the growing areas.
I understand that you’ve worked for Mr Al Fayed,
how did that come about?
I worked in London for three years for Mr Al Fayed at Harrods and designed the stand at The Chelsea Flower Show, attaining a Gold medal.
What other celebs have you worked for and in what capacity?
My clients include stadiums, exhibition hall, dinners, hotels, weddings, event functions and Royal visits.
Why do you think customers come to you?
We are always looking out for new ideas and I’m always excited about the latest new variety of flower or plant; we have to have it first on the counter.
I always go into other flower shops when I’m on holidays - you never really switch off in this game!
What's your favourite Vale place?
I love Oscars restaurant in Cowbridge. The food is lovely, and so is everyone who works there.
How do you like to relax?
Doing the ironing, with a huge glass of vodka and lemonade watching the Sopranos on dvd (I'm sure there's a better way of relaxing, I just haven't found it yet!)
Greatest extravagance?
I recently bought a Chloe Paddington bag. As expensive as it was,
I love it!
What's your favourite food?
I'm a vegetarian, so I love all vegetables. My parents make a lovely roast dinner (I don't eat the meat obviously!). My dad also makes the best chips.
The most recent item I bought for my home was?
I recently decorated my lounge, and everything's purple, the sofa, the walls, everything. So the last item I bought for my home was a purple candle.
Favourite way to spend Sunday?
Rhys plays rugby for Cowbridge under 9's, so every Sunday morning, Moli and I stand, usually either freezing or soaking, at the side of the pitch to cheer him on, then after lunch its homework time, then we watch a good dvd together or go to the cinema.
All my money goes on?
The children and the house (and occasionally a Chloe bag!)
The best lesson that I have learnt in life is...
Never marry a dodgy South African!
My philosophy is...
'Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away' (don't know if that's a philosophy, but I love it)
Tell us about Vanilla.
Vanilla is our gift range of wedding accessories that we sell alongside the flowers. As well as these we have seasonal gifts from Gisela Graham, Sia and Parlane.
What next for Gail Armytage?
You never stop learning and in the New Year I’m off on a course on the continent with one of the top florists in the world. I know I’ll come back with some wiz ideas. Professional florists never retire - when it gets in your blood that’s it!
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