Kirby: I live in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town and work in Montague Gardens. For me, meaningful play time is when I am with my children; I try and spend as much time with them as I can. They keep me young!
Kirby: I broke out of a burning house (many years ago) by bending a security gate and smashing through the door's window - an event that made headline news... that was my 15 minutes of 'flame'. True story!
On a more serious note, I am a director at Graffiti. We are a creative, young at heart marketing services company in the business of high impact, head-turning branding, supplying cradle-to-grave on trend, indoor and outdoor solutions for the mobile - vehicle and trucking - and retail industries.
Kirby: It's been a wonderful rollercoaster ride with incredible opportunities realised, all of which have contributed to my experience base and helped fuel my passion for marketing and the industry I now find myself in. I've been fortunate to work for remarkable businesses within the media industry, from a small production house in Gardens some 17 years ago, followed by a stint in new media. I then moved into the out-of-home sector, working at Primedia for just on seven years before finally joining Graffiti, where I remain today.
Kirby: I have two beautiful daughters who give me untold joy and are the perfect tonic for restoring a sense of calm after a tough day; my girls and my bar at home. My two big dogs are also right up there: a Boerbul and an Alaskan Malamute.
Kirby: No day is ever the same and I love the variety. From dealing with exciting client campaigns to staff matters, there's never a dull moment. But perhaps most important is that any business that has offices or a vehicle is a potential client. That has to be what I enjoy most... the scope of impact, influence and service that we can and do provide.
Kirby: Service levels! Anyone can provide branding and signage but not everyone can do it properly. Consider material usage as a case in point - there's a vast array of materials and suppliers in our market, which makes it problematic for clients who have to sift through the many options in the search to appoint good, honest and reliable product and service delivery. A body that could oversee and regulate the industry could be considered a good idea, ensuring basic minimum standards are normalised.
Kirby: Traffic dependent - I'm in the office by 8am. Two cups of coffee gets me focused, after which I mostly deal with operational department matters. Sifting through some 150 or more emails takes a big chunk of time and then there's client meetings, vehicle and or signage audits, assisting my sales team with quotes and client liaison. I try and get out of Montague Gardens before the roads jam and find an area/coffee shop to work from remotely. My day ends with me being dragged around the neighbourhood at dusk by my two dogs - and while I try and make it look like I'm walking them - it is in fact quite the opposite. The day wraps up with family time - which is always the highlight.
Kirby: Knowledge of the greater media industry is fundamental to success in this business. After that it is all about character. Being passionate, having the confidence to chase the business you want to land and being consistent in your delivery. These are the soft skills that close the deals time after time - after all, people do business with people they like.
Kirby: We are - but there are some really incredible businesses out there that offer superb products.
Kirby: We have some really great fleet business pending, which is very promising. I believe there is a growing awareness that using your own asset base (fixed and mobile) smartly can benefit a business and enhance the overall comms strategy, by using this branding in addition to traditional and often costly ATL media platforms.
Kirby: Return on Investment and media rate free exposure are popular terms. Clients are increasingly realising they gain exposure when branding their offices and vehicles.
Kirby: Usually in the car - driving to work in the morning.
Kirby: With enough encouragement, I can perform a really impressive 'Houdini' act with two coasters.
Kirby: Technophobe, I'm afraid...
Kirby: Lots of work images! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Kirby: Try and get experience across various companies that provide different services, media platforms and products. It will provide the education and long-term benefit that only coal-face experience provides. It's also a most useful way to decide which area of the industry to focus on from a career perspective.
Kirby: Visit our website
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
We also advertise on LinkedIn
You can read more about Kirby by clicking here and here for more about Graffiti.
*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews