[Behind the Selfie] with... Darren Kirby

Coffee addict, Houdini impersonator, Graffiti director – all in a day’s work for Darren!

1. Where do you live, work and play?

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!

2. What's your claim to fame?

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.

3. Describe your career so far.

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.

4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.

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.

5. What do you love about your industry?

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.

6. What are a few pain points your industry can improve on?

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.

7. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

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.

8. What are the tools of your trade?

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.

9. Who is getting it right in your industry?

Kirby: We are - but there are some really incredible businesses out there that offer superb products.

10. What are you working on right now?

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.

11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself.

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.

12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

Kirby: Usually in the car - driving to work in the morning.

13. What's your secret talent/party trick?

Kirby: With enough encouragement, I can perform a really impressive 'Houdini' act with two coasters.

14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?

Kirby: Technophobe, I'm afraid...

15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?

Kirby: Lots of work images! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?

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.

17. Plug your contact details, punt yourself - list all the places people can find you/your work online.

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