After a childhood surrounded by the wonderful world of plants and flowers, Isabelle Cordelier is making a dazzling success of her father Gerard's business, following previous training as a trilingual hostess and having run a restaurant in Versailles.

"My grandparents were both horticulturists at Jouy-en-Josas and sold their produce at the Halles de Paris. Having taken on the family business, my father came to Rungis in 1969. I took over the business in 1989 following the death of my father. We shut down our production activities to focus entirely on trade, dealing in potted plants only to begin with and then gradually diversifying to include flowering plants, outdoor and indoor plants, supplies, etc. The company specialises in indoor (date, areca, and kentia palms, etc.) and outdoor plants (bamboo, cedars, etc.), without forgetting chrysanthemums on All Saints Day, Christmas trees, lily-of-the-valley on May Day, springtime plants and others for various annual festivities, etc. We also offer a wide range of resin animals, the first company to stock this novel product, as well as comprehensive supplies for florists: ornamental flowerpots for all sorts of plants, baskets, etc. as well as a plant rental service for florists and businesses. We also handle all our customers' deliveries ourselves. Our sales are divided between plants (75%) and "deco" (25%). The development of the gardening sector means that outdoor plants (geraniums, bedding plants, fuchsias, roses, bamboo, etc.) make up the major part of our business (70% of plants in springtime). Our customer base comprises 60% retail florists in stores and 30% markets, with the remaining 10% covered by interior designers, landscape artists and caterers who wish to embellish their business. Our range covers over 500 references that change frequently.

We have a four-strong staff running the business six days a week: two employees, my husband Philippe and myself. In addition, we often have to go abroad to get supplies and check out the latest products as, unfortunately, there is no longer much to be had in France! This is essential if we are to retain and continue to meet our customers requirements so as to enable them to differentiate their offer from the superstores. I love this job and the warm and friendly contact we have with customers, who we never consider as just a simple "invoice number". And I love Rungis; it's an exceptional market and, quite simply, it's my life. Every season is a celebration at Rungis".