Born in Normandy, the fourth of a family with sixteen children, Monique Lavinay owes her success to her courage and determination. Following the baccalaureate and an early marriage, Dominique left Normandy, where she had worked in the shoe trade for a while. "I started at Rungis in 1983, replacing my sister at the checkout of a market operator working in the flowers sector. I was instantly charmed by the atmosphere of this market. The following year, I was promoted to the sales department at the same company and stayed there for the next fourteen years. In 1997, I set up a florist's shop in Juvisy-sur-Orge, purchasing my stock at Rungis. After four years, I realised that I was missing the unique atmosphere at Rungis and decided to sell my shop. In 2001, I took up a spot in the cut flowers pavilion with my sons Cédric (31 years old) and David (27 years old). Before joining me, they had already worked at Rungis in the decoration sector. In this jovial atmosphere where everyone is on familiar terms, we are still faced with tough competition and daily challenges. Over the years, we have expanded our business and taken on staff and now have a seven-strong team. In order to attract customers and maintain their loyalty it is essential for the company to set itself apart from its competitors through the excellence of its products and producers. Our flagship products, which represent a good 50% of our sales, are the beautiful florets from the Midi: anemones (Caen, Galilée, Tétra, Mona Lisa, Christina, etc.), buttercups, chamomile, narcissus, marigolds, mimosa (at the beginning of the season).

For example, we sell over 6,000 bunches of buttercups per week when in season. I am lucky enough to have a branch at the Hyères flower market, managed by my brother-in-law Daniel, who is responsible for coordinating business with producers. We have a loyal customer base consisting equally of shop and market-based florists seeking high-quality products. We also do deliveries when necessary. Our overall annual growth is steady at about 10%. If you want to make a lasting career out of this business, you must above all have a love of beautiful quality products, be extremely determined and enjoy meeting challenges. I have a strong belief in Rungis Market because this is simply a most wonderful place. However, I also think there needs to be greater effort on making the market more dynamic, developing a family-oriented friendly atmosphere, to ensure its long-term survival and commercial attractiveness. With its immense range of diverse, quality products, Rungis boasts the most beautiful garden in the world…"