I HAD A LIGHTBULB MOMENT
Sally Bailey finds out how a chance converation at the school gates, led to a huge career change for Emily Oliver
Emily Oliver would never have expected that an ordinary conversation, on an ordinary day, could change her life. But 24 hours after casually asking a friend if she’d got any plans for the halfterm holidays, she’d made an impulsive decision to become a shop owner.
Cornish-born Emily was chatting with her friend on the way back from dropping the kids at school when she found out she was giving up her shop on Cleveland Terrace in Bath and moving to morocco.
Having worked in TV and film, then in fundraising for a high-profile charity, and latterly in a fundraising job that fitted in around her children’s schooling, Emily was also ready for a change.
“i had a lightbulb moment,” she says. “But my friend said she needed to know the following day.
“i went home and discussed it with my husband and decided to do it.
“i had a two-week turnaround from having the idea to opening mebyl – that’s how we roll in the Oliver family.”
Emily had to buy a van and start travelling around the country to find reasonably priced vintage household items and furniture that would complement rather than compete with what neighbouring independents were stocking.
She’s always excited to ferret out a special purchase that’s original and different, chests of drawers and lamps to go on them, coffee tables and chairs, even beautiful bird baths and bicycles.
“it’s kind of like shopping with someone else’s money,” she says. “i love a bargain and i want my stuff to not be too expensive so i don’t get fancy-schmancy stuff.
“i go for the lesser-known brands like Nelson furniture which is really cool and well-made but more reasonably priced.
“People often like it because it’s nostalgic for them, remembering all those times when they got into trouble for drawing on it with crayons. And they know it’s good quality solid wood furniture that’s not going to break in five minutes – it’s already lasted years.”
An antiques or vintage dealer’s home is usually filled with wonderful finds and the terrace house Emily shares with her husband, two children, and dog Noodles is no exception.
“i have a really eclectic mix of furniture. Grandma was quite smart so i have got her antique chairs in my kitchen and a modern lime green table. And i’ve bought an orange leather and chrome chair home that was so comfortable i couldn’t resist. my husband loved it; he’s even more of a vintage furniture person than i am.”
Those first few weeks after having the school run conversation two years ago involved a flurry of decision-making and the second biggest decision was coming up with a shop name that she loved.
“it was really difficult,” she says. “We thought about Oliver’s of Bath, using my surname, but it sounded a bit formal.
“my husband found the word mebyl – which rhymes with pebble – in our Cornish dictionary. it means ‘furniture’ in Cornish which seemed perfect as i’m Cornish.
“i am so glad i decided to take on the shop; i really enjoy the business and being my own boss.
“And i especially love an adventure. it’s never been scary - as long as i buy stuff i really like the worst case scenario is that we’ll have a lot of really cool furniture in our home.”