Each week, we ask small businesses key questions.
Here we speak to Michelle Kenyon-Roberts, owner of Kenyon-Roberts Upholstery at Easter Davoch Steading, near Tarland, in Aberdeenshire.
How and why did you start in business?
I’d been upholstering as a hobby for a number of years, and just love the process of stripping something back to its bones and bringing it back to life.
But there came a point when I could no longer fit anymore chairs into my house, so it was either build an extension – which we’d already done and I’d filled – or find another way to get my fix.
I had a chat with my old evening class tutor, Gordon Sim, and he told me: “You’ll never get rich doing this but you’ll never be short of work”. He was right on both counts.
How did you get to where you are today?
Back in 2003, I was working for an organisation that supported young people living with cancer. It was an extremely rewarding job, but could also be very stressful and I needed something to help me switch off.
I found an upholstery class at my local technical college and was hooked from day one. By 2008, we’d moved back to Aberdeen and I’d changed jobs – but knew deep down that I just wanted to do upholstering.
I discovered I could train with the Association of Master Upholsters and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF). It took me two years, with lots of time away from my family, but I eventually quit my day job and have never looked back.
Who helped you?
I’m a member of a couple of online professional upholsters forums, and they have been a huge help and support.
When you work alone, you often find yourself second guessing your methods. Just having that group of people to bounce ideas off has been essential.
My family has also been wonderful, both for moral and physical support. Getting a sofa into the back of a van is tricky on your own.
Being a member of the Federation of Small Businesses is great. I know if I need help with the business side of things, then it’s there at the end of the phone.
What has been your biggest mistake?
I wish I had valued my time and skills better in the early days. I wasted a lot of time visiting every potential client to give an estimate. Now I always try to give a ball-park figure based on photos by email, which means I now spend the majority of my time being productive in the workshop.
What is your greatest achievement?
Turning my passion into a successful and thriving business, and seeing customers’ faces when I give them back a treasured old piece of family furniture which is now as good as new and ready to be passed onto the next generation.
Also getting a distinction for my AMUSF diploma was a great validation of all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it – and I mean that literally.
If you were in power in government, what would you change?
We should have lots more practical apprenticeships, and schools need to help children to realise that not everyone needs to head off to university and a huge student debt. Working with your hands and producing something is so rewarding, while giving great customer satisfaction can’t be beaten.
What do you still hope to achieve?
To keep on doing what I love and love what I’m doing.
What do you do to relax?
I hop onto my bike and explore the beautiful countryside around Tarland to blow away the cobwebs. I’ve recently started a stained glass class which is great fun. Of course, my first project was a chair.
What are you currently reading, listening to or glued to on the TV?
My guilty secret has to be Strictly (Come Dancing), while Radio 4 keeps me company in the workshop all day – I don’t think I’d cope without it.
What do you waste your money on?
There are usually a few very sad looking vegetables in the back of my fridge which I have great plans for, but too many find their way onto the compost heap rather than the dinner plate.
How would your friends describe you?
I’d hope they would say I’m loyal and kind. That’s what I aim for.
What would your enemies say about you?
I don’t think I have any but if I did, I’d hope they’d say I’m loyal and kind – just maybe not to them.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
I drive a very old VW Golf, which has the back seats permanently down. It’s amazing what you can fit in the back of it. As long as it’s reliable, I have no aspirations to drive anything else.
