BY AMY HILL
All are welcome to the table!
It was a normal, sunny day when the vision for OBT Home Décor came into being. Owner Annie Marion was outside watching her two young children play when the name for the store came to her mind. Though the timing of opening a store wasn’t right, she put pen to paper and started writing down her ideas. Over the course of the next couple of years, she and her husband Jessup opened two vendor locations in Winston-Salem and Clemmons. This allowed them to test the market and learn the ropes of retail before diving in with both feet. Finally, in February of this year, the timing was right, and they opened their own storefront in Clemmons.
The concept for OBT Home Décor evolved from years of family work in both the furniture and non-profit industries. Jessup’s family had worked for decades in the furniture industry, Annie had worked for years doing international aid work that allowed her to travel to some of the most desperate countries around the world. Her travels throughout Thailand, Mongolia, India, Kosovo, and other third world countries left an impact that could never be forgotten. Jessup also worked in a non-profit, traveling to countries such as Uganda, where he also developed a heart to help others. Pairing together their family legacies, passions, and life’s work was something they couldn’t stop thinking about, so they started OBT Home Décor.
They are often asked what the name OBT stands for. The answer is “Our Banqueting Table.” It comes from Song of Solomon 2:4, a verse in the Bible that reads “He brought me to his banqueting table and his banner over me is love.” The name symbolizes both what they do and why they do it. It’s not just a place of business, but also of giving back and where all are welcome around the table. Annie and Jessup wanted to develop a store that was socially minded, a store that would help not just their family but others along the way. Some of the ways they give back are through the sale and support of fair-trade items and the support of various non-profit organizations.
OBT Home Decor sells a wide variety of industrial modern furniture and accent pieces, as well as pieces with a chic, farmhouse flair. The shop’s versatility in inventory draws in customers of all ages and preferences. One of their most popular items are the Clemmons and Winston-Salem pillows. They also have stylish lamps, signs, wall décor, and accent furniture pieces. It was very important to them to support Fair Trade. While not all products in their retail collection are Fair Trade, they are dedicated to including such products in their store. Fair Trade provides men and women around the world with fair wages, allowing them to provide for their families. OBT carries a stylish selection of fair-trade products including baskets from Bangladesh, candles made by Syrian refugees, and bracelets made by rescued teen girls in Kenya, some of whom have been saved from human trafficking.
Jessup and Annie created OBT with a mission in mind. Their goal is to provide a place where people can shop for unique home goods while also giving back to those in need. They wanted to create a place where all are welcome to the table and where they can help others enjoy a meal around their table.
Interested in stopping by to see what Our Banqueting Table has in store? Head to 2685 Lewisville-Clemmons Road in Clemmons on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am -5:30pm to shop around. Read more about the business and browse online inventory at www.ourbanquetingtable.com. Check out the shop’s Facebook page and follow @ourbanquetingtable on Instagram to stay up to date on the team’s latest news.
