The People In Our Neighborhood: Emma Ville, Owner of Cottage

Name: Emma Ville

Town in which you live: Emmaus

Current job: Ville is the owner of in Emmaus, and recently launched a second business, called “A Storybook Party,” where she takes on the role of a children's birthday party planner. 

How has the current economy altered the way you run your business? “It has definitely changed the way I buy things for the store. Gifts are usually under the $20 mark, and there are many lovely gifts in here that retail at under $10. Yet you are getting the customer service that big box stores don’t offer, free gift wrapping, tables for children to sit at and color and free delivery on many items, plus a happy person to help you!”

What do you like best about your job? Ville appreciates that she was able to bring all of her children to the store when they were tiny - two of her boys started coming in with her when they were just a few weeks old.

She added,  “I love my customers. What better way to spend the day than shopping for goodies, talking to people who become friends and sitting on my porch watching the world go by?”

What's one thing that no one knows about you that you wish people knew about you? “Whilst I don’t seem it, I am quite shy!”

Where are you originally from? Why are you now living in Emmaus? Ville is originally from Wales in the United Kingdom, which she says is actually quite similar to Emmaus at the moment, especially with all this rain. She and her husband, John, moved with his job from their home in London. She admits it was quite a big culture shock. 

What do you love most about Emmaus? “What is not to love? The sense of community, the unique stores, the people,” Ville said with a smile.

What do you do to relax when you're not working? Ville, a mother of four, and the head of two businesses, isn't quite familiar with the term "relax." 

What is your advice for men who need a last-minute gift for their wives or girlfriends? Just don’t ask Ville's husband for help. "I'll never forget the year that he sent a man home with a gift basket that they compiled together which included breath mints of all things."

What's the best advice you ever received? It wasn’t advice but a character from “The Water Babies” by Charles Kingsley called Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. It's a thought Ville tries to live by.

Every Friday the Emmaus Patch will help you to get to know another of the many people who make our hometown such a wonderful place to live. If you would like to recommend someone for us to highlight in the future, please tell us in the comment box or email jennifer.marangos@patch.com. Emma Ville was recommended for “People In Our Neighborhood” by one of our Emmaus Patch readers.