Abigail Crompton | Owner, Third Drawer Down

We had become so absorbed in conversation that we forgot to order, they forgot we hadn’t ordered, and the trade began with Abigail and I flailing our arms in the air for a good thirty seconds, in an attempt to become visible. 

The Pixel Trade was focused on Abigail’s store of treats called, Third Drawer Down, a unique art and design store in Melbourne. It’s the place you go when you want to get something you cannot find in other places and will make the best gift creators, like Santa, curious about each object.

                      Interview with Abigail

Describe your most memorable adventure as a child.  

When I was four my family hired a caravan for 10 months and we traveled around Europe staying wherever we saw a beautiful landscape, sometimes we parked in caravan parks and other times on the side of a road, lake or street.  Once my brother and I snuck off to the supply store in a beachside caravan park.  My brother dropped a jar of Nutella and it shattered everywhere and all these people were talking in raised voices in another language.  We were both scared as we had no idea what they were saying and we ran out as fast as we could……..

What is the best part about owning your own business?  

I love the autonomy of being able to explore ideas with my amazing team and to answer to myself - a very self fulfilling prophecy.  The other aspect I really appreciate is the advantage of having flexible time for my daughter and traveling overseas together as part work and holiday trips.  We are amazing companions and love adventures.  I sometimes wonder what else I would career wise if it wasn't Third Drawer Down…..and I think I have moulded myself a pretty perfect life that makes me happy and offers me so many opportunities to share the goodness with others of liked minds.

What is your favourite object in your store and why?  

ohhhhhh, this is a hard one as every object in the store is pretty special to be available at Third Drawer Down. I was recently asked this question by someone a few days ago so I have warmed up this answer.  I think my favourite could be classed as most importnant and that would be the Ai Weiwei’s ‘Study In Perspective’. This is a photo, where the artist’s middle finger is positioned in front of Tiananmen Square; the artists perspective through activism.

What is it about artist like Ai Weiwei that makes you so passionate to support them? 

I watched the documentary 'Ai Weiwei, Never Sorry' last year and I questioned myself on how I could help AI Weiwei.  Then it dawned on me that as a collaborator of producer of art museum editions, that I could carry his voice through objects and make them readily available to a global audience who also believe in the basis to humanity - freedom of speech.

Was there a time in your life where you felt you were in danger?  

Flying in a tiny plane at 3am in the morning from Melbourne to Sydney through a lightning storm watching the pilot wiping the fear sweat from his hands on his pants….Yep, I really thought my time was up.

What place makes you feel ecstatically happy?  

There's nowhere like home…There's nowhere like home……There's nowhere like home!!

If there was one thing to teach a group of kids, what would it be? 

To not be a bystander in life an stand up for things that they believe in.

Please share three milestone moments in your life.  

My parents decision to operate on my club foot as a baby so I could walk on both feet normally 

Having a push bike accident that rendered me in bed for a month and gave my the time to dream and develop Third Drawer Down 11 years ago  

Having my beautiful daughter who  is my world and to share an infinite love.

What is something you haven’t told someone in a long time?  

This questions kind of stumped me right now……..as I have recently turned 40 and my business turned 10 years old, I have been in a very cathartic point in my life where I have been able to tell people and family in my life how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life who love and support me and my sometimes crazy journeys……

Describe your most memorable adventure as an adult.  

I went on this amazing road trip into the Mojave Desert in a pretty trashy car with no air conditioning or radio with my friend Edwina who I had only met for an hour earlier that year and we laughed our heads off for 10 days.  Edwina and I had heard about each other through a mutual friend for years and things just fell in place that we randomly decided to go a Thelma and Louise road trip.  It was so random, so magical in landscape and so wonderful to get to know someone who was really a stranger before and we both cherish this adventure as we have become really good friends since.

If you had to recommend a favourite music album, what would it be?  

right now - Colleen - Weighing of the Heart