Interview with Olivier MICHEL, creator of the brand OH MY GONE, who tells us about his vision and his career and Aurélie DERDERIAN, manager of the store
"Working with our ecosystem also means contributing to the vitality of our city."
In Lyon, some stories of entrepreneurs are intertwined with the soul of the city. That of Olivier MICHEL, founder of Lyon City Tour and Oh My Gone, is one of them. Between a passion for service, a love of the city and respect for local know-how, he has been able to transform his values into concrete projects. From tourism to crafts, he has been forging links for twenty years between the inhabitants, visitors and the craftsmen who make the heart of Lyon beat.
What is your background?
“Coming from a family of entrepreneurs since the early 1900s, I represent the fourth generation. Although I did not join the family business, I nevertheless chose to perpetuate its spirit: that of transport and service. With Lyon City Tour, created in 2005, I wanted to offer an experience at the crossroads of these two worlds, by offering a tailor-made service to help people discover Lyon in a different way. In 2018, I founded Oh My Gone, a shop dedicated to gifts from Lyon, to promote my city and the artisans who bring it to life.”
How did you come up with the idea of creating Oh My Gone?
“Lyon City Tour customers often asked me: “Where can I buy these typical Lyon objects?” Rather than directing them to different addresses, I wanted to create a brand that embodies the Lyon art of living. But I didn’t want to offer products made on the other side of the world, without soul or history. From this reflection was born Oh My Gone, a brand that promotes Lyon’s know-how and the craftsmen of our region.”
What drives you about entrepreneurship?
“What motivates me is the opportunity to make positive decisions for the company, to help it grow alongside my employees and to push our boundaries together. Being an entrepreneur means accepting to get out of your comfort zone, to learn constantly and to move forward collectively. It is also this ability to forge lasting links, whether with one’s team, with the craftsmen or with one’s entire ecosystem.”
How did the Oh My Gone adventure begin?
“The adventure began online, with a textile collection adorned with emblematic phrases such as Petit Bouchon, a nod to our Lyon identity. Little by little, we expanded our universe with silks, magnets, bowls, illustrations, … depending on the partnerships and talents encountered. When we opened our physical store, the people of Lyon immediately responded. At Oh My Gone, they find this pride of belonging to the city.”
Why did you choose to offer local artisanal products?
“Twenty years ago, I launched Lyon City Tour to help people discover this territory that I find magnificent. I wanted to extend this approach through Oh My Gone, by highlighting local know-how. I deeply believe that it is better to collaborate with artisans close to us, rather than bringing products from the other side of the world. Working with our ecosystem also means contributing to the vitality of our city.”
What do you like most about Lyon?
“I live on the heights of Lyon, behind Fourvière, and I’ve been working on the Presqu’île for almost twenty years. I like to feel the rhythm of the city nestled between the Rhône and the Saône. Lyon carries within it a breath that is both rooted in tradition and turned towards modernity. It is a city of history, with the Vieux-Lyon and its traboules, the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, but also a city of the future, driven by innovation and contemporary architecture. With Lyon City Tour, I invite the people of Lyon to discover their city in a different way: “Get on board, gain height to four meters above the ground, Lyon is no longer seen, it is contemplated.”
In this interview, Aurélie Derderian, Office Manager at Lyon City Tour and Oh My Gone, looks back on the creation of Lyon’s reference gift store, the encounters that have marked her and the deep attachment she has to the city of Lyon. His testimony recounts, with sincerity and enthusiasm, the adventure of a place that has become a real showcase of local know-how.
How did the Oh my Gone adventure begin?
“The adventure began with a few textile products adorned with Lyonnais expressions. The idea was to gauge the public’s curiosity and see how they would react to these nods from Lyon.
Then the opportunity arose to move into a small room located under our offices, at the start of the little tourist train. I then asked myself an essential question: “What do we want to offer to passing visitors?”
The first step was to listen to the tourists, their expectations and their desires. These questions laid the foundations of what would become Oh My Gone: a shop designed to highlight the best of Lyon’s know-how.”
How did the store’s offer develop?
“The idea of offering silk quickly took hold. It naturally led me to push the door of Atelier Saint-Georges, the first partner to have believed in our project. Their warm welcome marked the beginning of a valuable collaboration, which continues to this day.
The second striking meeting was that of Audrey, the illustrator behind Dessins de Ville, whose refined and delicate style immediately seduced me. From the outset, we highlighted its emblematic triptych representing the Place Bellecour, the Hôtel de Ville and the Place des Jacobins.
One thing leading to another, the shop grew. We have moved to rue de la Martinière, opposite the famous Mur des Lyonnais. That’s where I was able to refine Oh My Gone’s identity and enrich our selection. After more than two and a half years in this district, we found a location that perfectly matched our DNA, rue Colonel Chambonnet, between Place Bellecour and the Bonaparte bridge.”
How do you select the products offered at Oh my Gone?
“I am constantly on the lookout for everything related to the Lyon theme. It can be a collection of tableware inspired by Les Mères Lyonnaises, a line dedicated to Bouchons Lyonnais of which we are official retailers, or even locally made tote bags.
We also want to offer an accessible range, while maintaining a strong demand for quality. In my opinion, everyone should be able to leave with a little piece of Lyon.
Through our selection of products, we want to speak to both the people of Lyon, in the spirit of the gift shop, and visitors passing through, thanks to a quality souvenir offer.”
Which meeting particularly marked you?
“I remember the day I saw Marion from Atelier Coton doing screen printing. I was struck by the precision of his gestures. It is to highlight this know-how that we are showing a film in the shop, so that everyone can discover the backstage of the artisanal manufacture of a tote bag.
We don’t always measure the work behind an artisanal product, and this is often what explains its price. Unlike industrial objects from afar, here, each piece bears the imprint of a craftsman. This local wealth is essential to promote.”
What original gift do you recommend for the end of the year?
“I’m thinking of the snow globe. There is a real craze around this object. We work with the last French snow globe factory, located in the Ain. Offering a local product made much more sense than importing an object made on the other side of the world. This authenticity touches our customers, and it shows in its success.”
