A Young Entrepreneur Gives Antiques New Life in His Store Oceanside Antiques
This week on Business Over Breakfast we were joined by a 25-year-old entrepreneur — who according to Ben Barber — “just gets it” and can send a message to others that “they can do it too”!
Will Silva has had a lifelong dream to open a shop like the one that he has today. Always fascinated with the idea of treasure when he was younger, and his interest in things that are worth money, it led him exactly where he wants to be. When he was 18 years old he started working at what was the Armory in Newport, Rhode Island. Not only did he work there, but he also rented space within the store where he would bring in items from yard sales, flea markets, and auctions and flip them to sell.
Fast forward a few years Will has just opened his very own antique store this summer called Oceanside Antiques in Newport, RI. Will shares,
“it’s a great time to open a place like this because there is so much interest in it”.
Every weekend he goes to shows where he can buy, sell, and trade. In addition to selling his own collection, he leases out space in his store for different vendors to sell their items. Stop by and you will find everything from vintage jewelry, coins & paper money, sports memorabilia, nautical antiques & Newport souvenirs, and more!
Located at 8 Freebody St. in Newport, RI right behind the Tennis Hall of Fame, foot traffic throughout the summer has been keeping Will busy! Believe it or not, he has noticed a trend in the age of his clientele ranging from 16 - 35 years old. Younger people are beginning to buy homes in the area and many come into the store looking for decorative items such as Newport memorabilia which Will sells a lot of. On the other hand, he has teenagers coming into the store looking to buy and flip items like he did when he was younger and they are successful doing so.
Since the beginning of COVID, the collectible market has been on the rise! With being home so much people have sought out collecting items and selling them. In addition to being successful selling in-store, Will sells 30-40% of his inventory online through social media groups or platforms like ShopLocalRhodeIsland. According to Will “getting your name out there online is huge” and “you need avenues online” which is how ShopLocalRhodeIsland came about!
Watch the full episode with Will above to learn more about Oceanside Antiques and how to turn your passion into your job! And be sure to check out his awesome jerseys, vintage jewelry, and artwork on shoplocalrhodeisland.com.
Each week on Business Over Breakfast, marketing experts Lori and Ben are joined by Rhode Island entrepreneurs who are living their dream of owning and running a business. If you’re a Rhode Island business owner and want to share your story please contact danielle@visualthrive.com and visit ShopLocalRhodeIsland to learn about other small businesses.
