Coast river business journal., January 15, 2020, Page 6, Image 6

6 • JANUARY 2020
BUSINESS NEWS
COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL
Stayin’ alive: How are they doing?
This month Coast River Business Journal revisits
some start-up enterprises featured in the past year to see
how they’re doing.
What strategies work? Any surprises — good or bad?
What are your plans moving forward.
We found an upbeat group of good people who are man-
aging to survive in business — and even prosper — in the
coast’s competitive and seasonal economic ecosystem.
Rust and Dust Vintage: An ever-expanding vastness
By LUKE WHITTAKER
Coast River Business Journal
SEASIDE — A barometer from 1930s
and a barber chair from the ‘20s greet
guests soon after they step inside.
It’s all part of the unique, rare and
antique items at Rust and Dust Vintage in
Seaside, where owner Rick Smith has been
assembling an ever-expanding vastness of
vintage items since 2018.
“We’ve expanded and rented the whole
top floor as well,” said Smith.
“We’ve added 12 vendors. It’s grown
a lot in volume, there’s a lot more stuff in
here. All of that has added to business.”
Business is booming
Smith said business is going ‘really
well’ since taking the plunge on the down-
town Seaside location.
“It was always a risk to come downtown
from what I was paying in rent. But with
the foot traffic we have and with the other
businesses located next to us, like Westport
Winery, Capricorn Pub, Salon on Broad-
way and Seaside Massage, it drives peo-
ple into the store. We’re getting a lot more
repeat business, people who come in any-
time they’re here or local people coming in
to see what’s new. All of those things help
you with your longevity.”
‘Quirky’ and vintage
Introducing new inventory weekly and
changing the layout has kept customers
coming back searching for more.
“We try to brand ourselves by getting
new and interesting things in, so that peo-
ple get that treasure hunt mentality,” Smith
said.
“Once a month or so we’ll rearrange the
store.”
Customers seek different things depend-
ing on the season.
“As we get into spring we’re going to
have people wanting to change their look or
add garden things,” Smith said.
LUKE WHITTAKER
Rust and Dust Vintage owner Rick Smith has assembled an ever-expanding world of rare, unique and ‘quirky’ antiques items since opening in 2018.
Among the most expensive items is rare
artwork worth thousands. The inventory
often comes estate sales or auctions.
“People will come in too, if they’re
downsizing,” Smith said.
“We’ll buy whole estates and do garage
clean-outs. If someone is downsizing we
can facilitate that and buy what they want
to get rid off. We try to find a lot of repur-
posed items.”
Rust and Dust Vintage
Rick Smith, owner
810 Broadway St., Seaside
503-717-5210