Part Of Showroom At Big Daddy's Antiques Florida - It's not that we can't imagine it, but we'd have to say it's certainly an unusual position for an antiques business to be in - after all, what are the odds of a national brand-name chain store deciding to partner with a local California vintage shop? Well, if you're Shane Brown from Culver City, the odds would be pretty good.
Owner and operator of Big Daddy's Antiques, Shane got his start in the business about fifteen years ago, when a spat at a former girlfriend's house led to a dumping of his treasured second-hand vintage and mid-century modern pieces onto her front lawn. With no space at his own digs for the carefully rummaged items, Brown decided to rent a small booth in an antique mall, rather than pay for storage. To his surprise, the second-hand finds sold almost immediately, and since then, he's never looked back.
Brown quickly set-up shop with the notion of creating a space that would imbue the idea of cool and funky, with one-of-a-kind vintage decorative art items that just couldn't be found anywhere else (including life size human wax figures). For Brown, it was all about size and scope, and making sure his place was unusual and interesting enough that people would want to immerse themselves in it - or at the very least - want to stay and browse for hours on end. It didn't take long for the celebrity elite to hear, and within a few short years Brown had become the go-to guy for Hollywood types. "You just never know who's going to walk through the door." In the last year he says they've catered to Taylor Swift, Harry Stiles and even a Kardashian or two.
The success of the store appears to be in large part a result of Brown's ability to innovate; keeping stock and inventory on the cutting-edge. From re-purposed steampunk items, to Louis Vuitton trunks and French reproduction birdcages, all the way up to more traditional mid-century modern staples like bentwood chairs and tables. Throughout the process of creating his business, Brown remained constant in his belief that antiques, funky vintage, mid-century modern, along with a few off-beat items, could all co-exist nicely together under one roof.
Owner and operator of Big Daddy's Antiques, Shane got his start in the business about fifteen years ago, when a spat at a former girlfriend's house led to a dumping of his treasured second-hand vintage and mid-century modern pieces onto her front lawn. With no space at his own digs for the carefully rummaged items, Brown decided to rent a small booth in an antique mall, rather than pay for storage. To his surprise, the second-hand finds sold almost immediately, and since then, he's never looked back.
Brown quickly set-up shop with the notion of creating a space that would imbue the idea of cool and funky, with one-of-a-kind vintage decorative art items that just couldn't be found anywhere else (including life size human wax figures). For Brown, it was all about size and scope, and making sure his place was unusual and interesting enough that people would want to immerse themselves in it - or at the very least - want to stay and browse for hours on end. It didn't take long for the celebrity elite to hear, and within a few short years Brown had become the go-to guy for Hollywood types. "You just never know who's going to walk through the door." In the last year he says they've catered to Taylor Swift, Harry Stiles and even a Kardashian or two.
The success of the store appears to be in large part a result of Brown's ability to innovate; keeping stock and inventory on the cutting-edge. From re-purposed steampunk items, to Louis Vuitton trunks and French reproduction birdcages, all the way up to more traditional mid-century modern staples like bentwood chairs and tables. Throughout the process of creating his business, Brown remained constant in his belief that antiques, funky vintage, mid-century modern, along with a few off-beat items, could all co-exist nicely together under one roof.
Shane Brown Of Big Daddy's Hard At Work This sentiment has not only proved profitable for Brown, who now has five different Big Daddy's Antique stores across the country, but it also caught the attention of the upscale home furnishing retail giant, Pottery Barn in 2016, who offered to collaborate with Brown on a rustic bedroom suite ensemble, including side-tables made from reclaimed wooden pallets and metal. "It was the Big Daddy look," Brown said. "It's antique with modern, and a twist of vintage."
The relationship with the big retailer has continued to flourish and grow, as Brown regularly meets with the Pottery Barn's product development team for new ideas to collaborate on, while simultaneously looking for inspirational style ideas for his own storefronts. It's been a win-win situation for all involved, said a representative from the Pottery Barn, "We're truly helping each other to expand on a variety of different levels."
- A.I.A. Staff Writers
The relationship with the big retailer has continued to flourish and grow, as Brown regularly meets with the Pottery Barn's product development team for new ideas to collaborate on, while simultaneously looking for inspirational style ideas for his own storefronts. It's been a win-win situation for all involved, said a representative from the Pottery Barn, "We're truly helping each other to expand on a variety of different levels."
- A.I.A. Staff Writers
RSS Feed
