This Side Hustle Q&A features Kyle Needham. In 2011 he was a co-founder Oyster party with Samuel Keller. The company caters for private parties, weddings and corporate events, dropping oysters on the half shell, popping raw bars and seafood towers, providing caviar nodules and more. Oyster Party hosts pop-up events in Smorgasburg, Manhattan’s FiDi district, and the Hudson Valley, and has expanded beyond New York City into the Tri-State area.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Oyster Party. Kyle Needham.
What was your day like before you began playing on the side?
Before starting Oyster Party, I worked at a seafood wholesaler in Manhattan and at retail fish markets in Columbus Circle and Grand Central.
What inspired you to begin your side business?
I began shucking oysters at events throughout Brooklyn. My love for oysters really took off then as I had more access to them and began eating them frequently. The enthusiasm people showed for eating them after I shelled them was palpable and continues to this day.
What were the first steps you took to interrupt away from the game?
In 2011, I had an oyster and lobster roll party at a bar in Williamsburg. We ordered 1,000 oysters and made 50 lobster rolls. We sold out of lobster rolls inside an hour and oysters by the end of the night. That’s when I knew we were doing something. Then I submitted my application Smorgasburg and founded the company S.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in building your side team and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges were finding recent ways to attach with customers, especially during the colder months. We tried a bottom-up method, i.e. one client at a time. We sold at many events. We were all the time confident in the quality of our products and slowly people began to understand what we did, which turned into a greater business.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Oyster Party. Needham and his co-founder Samuel Keller.
How long did it take for you to attain stable monthly income? How much did the side hustle earn?
We were lucky because we began seeing consistent monthly revenue straight away. We were motivated by our passion, which is why we reached out to numerous bars, markets and corporate clients. We earned more than working full time.
When did you understand it was time to take up yard work full time?
After a year, I spotted that this business would only be a side business if I wasn’t 100% committed to it. It was definitely scary, but when I quit my job, I saw an immediate increase in my income because I used to be capable of devote so much more time to growing the business.
What does growth and/or revenue appear like today?
We currently have roughly 15 people in our team and operate throughout the Northeast. Our annual sales exceed $1 million, which we are very happy with.
What do you enjoy most about running this business?
The opportunity to do something I like and am passionate about. It all the time brings a smile to my face when someone eats an oyster and tells me a story about their first oyster or brings back memories of eating oysters with their family at a specific place and time.
What is your advice to others who need to turn their side hustle into their very own successful business?
Take the challenge and imagine in yourself. Trust yourself to make the right decisions and know what’s best for your small business. Be curious and don’t turn into complacent!
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