This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A focuses on Kyle Needham. In 2011 he founded the Oyster Party together with Samuel Keller. The company serves private parties, weddings and corporate events by shucking oysters on the half shell, setting up raw bars and seafood towers, providing caviar pumps and more. Oyster Party hosts pop-up events in Smorgasburg, Manhattan’s FiDi district and the Hudson Valley, and has expanded beyond New York into the Tri-State area.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Oyster Party. Kyle Needham.
What was your everyday life like before you started your part-time business?
Before starting Oyster Party, I worked for a wholesale seafood company in Manhattan and for seafood markets in Columbus Circle and Grand Central.
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What inspired you to start your side hustle?
I started shucking oysters at parties all over Brooklyn. My love for oysters really grew back then because I had more access to them and started eating them regularly. The excitement people showed when they ate them after I peeled them was palpable and continues to this day.
What were some of the first steps you took to get your side business off the ground?
I hosted an oyster and lobster roll party at a bar in Williamsburg in 2011. We ordered 1,000 oysters and made 50 lobster rolls. The lobster rolls sold out within an hour and the oysters sold out by the end of the night. That’s when I knew we were on to something. I then applied to Smorgasburg and formed an S corporation.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building your side business and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was finding new ways to connect with customers and customers, especially during the colder months. We tried the basic method, which was one customer at a time. We ended up selling at a lot of events. We were always confident in the quality of our products and gradually people started appreciating our work, which led to more business.
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Photo credit: Courtesy of Oyster Party. Needham and his co-founder Samuel Keller.
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How long did it take for you to achieve consistent monthly sales? How much did the side hustle make?
We were lucky because we immediately recorded consistent monthly sales. Our passion motivated us and we reached out to various bars, markets and corporate clients. We earned more than we would have at our full-time jobs.
When did you know it was time to pursue your backyard side hustle full time?
Within a year, I realized that if I didn’t commit 100% to it, this business would just be a side hustle. It was definitely scary, but after I quit my job I immediately saw an increase in sales because I was able to devote a lot more time to growing the business.
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What does growth and/or sales look like today?
Our team currently consists of around 15 people and operates across the North East. Our annual turnover is over $1 million, which we are very proud of.
What do you enjoy most about running this company?
Being able to do something that I love and am passionate about. It always puts a smile on my face when someone eats an oyster and tells me a story about their first oyster or remembers eating oysters with their family at a certain place and time.
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What advice would you give to others who want to turn their part-time job into a successful business of their own?
Take the step and believe in yourself. Trust that you are making the right decisions and knowing what is best for your business. Stay curious and not complacent!