Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Houde.

Hi Amelia , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

I’ve always loved shopping at little local shops and finding unique gifts for friends and family that you can’t find a chain stores. When I looked at my home town of Onset, MA a seaside community nearly doubling in population in the summer and it only had one gift shop, I knew I could bring something to the town that didn’t exist. I kept an eye on retail spaces in the area but none were exactly what I needed for space or price. At the end of 2023 a run down building went up for sale, I couldn’t personally buy the building but hoped whoever did would make it nice and I could potentially rent from them. Well a few months later I was chatting with a local artist, Trevor Watson and to my surprise he was the one who purchased the building. He mentioned he would be looking for tenants to rent the retail spaces and I immediately blurted out, “ME! I want it”. That night I went home practically floating with excitement that my dream was starting to become reality. Of course many months of renovations, waiting on the town, a lot of research, securing my loan, and ordering inventory I was finally able to open June 15th, 2024. Tide and True is a seaside inspired gift shop offering gifts, jewelry, home decor, local art and more. There truly is something for everyone. I’m proud to say I source so much of my inventory from local artists and brands here in Massachusetts and New England. It keeps my inventory unique from others while being able to support local artists and companies.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Honestly, it has been a pretty smooth road for the most part, thankfully! The most challenging part was making the original decisions, what POS system to go with, what security system is best, where am I getting the money and how much do I need to start this, leaving my previous employer to start this journey, how am I going to pay myself? Those initial steps and jumps are scary and you can go back and forth a million times but eventually you either have to go for it 100% or never take the chance which I think it scarier. I never want to look back and wish I had done it. I know if in 5-10 years someone else opened a store like this in my town I’d be kicking myself.

I do also find building the website challenging! One day I’ll get mine shoppable it’s just hard to focus the attention needed on the backend when running the day to day and managing the front end on my own.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Tide and True LLC?

Tide and True really does offer something for everyone from jewelry, baby items, specialty food items, accessories, home goods and decor, greeting cards and stationary, artisan pieces, refurbished furniture, and custom local products. I am always changing up inventory in the store so you’re not seeing the same things each time you come in. I small batch order so if you want it, grab it, it might not be here the next time around. I work with a lot of great vendors and artists and we work together to create “town pride” type items. Signs, sweatshirts, sweaters, stationary, tumblers, pillows, tea towels, wine glasses, ornaments, coasters, jewelry with Onset, Wareham, Buzzards Bay, the local beaches printed on them that aren’t “tacky tourist” items. I love offering these items. I’m also going to be able to take custom orders for pillows pretty soon that I’m excited about! Mr. and Mrs. ____, Baby Names, Specific Town or Beach. I love being able to say YES we can do that for you and really help elevate gift giving options.

What I am most proud of is I’ve created a space where people can come to shop and find those unique gifts they’re excited to give someone in my own hometown. You know when you find that PERFECT gift for someone and you can’t wait to give it to them? That’s the feeling I want everyone to feel when they leave my store. And I even offer complimentary gift wrapping so you’re walking out of here ready to hand that gift over!

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?

I’ve never been a podcast person, I’ve never had a long enough commute to really dive into them. I do love reading but I use it to escape. A beach read or mystery/thriller is my go to. Colleen Hoover sucks me in every time. My go to apps are of course Instagram and Facebook for my business and Spotify is playing all day at the store. You’re most likely going to hear a mix of country, folk, rock here at Tide and True with a good mix of throwback 90’s Sheryl Crow, The Chicks (Dixie Chicks), Jimmy Buffet, Tom Petty, some 70’s. I’m a little all over the place with music, but something good is always playing. I do love me some Canva – I make all of my marketing materials with it and it is so easy to use. Also a shared calendar app called Supershift is a must. My husband’s schedule rotates so it comes in handy for all of our scheduling so we don’t double book.

A great resource I used while I was starting my business was my local SCORE program. It’s all free. You can watch webinars, read blogs and even connect with a free mentor. All related to starting, operating, growing your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tideandtrueonset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tideandtrueonset
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tideandtrueonset