Local Kidpreneur Has Bright Idea

Owen Simoes started his Concord business at the age of 10. He started painting and flipping furniture for fun – and had a good summer running his own store, Squid Flip. That was two years ago. Now, as he prepares to open for this third season – he has a pretty bright idea: making his own lamps.

But, first – last year he had a colorful idea – fed up with the high cost of chalked paint he decided to make his own. That went pretty well, and he got to show off his paint in the Boston Globe and on GMA Day (Strahan and Sara). 

This spring he decided to up his game. Inspired by a booth selling old machines turned into lamps, he set out to do the same. Luckily, his uncle David is a electrician, and showed him the ropes –and he got some new tools. Owen’s first lamps are quite cool – he has turned a 1960’s camera, a vintage wine jug, a lobster pot and a store mannequin into unique SquidFlip lamps. 

Owen hopes to reopen his shop right after school afternoons – but he has his eye on three places- the first will be his third pilgrimage to Brimfield’s giant antiques fair in May – where he is inspired and gets unique items. The second is to do more shows and special pop up stands – as he likes to take his goods on the road. And he hopes to plan a big fair in Concord. 

He is looking for ideas of where to exhibit, and can be reached on the Squid Flip page on Facebook or Instagram. His shop is at 31 Warren Street in Concord, NH – and his new web shop features many of his lamps.