Adam Kemp: Onewheels, Six-Figure Levi’s & Riding the Waves of Thrifty Beaches (Part 1)
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What makes a pair of old Levi's worth nearly six figures? Why are people paying hundreds of dollars for worn-out T-shirts? And does the guy who's always cruising downtown San Luis Obispo on a Onewheel actually own SIX of them?
Adam Montiel sits down with Adam Kemp, co-founder of Thrifty Beaches, for Part 1 of a two-part conversation that's equal parts fascinating, funny, and unexpectedly personal.
From an impromptu flight to Arizona to purchase an extraordinary pair of vintage 1940s Levi's to the wild world of collectible clothing, Adam Kemp takes us inside a business built on finding value where other people might not.
We get into Carhartt, vintage denim, rare band tees, and the surprisingly emotional reason some old clothes become priceless. Plus, the story behind those viral Onewheel shoplifting chases, an unexpected reunion with someone he once pursued, and why Kemp says his years as a championship wrestler helped prepare him for the extraordinary demands of entrepreneurship.
And yes, we find out exactly how many Onewheels he owns.
THIS IS PART ONE! Tomorrow, we're getting nosy about the money: how Thrifty Beaches buys and prices clothing, the decisions behind taking over enormous downtown storefronts, and how Adam ended up riding a HORSE into his Santa Barbara store.
CONNECT WITH THRIFTY BEACHESSAN LUIS OBISPO
Website: https://thriftybeachslo.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrifty.beaches/
Location: 876 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo
SANTA BARBARA
Website: https://www.thriftybeachessb.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriftybeaches.sb/
Location: 710 State Street, Santa Barbara
Visit Thrifty Beaches to shop, sell, and discover one-of-a-kind vintage finds!
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