Lisa and Henryk Olender Top-Notch Customer Service
As antique dealers, Indian River Antique Mall owners Lisa and Henryk Olender worked at various antique malls and vintage stores while also having dealerships in several different antique malls. They built a successful full-time business of buying and selling antique and vintage merchandise.
The Olenders have business experience that goes beyond antiques. They owned an engineering and manufacturing company that had global interests. Additionally, they bring 30-plus years of business management experience.
With Henryk assisting, Lisa built three successful start-up antique malls for another company. In April 2014, they decided to build their own antique mall in a theme and character that would set them apart.
The name Indian River Antique Mall was chosen since the antique mall is less than a mile from the Indian River that stretches along all of Brevard County. An exhausting search landed them in the perfect Space Coast location — it met all the criteria that would bring customer traffic, sufficient customer parking, ease of loading customer or dealer merchandise, easy access from Interstate 95, and it’s only a quarter mile from US Highway 1. It also is in a busy Melbourne shopping center.
How do you balance home and business. Does one of you take primary responsibility for the home or businesses?
We do just about everything together, although we each have our specialties. Henryk handles all marketing, security and maintenance. Lisa handles personnel matters, payroll, accounting and all paperwork. Tim Darnall, our store manager, handles the daily business, employees, dealers, and customers.
At home, we both do what needs to be done, like many hard-working couples.
What legacy are you hoping to create with your business? Do you give back to the community?
We are not looking for a legacy. We are earning a living while giving small-business people a chance to earn some money and provide employment. We give them a venue, and all the necessities to have a chance at small business. We advertise, provide trained knowledgeable employees, clean climate-controlled facilities, electricity, customer service, and the freedom to do other things while we sell their merchandise.
As for the community, the store generates tax base, creates employment and we always give discounts to military veterans and their families.
What are your top 3 strategies that have contributed to your success?
The key to our success is top-notch customer service, highly diversified unique merchandise, and we supply the best and affordable venue for antique dealers.
Indian River Antique Mall
1433 S. Babcock St., Melbourne
321-586-5530
FB: /indianriverantiquemall
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