Outdoor Adventure & Angela’s Antiques - a unique business partnership

THE outdoor life and the world of antiques have been unusually but very successfully linked in Ballymena’s town centre for the past five years by husband and wife, Roy and Angela Smyth.

Trading separately but located under one roof at 135-137 Church Street, Outdoor Adventure and Angela’s Antiques & Jewellery continue, even in the midst of recession, to prove to be a commercial marriage built to last.

The business was born out of Roy’s determination to make a fresh start after being made redundant after 20 years in the civil service.

“There’s never a good time to be out of work but we’d just had twins and also with three older children we knew we had to give it a go,” said Roy, who recently became a father-of-six.

“Now, like every other business in the town we’re trying to work through the credit crunch and its thanks to the support of family, our staff and, of course, our customers that we’re still here,” he said.

Roy, who runs Outdoor Adventure, says that together the businesses attract customers of all ages and with a wide range of interests.

His enterprise caters for all outdoor needs, with an approach that reflects traditional standards of personal service and quality.

Says Roy: “Our staff are conscientious, helpful and eager to please, always putting our customers first. As well as being customer focused our prices are very competitive and we strive to keep prices as reasonable as possible.

“We stock clothing by all the leading outdoor specialists such as, North Face, Jack Wolfskin clothing and equipment Outwell tents, Jack Murphy clothing, Lowe Alpine and we are also suppliers for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme,” said Roy.

Outdoor Adventure also has superb ranges of camping accessories in store including Swiss army knives, Silva compasses, Hi-tec shoes and boots, sleeping bags, Sigg water bottles, binoculars, Acuter waterproof spotting scopes and Maglites - perfect for all those camping weekends.

Outdoor items include cooler boxes, unbreakable glasses and beakers, portable toilets, water carriers, camping chairs, airbeds, self inflating mattresses, cooking pots, camping kettles and utensils.

If, however, interiors are more your style, then Angela’s Antiques will be your destination of choice at this Church Street store.

When investing in antiques it is important to buy from a knowledgeable and reputable dealer and Angela’s Antiques has built up a reputation second to none.

From antique clocks and china to antique furniture and books, ‘Angela’s’ is an Aladdin’s cave of unique and timeless pieces that would adorn any home or add value to any private collection.

Antique jewellery is a speciality and Angela’s has a simply wonderful range of rings, bracelets, necklaces, watchchains, earrings and timepieces - any of which would make for a memorable and lasting gift.

So whether you want to add value to your indoors via some antique retail therapy at Angela’s or get away from it all courtesy of the quality equipment at the Outdoor Adventure, both are open six days a week, Monday to Saturday, from 9am-5pm.

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