When Nicole O’Brien’s husband, a member of the U.S. Air Force, deployed to Japan 10 years ago, she and her children stayed with her parents in Rhode Island while they waited to go overseas with him. 

Before the movers came her father found a big box of old license plates. He was going to throw them away but she told him that she would take them and would make something out of them. 

Like the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. 

That saying would turn out to be absolutely true for O’Brien.

She made a sign for a friend, and now she not only has a business making art out of old license plates from across the country, she is helping 64 veterans and their family members promote their own art creations. 

O’Brien said that for a few years she operated her business Unique Pl8Z out of her home. Then after the business became too big she decided that it was time to have her own manufacturing facility. 

That facility eventually open on the second floor of a building on Toll Gate Road, between Bald Hill Road and the West Warwick border.

With plenty of extra space she decided to contact other veterans and military spouses who create things to let them know they could set up their art in the extra space.

She started three years ago with 12 vendors, and now the consignment portion of her business, Operation Made, sells and showcases the art of around 64 different product makers.

While she never intended her business to grow that quickly she said she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“It’s like my life’s purpose now. I can't imagine not doing it, it just means a lot to help them grow,” O’Brien said.

The business is essentially set up like a consignment store where veterans and or military spouses are allowed to set up their art, set their own prices and sell it in the store.

“Operation Made is a mission driven marketplace that helps veterans and military spouses grow their businesses,” said O’Brien. “Unlike any other gift shop in New England, Operation Made only sells items made by those who serve.”

Last Friday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) District Director Mark Hayward visited the store to help promote the upcoming National Veterans Small Business Week, which started on Monday. 

“Now in its eighth year, National Veterans Small Business Week is an annual celebration held during the business week prior to Veterans Day (Thursday, Nov. 11) that spotlights the entrepreneurial spirit of veterans, active duty personnel, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military spouses,” according to a press release from Reed’s office. “It also helps connect veterans and military spouses to small business training, resources, and assistance to help them build and grow their businesses.”

On Friday, Reed said he bought treats for the dogs and a can opener.

“I am proud to support the men and women who sacrifice so much to serve our country,” said Reed. “Veterans make for a special kind of entrepreneur because they tend to bring a fearless, relentless, can-do attitude and understand the meaning of hard work, team-building, and dedication. Employment and savings are up so this will likely be a record-setting holiday season for retailers and I will continue working hard to help Main Street businesses and working families thrive and keep our economy moving forward. It’s always important to honor and thank our veterans and military families. Beyond expressions of gratitude, we can use our purchasing power to ‘shop local’ and support veteran-owned businesses and local retailers who are pillars of our communities.”

According to SBA’s 2021 Small Business Profile, there are more than 1,500 veteran-owned small businesses across Rhode Island that employ people, as well as 4,300 one-person businesses owned and operated by veterans.

Hayward said that O’Brien’s story is great.  

“Seeing her take an idea and turn it into an extremely successful business is just another example of the hard work and commitment members of the military and their families have to getting the job done,” Hayward said. “Utilizing all the resources available to you, like the SBA resource partner network, is something all small business owners should do. We love seeing success stories like Nicole’s, and salute all those who protect and serve our country, only to come home and enhance our communities and state with the successful small businesses they operate.”

 While she is happy with how many people she’s been able to help since the launch of her business, O’Brien said that she wants to continue to help even more.

She set a goal for next year of 150 vendors, meaning that they will need a bigger space. She is hopeful to be able to take over the storefront next to her current space in order to do so. 

“It just keeps growing,” O’Brien said.