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Underground > Temple >

what about magic shops?

09:28 / 08.09.01

Say somebody was going to open a magic shop, a useful one not a hippie peace pit, what do you think they should sell? Obviously there are a few key items that can't be omitted, like herbs and rocks and sticks and such, but what is it that wizards really need and can never get hold of?
Not that I am going to open a magic shop you understand. No, never.

09:34 / 08.09.01

Funny... some friends of mine where on the verge of doing this early in the summer... it never happened...

I guess alot of it depends on where the store would be... A Magik shop would be very different in San Fransisco than it would be in New York, or Taos New Mexico...

Books, and alternative magazines...

music...

Find art type stuff from local craftsfolk.

Garb, costuming gear.

international alter type stuff.

Candles, incence...

Just off the top of my head....

09:34 / 08.09.01

Hard to find books.

Hand made oils for the hoodoo or santeria practitioner that doesn't have access to a good botanica.

Actually, finding out what your main clientele was and then stocking the essential items that are appropriate to the traditions in question. Then, convince some of those regular customers to do some introductory workshops/classes and the sell the newbies the essential beginners books and supplies needed to get them going once they've left the store.

Personally I'd love for someone to open up a store near me that has some really small press hard to find occult books (like Brujo Negro's stuff) and good hand made supplies like different inks and oils so that I wouldn't have to mail order stuff.

Oh... and cheap bulk supplies of white sage and copal. Most stores rip you off with high prices and crappy quality. Mail order is reliable and honest (usually) but you have to wait for shipping.

I also used to work at
the Magic Shop but that's probably not the type you were talking about.

[ 08-09-2001: Message edited by: Lothar Tuppan ]

09:34 / 08.09.01

This little magic shop I have in mind is indeed primarily for supplies. Fed up am I of not being able to find fresh mandrake when I need it. There is also an extensive ethno-botanical section of the shop for the cultivation and preservation of magic and endangered plants (how well are wild peyote populations doing these days?)
But rare and unusual books? Yes yes, I must find those pesky books.

Oh, but there won't be any classes or workshops or anything like that. Better to just give someone a goblin in jar and let them get on with it.

09:34 / 08.09.01

I like the sound of this shop Lord OTA. Where are you going to be based?

22:49 / 08.09.01

The shop will be in Portsmouth, home of maritime England. It's on an island and that makes it a little crazy, but the psycho-geology breeds many wizards. And the Isle of Wight is very close and full of dinosaurs, which is great for geomancy.
But I should probably be online as well, what with it being this day and age and all.

02:45 / 09.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Lord of anteaters:
The shop will be in Portsmouth, home of maritime England.

Watch out for any customers who smell of fish and sport the 'Innsmouth' look.

Or should that be the 'Portsmouth' look?

15:34 / 09.09.01

Many of them smell of fish, fish and beer. But we have learned to scuttle between them.
To them we shall sell bongs.

Tryphena Absent

09:17 / 10.09.01

You know what you shouldn't have: bright purple dreamcatchers or self help books. Those always really grate on me and there should be a little section for local information but only interesting stuff not 'a class on how to re-energise crystals' because if you don't know how to do that without asking anyone then why do you bother? Oh, sorry, pet hate.

09:17 / 10.09.01

How about a Magician-For-Hire board? Or another one where folks can organize groups? The store could rent space during off hours (for magicians that would be 0700-1200) to these groups to provide a safe enviroment for magic.

Lothar, are you really having a hard time finding botanticas in the bay area?

-Jesse

12:16 / 10.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Rev. Jesse:

Lothar, are you really having a hard time finding botanticas in the bay area?

-Jesse

Nope, plenty of Botanicas here. That part of the post was for the hypothetical practitioner in oh... Rapid City, South Dakota or some place that doesn't have a plethora of them.

12:18 / 10.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Rev. Jesse:
How about a Magician-For-Hire board? Or another one where folks can organize groups? The store could rent space during off hours (for magicians that would be 0700-1200) to these groups to provide a safe enviroment for magic.
-Jesse

That would be a really cool service. Renting affordable space for group activities can be really tough for some groups. The shop owner who did that could make quite a few loyal customers (and free word of mouth advertising) that way.