Not sure where a good place for this was but seeing it screams canada.. I decide it will work for me, I'm doing a survey for canadian magicians in ontario and asking them where in ontario would you most like to see a magic shop? Im looking for what city or town and why you'd like to see one there.

Rick Anderson

I think I'd like to see one near London.

Great Domino there is one in Waterloo http://www.kwmagic.com/

Oshawa is a big city. I think a magic shop would do well there. Its target consumer range would be massive. All of Durham Region, Peterborough, etc. Many people in toronto think all surrounding towns and cities in ontario are small. Not true.

While you're waiting for one to open up: I don't know how much magic McCulloch's Costume Shop in London actually stock these days, but there was a time many years back when it wasn't too bad.

My personal vote goes to Ottawa, but that's because I live there. And I'm being greedy, because just across the river in Gatineau, there's a dedicated magic shop. I don't think the region can support two.

McCulloch's is a great store, but it's basically a wholesaler of Morrissy's magic in Toronto. I go to McCulloch's often when I can't get to Toronto, It's a great way to save on shipping!

I'd say London would be somewhat okay for a magic shop. Again you'd be competing with McCulloch's and indirectly Morrissys. If I was to open a shop I'd say Windsor would be the place. Far enough away from everyone else, Big city, good Magic community in the area. Lovely tourist town. ect. Lot's of american's coming over to the casino looking to spend money on souvenirs for the kids!

Niagara Falls

Barrie !!!!

I'd love to open one here myself! lol

Thanks guys for the replys, I'm starting to think londons looking good for me, atleast in driving distance from both my places, but who knows still waiting on a few more suggestions here. I want to make sure I'm catering to enuff magicians also in this area that's mentioned.
As some may know or not know, I own a full shop now and I'm moving it here soon so I'm asking for ideas as I want to make it easy for others to be able to get to. also I love the saturday gatherings so I'm catering to that also.
So keep them coming.

Rick Anderson

I would like to have one in Thunder Bay.
The only problem is buddy, what's his name, and the other feller would not be enough business to keep it afloat.

Eric

http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll267/sleightofH/

Niagara Falls.
During the high season, you could sell truck-loads of stuff just from demos.
Location and high density foot-traffic would be a prerequisite.
Two casinos (3 if you count the American one just a walk away across the border) feed an atmosphere of card/gambling/poker chip tricks.
Not sure how one might get through the frigid months…

Aren't there already 3+ shops within 2 hours of one another?

Browsers Den
Morrissey's Magic
KWMagic

There's also a shop in Gatineau as mentioned above and Patrick Kuffs has a shop around there too, although I think that might be in Montreal.

In any case, there's lots of shops...

Shane

Deceptions in Gatineau has either (A) closed or (B) moved without telling anyone.

I think a great idea would be to open a store in partnership with the Greg Frewin Theatre show, so after the show everybody can shop magic items. Greg seems to be an open guy for business. Lance Burton has his own shop so after the show all the audience go there to buy because they are excited for what they just saw.

Professional Magicians don't keep a magic shop in business. Amateurs do.

Pick a place where there is either very high turnover of people (Niagara Falls for example, where (as was mentioned) you'd make a killing during the high season) or somewhere with a huge enough population from which you could develop a broad base of amateurs and hobbyists. Kingston might be a good choice. Close to the US, too.

- entity

Rick,

I've not done any market research, but here's my thinking:

Both Shane and entity make good points. Shane is absolutely right, I think, in pointing out that there's probably saturation within about one to two hour's drive of Kitchener/Waterloo or Toronto. That includes Niagara Falls.

However, entity's point about the high turnover in Niagara is important. A small shop catering to tourists might work during the high season. This would likely not be a store selling magic suited to hardcore magicians. You'd sell very little finger-flicking material or tricks that require significant practice. Your main customer would be the tourist looking for self-contained, relatively easy to do tricks: trick decks and coins, tenyo-style products, novelties, practical jokes, etc.

My thoughts turn immediately to the Houdini's magic shops in Las Vegas or similar shops at amusement parks. They may have some complicated effects for sale, but they concentrate on selling what we might call "entry level magic". You won't build a strong client base as you will be selling to tourists, and your sales will depend heavily on foot traffic near your location. Years ago, before the fire destroyed it, this sort of shop would have been a good adjunct to the Houdini musuem on Clifton Hill.

Of course, magicians are probably not the best people to ask, in general, when you want business advice. If you want to open a brick and mortar store do some market research, survey potential locations, look into costs, and talk to someone who actually has some understanding of setting up a small retail business.

@ Papasmurf I am currently looking into attempting to get one started in Thunder bay I am waiting to see what kind of grants and stuff I can receive for it first.

@miraclesawait
Hey Tyler, you should get in touch with the guy who owned mystic lakes magic (his name escapes me at the moment). It went under a few years back, but they were a multi-faceted store focused more on role-play games, tv memorabila etc. It seems by the time they closed they had largely gotten away from magic. He may be able to give you some pointers.

-Robbie (b2magic)

Do you plan to also LIVE in the city you locate the magic shop in? If so, are you a fan of big cities or quiet burgs?

London's a nice enough city (at least to visit, but see (*) below) but I don't know that it is populated with enough magicians to support a magic shop. Maybe if you catered to the large student population there with non-magic items (like costumes for Halloween, or decorations for frat parties), that would help. But I suppose there are already stores there doing that.

I understand that there are already a couple of magic stores in Toronto but, if you want a large potential customer base, I think Toronto is the place to be. Further, take a look at where Browser's Den and Morrissey Magic are located. Not exactly convenient locations for many people. If you have the ability / opportunity to locate closer to downtown, that might give you a real step up.

(*) I went to university in London as an undergraduate (at the UWO) and it is a great town for a student 8 months of the year. I loved my time there. But people have told me that during the summer months it is pretty quiet (i.e., dead) and various of my friends who lived there have since left. Friends of mine who still live and work there plan to leave as soon as they retire.