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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
What incredible advice has been given. So kind of many of you.
I've had friends that have tried to open a shop and it didn't work out. They lost everything. Josh, if this "incredible deal" you've been offered means using any of your own money, think long and hard before going forward. You need to know exactly how much business you need to do each day to meet expenses BEFORE you commit to this. Even though people have to eat, most non-corporate restaurants go out of business. People don't have to perform magic, so you're already at a disadvantage. The Houdini shops are in heavy tourists areas. They're big sellers are The Whirling Card, Scotch and Soda and Svengali Decks. They have linking rings, cups and balls and some other classics, but the first 3 are their bread and butter. Their demonstrators are VERY good and can sell. Local Magicians won't buy from you, but they'll hang out and take up space. Having volunteers is bad and paying someone is VERY expensive. Best wishes on it all! |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
Howie - As I stated above - If he is going to inventory anything, I would only offer that which I can get dirt cheap for kids. Coin slide, ball vase, magic wand, coin spike and a few kits. Otherwise, I would try to find a shop that is closing and buy some inventory from them on the cheap. Houdini's is selling to people with disposable income during a festive vacation experience. A dying mall does not provide such consumers, so assuming that one can replicate Houdini's inventory and convert it into a successful shop anywhere is not realistic.
The success of the Houdini shops is more complicated than knowing what inventory to stock. Stocking that inventory is predicated upon having customers to purchase the inventory at the price they sell tham at and with the frequency they depend on. It also requires well trained demostrators that know which item to demo to which customer and how to turn one demonstration into multple sales. Josh will not have that opportunity frequently in a dying mall. My advice to Josh was to spend as little as possible on stocking the retail items and focus on other aspects of his business for profit. |
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Yehoshua Regular user Turnersville, NJ 159 Posts |
Well, wow....Where do I begin with my reply. O_O
First off, thank you ALL for your posts thus far! They are ALL incredibly helpful! David, your post was indeed pure GOLD! Smart people can put together a great plan, but nothing teaches like experience! Best of all one who has knowledge of not just what to do, but what to AVOID! I will be avoiding purchasing TOO much product. I have worked in retail for quite some time and have been fortunate enough to be able to observe how things work. Granted I won't be some huge chain, but the base mechanics are same and can be adapted to suit the store. I believe much of the income will come from services more than product. I will be using the tricks sold in-store to push those services, and vice-versa. For example, a demo catches a kids attention, sell the trick and oh by the way, we offer classes here. Kid takes classes, oh by the way, we will be hosting an Eric Jones lecture this Saturday. Ticket sold. Etc, etc. Sponges, silks, TT, and trick decks were at the top of my to sell lists. Also, hummer card and various packet tricks, being that these can be assembled at home for little cost to me other than time. Also, what thoughts might you all have on furnishing the space? I'm looking for posters of Thurston and Houdini and whatnot... Need to find a cheap glass display case that can double as a sales counter, as well. Any thoughts? Thanks again to each of you! I am more grateful than words can express, truly! -Josh |
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-06-29 02:00, Yehoshua wrote: Sadly, your customers will have no idea who they are. Think who the faces of magic are today on TV and that's who they will recognize. This company knows exactly who is buying and they cater to them: http://magicmakersinc.com/c-4-must-stock-items.aspx |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-06-29 02:41, Zombie Magic wrote: Ture, but it would better than nothing to start. I think old magic posters would be a great idea for an inexpensive way to give your store that authentic feel. I believe D. Robbins sells posters. In this area D. Robbins has delivery in one day! PS What time is the Eric Jones lecture this Saturday?
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Yehoshua Regular user Turnersville, NJ 159 Posts |
Lol sorry Ken, that was meant to be an example, though I will be having Eric Jones out for a lecture at the shop in the near future...I'll keep ya posted! If you haven't seen his lecture before, it's pretty incredible! D. Robbins you say? I'll look into it, thanks for the tip!
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Yehoshua Regular user Turnersville, NJ 159 Posts |
Does anyone happen to know of a good supplier of furniture? I still need a countertop :O doesn't need to look like a million dollars, I can restore it myself, just don't trust making it myself lol!
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-06-29 02:41, Zombie Magic wrote: Find the Snap On Tool Truck and hang the pictures from the calendar in your shop, this will bring in the guys LOL |
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Wunderground New user Clawson, MI 13 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-07-01 00:34, Yehoshua wrote: Hi Josh: Your best bet for finding furniture is on Craig's List. Check for stores that are going out of business and buy their fixtures. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them, but fortunately for you the deals can be very good.
Share the Wunder not the secret - Wunderground Magic
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MichaelDouglas Special user Portland, Oregon 766 Posts |
Here are a couple of magic wholesale vendor links:
http://ezmagicrobbins.com/ https://www.loftus.com/ http://www.wackomagic.com/wackomagic/Wack-0-Magic.com.html http://wholesale.dollardays.com/sitesear......c+Tricks Plus many of the established internet magic stores will sell wholesale...just talk to them. Also, you might want to study the business model of Louis Meyer's "Child Time Magic". http://www.childtimemagic.com/ They host parties, sell magic, etc. I might suggest that you also consider the business model that Dave touched on with his experience of selling Magic AND coffee. Consider having an alternate reason for people to come to your shop. Dean Dill's magic shop is also a barber shop. Here in Richmond the local magic shop is also sells "new age" products like special candles and other superstitious type of products. I read once here on the Café that a local shop that went out of business was also a costume shop. Since you may be connected to birthday parents, could you also sell birthday party supplies, decorations, helium balloons? Could you partner with your comic book store friend and sell comics which also has appeal for your same youth market? Lastly, please, please listen to the wisdom shared by the other guys here. Don't invest any money that you cannot afford to loose, or are unwilling to loose entirely if it doesn't work out. Be a calculated risk taker. I wish you all the best. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Offered an incredible deal? I am just curious as can be.
Has putting together a business plan ever occurred to you? Also if you are in a small town mall with regulars, impulse buys may be a tough sell. What is the monthly nut? How much will it cost you to keep inventory? What about insurance and electricity? How about advertising? I tell you local magicians don't but enough to keep your doors open. What can you expect to make when you do host a lecture? Most shops have lectures to have people in the shop buying things. I think you need to be less excited and put a bit more into that end of it. Think about how long you can sustain this business while you build it up. Lectures and birthday parties are isolated events, bills are fairly regular. I don't want to crush your dreams, but I really don't want them to crush you either.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I tried to say local magicians DON'T SPEND enough. Stupid auto correct.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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