Hi!! I am in the middle of trying to open a magick shop
close to where I live which is Kansas City, Mo.
I'm kind of new to this site so I hope this is the right section.
I need some help with my store. First of all I'm having a REALLY
hard time coming up with a name. I wanted "Something wiccan this way comes"
but people seem to think it's too long. So any suggestions would be helpful!!!

(thinking)  (thinking)  (thinking)

ALSO I've been having a hard time with location. I found a place that
is the right price and size in Raytown but I don't know if anyone will come  
There's only 3 or 4 places here in MO or KS that have anything.
My main competitor is going to be this store called "Aquarius" in Westport.

Anyways, I don't know if anyone lives out here or will read this but I
need some help so hopefully the Gods will bless me and send me someone.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Happy Holidays and Blessed Be.

Hi Nykole,

What do you mean by "magick shop"?  What are gfoing to focus on selling? Books, CD's Classes???

Your name of your business is YOURS...if you like the name you have chosen, then stick with it.

Have you gotten your Federal and State tax I.D licenses yet? If you have, you will have to use the name that is on that ID for all business and legal stuff.

And one motto I like to live by, only have in your store what you are willing to settle with if it closes....

I have worked in the New Age/Metaphysical business for years, and there is alot more than renting a space and filling it up with stuff...

Network, network, network....contact others businesses in your area....go to the local health food store, college, even on the corner... and ask folks what they would like to see in a new age store...I wouldn't necessarily call it a magick shop, for that sounds a bit whimsical and could actually insult some folks who follow this Path. Magick is very little of what we do.

Try to find a pyschic fair near you and talk to those folks as well....ask them if they would be willing to work in your store to have a place to read, and then charge them "rent" for reading there...20% of their hourly fee....and 20% off anything they desire to buy in the store. In return, you can represent them in newsletters and advertising and you can both benefit. This allows you "free" help, and usually brings in more folks willing to assist as well.

Look at your clientele base very, very closely...what age group are you trying to hit? Teens can be very tricky and theft can be a problem....with an older age-base, reading, and health-realted items do better; i.e., Reiki, massage, aura photos...etc.

I have foundd that workshops, classes and psychic fairs are the best draws to business...and flyers and newsletters can do wonders (and can cost out the butt, again.... price, price, price)

There is alot to consider, and take your time....the money and profits will NOT be there immediately, and be prepared to stay long hours away from your family and children....

I wish you well in your endeavor....let us know how you are doing and maybe you can help someone else as you go thru the steps...

Blessings Bright and Dark,

Hey Nykole, I'm in your frontyard, lol. KCK.

Aquarius is going to be the shop you will have the most competion from on the MO and KS side. They do have the widest selection of stuff, and having their duality with Russ and the jewelry part they have a booming busness. That's where I got my aura photo done. need to go find the new place since they moved to a more prime location.

KS has a very small shop on 80th st between metcalf and Santa Fe called Cresent Springs. Rev Kat and Shey used to be on Santa Fe but an onslaught of fires including one in the liquor store next door led them to move around the corner.  They offer alot of classes a such there. They are wonderful ladies and I'm sure might be most helpful to you.

Also out at the Great Mall in Olathe there is a small shop that most people forget about. it's a 'Gift Shop', used to be known as Eggcetera. he carries a small assortment of items, general stuff, not specific.

Don't forget House of Hezekiah and the herbals, as well as Wild Oats for both herbals and oilages.

I think first off you need to decide what types of items you are going to carry, and maybe from that selection a name will arise.

If you are leaning to providing things for the practising Wiccan, then the name you have flitting about your nogging will get their attention, as well as maybe some unwanted attention as well.

Best of wishes for you. Maybe we'll run into one another one day, not that's we'd know it, lol.

Hi ladies! Thank you for the feedback! I've been calling it a New Age store to
most people. But I would like to focus mostly on the magical aspects for it.
I have meetings all this week and next to get my ID's and loans and such.
I have also already talked to Barbara at Aquarius and the lady at Cresent Springs.
Along with the people at Pheonix Herbs (where house of hezekiah was it is closed)
and I'm friends with a woman named Denise who owns an herb shop in Belton who's
been helping me. I have contacts and friend in New Orleans who are going to ship me
my harder to find items for cost .There's also a woman who runs a herb store in Raytown.
She's the one who helped me find my location. Most of them have agreed to let me
advertise in their stores and refer me to customers.

I am also a member of PRS andf go to all the fairs here and am friends with alot of the
folks who have booths there And I know the hours will be long but my family is going
to help out at the store so that'll be nice. My step mother does tarot and palm readings
and has agreed to do it for free. My sister, bestfriend, husband, mother and most of my friends
all practice wicca and I'm going to have alot of free help & support from them all.

I actually decided to do this because they're all always complaining about not being able
to find everything they want and need. 90% of the people I know practice magic of some kind
and almost everyone they know do too so just word of mouth and business cards and the flyers
will do alot of my advertising. My husband is into computers and that kind of thing so he's going
to set up my website and flyers and such. He's also going to help out some of the herb shops with
websites so it's actually been going really well.

As far as what I want to carry most of them are for wicca or magick. I make personalized runes
and gris gris bags and I considered having a workshop where people can make their own.
I want to carry a good selection of books and harder to find things like brick dust & holy water.
along with crystals, candles, athames, scrying mirrors, wands, oils, tarot cards, cauldrons,
mortar & pestles, element bowls, chalices, crystal balls, voodoo dolls, altar boxes, bags, amulets, ect...
My aunt makes gemstone jewelry like they sell at the fairs and I'm going to try to carry that and
my mother makes blankets with wards and protective symbols in them. Most of the items I listed
where requests from the people I've asked what they'd like to have.

Novia what do you think about me being in Raytown? It's not westport or anything but it's still
a decent area that doesnt have alot of crime and the shop's size and price are great.
I just wondered if it was too far for alot of people. I've been having a really hard time
finding the perfect place and city.

I really appreciate your guys' help and feedback!!!
thanks again so much and I hope to hear more soon    

(butterfly) Nykole (butterfly)

Nykole, Raytown is not really 'that far', but then again people in OP think coming into KC is a daytrip! lol

Hubby and I drive out to the zoo four or five times a season, no biggie. I worked with a lady who lives in Raytown. My current boss lives in Belton, as does his niece who I work with, no biggie, that's what they made all these dad blamed highways for, lol.  Now let's not get into how long it takes due to construction.

Would be nice to cover the southern most part of town, as like you said Cresent has JO, Aquarius has Westport, what does southernpart of both KS and Mo part of town have? nada.

Just steer clear of the Independence Ave part of the world and all should be fine as far as the comfort level of going to the store would be.

Never knew House of Hezekiah closed, never went there meself, not big into the herbal stuff. I'm wierd don't ask!

Barbara is cool, if she's the lady I'm thinking of, haven't been out there in eons, I don't socialize alot. I do also know there is a really cool little egyptian, literally, shop up that Main street that I believe Aquarius is on now. They had some awesome true Egyptian items in there. some awesome Papayarus'.

Who knows may have bumped into ya out at Faire as I always have to go to the cart, Astral Sea, and visit my buddy who comes down from Nebraska, Elizabeth/Lady A.

Gotta ask, PRS?

it sounds like you have all the info and input ya need, but know that any of us are always here to lend whatever helping hand we can. I'm not so good with the magick tool part as I work more on etheric levels than physical one's. Angels, lightwor that sorta stuff.

I think most of the shops are 'newage' these days. Seems to go over easier than metaphysical or any other descriptive.

You open the doors, I'll be there.

Best of wishes goes out to ya though!