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I know there are online stores. And real stores in some locations, But I have always wanted to open an Occult store. I was wondering how popular everyone thinks it would be. I know location is everything and wouldn't open a store in a location that is predominantly "Christian." But even if you are not pagan or wiccan, do you think occult stores would appeal to the public? Even morbid fascination? Any locations that would be great? Any that would be horrible? Just wanting some imput here...Thanks!!

YES open one. I live in england, Portsmouth and there is one. And its good but it isn't great. I would love to shop in a proper one. You should get customers from the public....they'll be interesed in the candles and stones...things like that. I say open one.

Im working on opening one somewhere in the central US to keep it out of flood zones, something like Vegas might be interesting, for you, but meh, all stores suck unless something truly unique is offered

Open one you are very lucky you don't live in Malta,Europe.

Here it would be closed for sure!

It sounds like a great idea, but it takes a lot of preperation and fieldwork.

Look at the market, see what is out there. then formulate your idea, the center on which you build your store around. Tools to use.. the SWOT model.

Strength
Weakness
Oppertunity
Threats

Then you have to work out a strategy and much more, if you can handle all that you will have a sucessful shop, so go for it...

open one i agree i think many things should be done but if you have a dream go for it seriously

be careful about the aera, even tough here lately open a shop where the shop keeper is selling crystals and stuff like that (he had a ouija board too in form of a pentagram) but to have a proper occult store here is nearly impossible...

i think you should open! :)

I think it would definetely appeal to a certain group of people, but I would be careful as to where you decide to open the store. Do some research first ;)

It's your choice. But I would like to see more occult and metaphysical stores. Especially ones who sold rare and uncommon herbs, oil and such. I hate buying those things online sight unseen.

Just make sure to put in a couch :P I know that both the occult stores I have gone to have wound up being a favorite hang out for many.

I think it would be quite popular i have one near me and its great and people who are not wiccan or such still go in because its interesting.

You might try something unique like renting an old house and running the business out of it. Many palm readers are doing that here, and i think it is a little more interesting than going to a building to purchase something. Probably less costly too.

good idea, let us know where adn when and if you will open

I think is a great idea but I have little experience with such. Here in Albuquerque are a few plant shops where you can get herbs for spells or voodoo but since there are so few I believe they do well, research your location well and perhaps get in contact with someone who has opened a business like that before so you can get a feel for it from them.
Either way is a lovely idea. Good luck with your enterprise.

open one and start a huge chain, so that wherever you go there is a handy occult store on the corner.

For the longest time I was into witchcraft, but not INTO witchcraft and I always LOVED going into the stores around here just to look around and what not...I think you definately would get a lot of people coming in due to basic curiosity, but like you said, location is a lot of it.

I always think its a good idea to open a store. One thing to think about, make sure you offer some mundane things too, lots of books, and have as many varieties of traditions represented as possible. I know the stores close to me are very successful because they follow these guidelines. Good Luck!

I grew up in a suburb of Detroit and in a city called Garden City there used to be a witchcraft store....I loved it...they sold jewelry, insence, statues, books, tarot and did readings....unfortunately someone shot the girl who ran the store and the husband closed it....there is also a psychic shop in dearborn that has tarot and books and jewelry and stones and does reading and all....I think if you put a clever twist to the name that in our society the store can go over well...dont call it Satanic Toys for Girls and Boys....the witchcraft store I was mentioning was called Gunda's Witch Ways and Wears

You also need to make sure that you network with the local pagans in your area. Since they will be your bread and butter customers. Also when picking a space try to find room in the place for groups to meet.

Good points Spidermouse! We have a HUGE pagan community in Dallas and really all of Texas. Would definitely make a big difference.

I work in a Metaphysical store. We cater to all religions. So, we get all kinds of people in there. We have our good days & not so good days. Our commerical just started running on TV so that should help boost our profits some.

Open one I think it would be kool seeing as i would like to start studying it again.

open one i would love to shop at one sometime i might come to urs for the fun of it

Be careful, a friend of mine owned one in Livingston MT. I miss it, but he had to close for lack of finances. For good turn around a porn store is actually one of the most lucrative...

I seen many of these type stores when i lived in Ohio, but Wisconsin has none that i can find. I found a couple people running them out of homes by searching the web, but they are all in northern Wisconsin.

Try Chicago or New Orleans at least that what i think


But its a great idea

i definately think you should open up a store... i was thinking bout doing the same... i would enjoy it even if noone else did
:)

i read bout witch it seems kinda kool...somthing i would like to no more bout

I would tell you to open one. But first as it as been mentioned before you need to look at location, perhaps look at several then send out polls to people to gauge their interest in each location . If it looks promising from your poll results. Then open the store there.

make sure you have two very important things.....selection...other than just wicca and the fairy crap.....
and knowledgable staff....in a few disciplines....this is as important as location in this type of store.....
just a hint tho....art districts...or near schools/universities tend to be eclectic type areas in most cities....
and try to keep most of the incences packaged.....nasal overload pushes many ppl away from these type of stores...

Daermon: Why do you say :fairy crap"?

sorry....met waaay to many total flakes into fairy wicca....like about 95% of those I have met who follow that particular path...so it's sorta become a huge personal bias....and I sometimes forget to self censor....
my apologies...

These are all verygood ideas. And thank you all for the encouragement. It is interesting to see what everyone thinks...

it depends on where you live and what kind of people live in your area and if they'd be interested in such a thing. you should check it out and do it if it can be done.

Do it you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

Apology accepted. I can understand what your saying but isn't that the way with everything. I follow that tradition and I hope that nobody finds me flaky. Yes I can be silly at times but I still feel I can hold an intelligent conversation.

I used to go to a store called the Psychic Eye in CA wonderful store. It catered to all interests and beliefs..The best part about this store was the fact it was also connected to some covens and they had classes there for the people interested in finding out more..I also liked finding a large selection of herbs.....GL to you

I would like to see more shops open. It is sad, that the stores open and after a period of time they end up closing. It is a chore to find a local store.
The ones that I knew were around have now closed. I think Metaphysical shops are hard to maintain. I know there are so many of us out there looking for a good place.
What I have also noticed, in the beginning the store is all jazzed and full of energy but the owner quickly becomes burdened and the store loses..it's energy. I say if you are going to open a store..Make sure you have alot to back it up and be prepared for slow times, getting over the hump is the hardest. I think more useful items would go better than all those fancy pancy(not a word..hehe) things.
Even if you aren't of the faiths. People like to browse and buy cutesy little nicknacks..Anyway. I hope you do. Best of Luck.

There is no occult stores in my location. I wish though.

well luckily Edmonton has a few very good stores that are fairly well rounded.....
but it is hard to get info on the darker side of the craft....

go with what you want to do , open one

You know I support you in everthing you do. If its your store it will be successful.

open one for sure, advertise to your target group. use things like yahoo groups to find the pagans or occultists in your area. we have one here , and that is the way they survive. they do a great deal of business as well. of course i wish we had another store just for variety.. but ill take what i can get

you should deffinately open one on a collage campus. I am in collage right know to get my management degree so i can do the same that you are planning to do and i have over half the sudents here wanting me to start now and put my shop on campus.

Opening a new business is tough. It requires a large commitment of your time and money. But it is "yours".

Needless to say scout out the competition, check on advertising rates, find your suppliers, and have fun

I would definitely open one. For were i am at we don't really have one in good distance form here. We have basic Wicca stores but not occult and usually we actually have to travel and by the time we get there the store is not as good as people may have portrayed it to be. so open one already.

yea i think it would b popular...open one...i would certainly go to check it out