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mikesmagic New user Jersey shore 24 Posts |
As some of you may know, one of my interests as well as magic is the internet. I took a course in website design this summer and am proficient in building webpages (not trying to brag or anything) and my question is; Are there any wholesale dealers in magic that I could contact in order to sell magic online and if so, do they offer drop shipping as well???
My idea is that when I get it going, then I would begin to acquire inventory, but until then, I need to start off small and work my way up. Feel free to email me if you need to or post here in case anyone else would like to know the information. Thanx in advance |
Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
There are several. Magic City and Fun, Inc require a minimum number of items and a minimum amount of a few hundred dollars per order. I think your best bet would be Murphy’s Magic Supplies. They are well-stocked, they’ll let you get just one copy of something, I think the minimum order is $30-40, and you get your order two days later. They’re very good about crediting for damaged items, they don’t back order much (you can call them and they’ll tell you if they have an item in stock or not), they update their website every couple of days and I believe they drop ship.
My friend, Dale Harvey at http://www.discountmagic.com orders almost exclusively from Murphy’s, and he’s been very satisfied.
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
Doug Byrd Veteran user VA 361 Posts |
I deal almost exclusively with Murphy's and I can tell you first hand they do NOT drop ship. In fact, I would go so far as to say none of the distribution houses will drop ship for you.
I'd like to save you a lot of heart ache and finacial ruin by telling you that trying to get into the magic retail business is one of the worst moves you can make. You sound like you are not a millionaire so all of your set up will have to come out of pocket. I spent $100,000.00 out of pocket that I didn't have to open my online shop and no matter what I've done to get customers to be loyal, I have failed. There are less than a quarter million of us WORLD WIDE (from amatuers to professionals). Unfortunately there are only about 150,000 of us that buy on a regular basis and there are too many shops online competing for that hard earned dollar. This makes it GREAT for the buyers but finacial suicide for the dealers. I have tried for a long time to make people understand the economics of magic, but have come to realize it's not that they don't understand, it's that they DON'T CARE. They want you to give your product away to them for nothing AND give them FREE shipping on top of it. I have been trying for about 6 months now to get rid of my shop. Unfortunately I have had plenty of takers (give it to me for FREE people), but no serious people. Now, lest you think that I am just a disgrutled and disillusioned mental magical midget, I'd like you to know that there are others out there with this same story. Would you like to add your name to this sad list? Ask John Zander. He's a member of the disillusioned magical dealers association. I actually look forward to the day I have nothing left to sell and move on with my life. I had to take a j.o.b. (just over broke) driving tractor trailer hauling mail into D.C. to just pay bills. You can imagine my happiness right now. I wish someone would have had this talk with me before I jumped overboard. Consider yourself informed. Just my 2 Drakma Worth, Doug
"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
I, too had a failed magic shop. Had to cut my prices so low to get the sell that I cut myself right out of business.
However, if you are already financially stable and can afford taking a loss for the first year or so and can find a niche or operate a "real" store in a large metropolitan area, you can make a go of it. Better to try and fail than to spend the rest of your life saying "if only..."
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
mikesmagic New user Jersey shore 24 Posts |
Hmm.... Thanks GreatScott and Doug for the insightful information. I will just have to continue in other endeavors and maybe then if I succeed at those, then I might open an online store, not for profit of course, but to help others who would want to seriously learn the fine craft that we all attempt to perfect in our lifetimes.
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The Dead Ranger New user Biloxi, Mississippi 45 Posts |
I've been toying with the idea of adding a "magic backroom" to a magick shop..... I think the area here could support it simply because the market is wide open for both types of shops.
The closest shop for props, gaffs, effects, etc. is over an hour's drive away and there isn't even a S.A.M. or I.B.M. group here.... Any thoughts? |
Chris Inner circle lybrary.com 1177 Posts |
Doug,
I can understand your point very well. It is very difficult to get a customer base. What I wanted to ask you, do you really think there are 250.000 magicians worldwide and 150.000 regular buyers? I doubt that. I think it is more like 50.000 and maybe 25.000 regular buyers. Take for example that Magic Magazine has just 11.000 subscribers. I mean 11k for a magic magazine is great but it reflects very clearly how large our community is. Chris.... Lybrary.com preserving magic one book at a time.
Lybrary.com preserving magic one book at a time.
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Victor Brisbin Elite user Washington, DC / NOVA 432 Posts |
Anyone and everyone who has thought or dreamed of opening a magic shop should read a copy of The Success Book, Vol. one, by Jay and Frances Marshall. The late Fran wrote that no one should plan on getting rich by opening a magic shop, and told of countless instances where people set up shop and then closed within a short period of time because of a lack of customers. She wrote that without mail order (in pre-internet times), even the magic dealers in metro areas would have difficulty staying in business.
The advantage of having an internet shop is the absence of high overhead - your brick and mortar store lease. That is also a distinct disadvantage; no shop to visit (nothing like a competent live demonstration), and the fact that virtually every magic shop on the Net retails from the same distributors, and a lower price seems to be always a click away. An area of magic commerce that appears to be still relatively untapped is that of reselling "previously enjoyed" props and books. Given the choice between bidding in an on-line auction, or buying quality used magic and books without the bidding, I prefer to buy from dealers in the secondary market who know their stuff. Otherwise, find a high traffic area, and remember whether you're selling online or in a shop, the first rule of real estate applies: Location, Location, Location! If you have a good looking site, and carry the items I'm looking for, I'll be happy to buy from you.
"It is better to practice a little than talk a lot." - Muso Kokushi
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