You Can't Stop Progress
I didn't get into magic until I was already an adult. I had seen, and enjoyed, magicians on TV but I really thought it was a hidden world. One I would probably never be able to access.
There was no internet, no online forum, no YouTube… There were books, but I didn't know that. I assumed any book teaching magic would be hidden away, fiercely protected.
As a child especially, the very concept of a magic shop would have blown my mind! I know that if I had visited one, and been shown a little bit of wonder, then I would have gotten into the art much sooner than I did.
I was a teenager before I even walked past Tam Shepherds in Glasgow. I now know it's a very famous building in the magic community, run by the late, great Roy Walton until his passing. The shop is still there and being looked after by his daughters. Both of whom will go out of their way to help you
I do nip in whenever I'm in Glasgow, but that's not all that often, if I'm being honest.
I tend to get most of my magical supplies online. I know, I know. I'll be the first to complain when the brick-and-mortar shops are all shut down, but the truth is that I can buy pretty much anything on the internet, whereas, an actual, physical building only has so much shelf space, so much storage room and a limit to what they can provide. I'd happily travel, and pay a little more to enjoy the experience of pushing open a door, hearing a little bell go ting-a-ling as I do, pausing for a second to take in the sights and then spending hours just browsing, chatting and buying magic.
I know Propdog (www.propdog.co.uk), Merchant Of Magic (www.magicshop.co.uk) and Alakazam (www.alakazam.co.uk), amongst a couple of others, have actual shops you can visit, as well as a strong online presence.
Not everyone can get to these stores, depending on where they live, but these companies are doing it right. With online sales daily, they are keeping on top of things that side, while still offering the chance for people to visit them in person.
That’s what's going to keep the physical stores going, the work presented online. Those who don't catch-up will almost certainly pull down the shutters one final time, and I fear it will be sooner rather than later.
