The magic casting care bears cast a spell that brings joy and happiness to those around them. These bears are not your ordinary teddy bears, they possess extraordinary powers that can turn any frown upside down. With a flick of their magical wands, they can make rainbows appear, balloons float in the air, and hearts filled with love. Their mission is to spread kindness and positivity to all creatures, big and small. Each care bear has a unique power that reflects their personality and characteristics. Cheer Bear, with her rainbow symbol, can create a burst of colors that brightens up the dullest days.
They haven't opened a magic shop, they acquired an existing one that has been operating successfully for decades. I predict you are wrong.
Those who worked for the prior owner were always demonstrating, engaging customers in and out of the store to get them inside, knowing they were being watched via video as well as in house mgt. The sort of people you want in other words skilled salespeople will want high numeration but the sort of people that magic shops often end up with are minimum wage types or starving magicians.
Cheer Bear, with her rainbow symbol, can create a burst of colors that brightens up the dullest days. Funshine Bear, with his sun symbol, brings laughter and fun wherever he goes. Grumpy Bear, despite his name, can turn grumpy attitudes into smiles with his rain cloud symbol.
The Genii Forum
Josh and Andy just announced they purchased Houdini's Magic Pier39 shop (San Francisco) and the magic shop on Disneyland Main St.
erdnasephile Posts: 4719 Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pmRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by erdnasephile » December 30th, 2022, 5:38 pm
Thanks for posting! I'm glad the deal is confirmed.
Dustin Stinett Posts: 7159 Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Sometimes Location: Southern California Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Dustin Stinett » December 30th, 2022, 5:38 pm
This is old news to those of us who frequent Disneyland (I've known it since at least early summer), but for some reason they wanted it kept quiet. I take it that they announced it during their annual "letter" video?
Richard Kaufman Posts: 26913 Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand Location: Washington DC Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Richard Kaufman » December 30th, 2022, 5:41 pm
Written in an email. Subscribe today to Genii MagazineDustin Stinett Posts: 7159 Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Sometimes Location: Southern California Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Dustin Stinett » December 30th, 2022, 5:57 pm
Just in time for the 2022 recap . Tarotist Posts: 1253 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 30th, 2022, 7:12 pm
I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Mac Stone » December 30th, 2022, 7:42 pm
Tarotist wrote: I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
They haven't opened a magic shop, they acquired an existing one that has been operating successfully for decades. I predict you are wrong.
Tarotist Posts: 1253 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 30th, 2022, 9:16 pm
Mac Stone wrote:Tarotist wrote: I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
They haven't opened a magic shop, they acquired an existing one that has been operating successfully for decades. I predict you are wrong.
I predict that I am right. After all, I AM psychic you know.
Anyway, I will tell you what I will do. In one years time, providing I am still alive, I shall bring this post back and we will see if they are still in business. I have been selling magic all my life and not just as a pitchman. I know what I am doing. I think they are out of their area of expertise. Still, we shall see in one years time.
MagicbyAlfred Posts: 2387 Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm Favorite Magician: Bill Malone Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by MagicbyAlfred » December 31st, 2022, 9:13 am
I wish them good luck and success. Succeeding in business is no easy feat. Especially the business of operating a magic shop -- and now more than ever in view of the prevalence of online vendors. Among other things, it takes very hard work, planning, resourcefulness, and skillful and reliable personnel. And yes, location, location, location. Josh and Andy are go-getters, and they obviously have a significant amount of business experience, but surely the business of operating a brick and mortar magic shop presents challenges that are different from an online business.
As to the personnel aspect, I agree with Mark. A great demonstrator(s) is key. What sells a trick is blowing the customer's mind. This, in turn, requires smooth, clean, skillful presentation of the trick. When a demonstrator accomplishes this, especially up close and in person (as opposed to an online video), it immediately instills in the customer a fervent desire to be able to astonish other people the way they just were. They believe that by buying the trick, they too will be able to accomplish the little miracle they've just witnessed. That's what makes them reach for their wallets. They will, of course, find out that there is far more involved than just learning the secret..
Diego Posts: 500 Joined: June 16th, 2008, 11:29 amRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Diego » December 31st, 2022, 10:51 am
True: with Josh & Andy investing their ability and experience, it won't fail for lack of trying. Pro-active demonstrators are the key. Those who worked for the prior owner were always demonstrating, engaging customers in and out of the store to get them inside, knowing they were being watched via video as well as in house mgt.
I have seen demonstrators at the Disneyland store who were good and sometimes the store had clueless staff that must have been brought over from another area of the park, that day, knowing nothing of the merchandise or their purpose for being there.
Wizardz in Universal City had a passive demonstrator and sometimes other non-demoing staff that acted only as store clerks, but when Ray Pierce took over for a time, he brought the excitement that brought passer-by into the store, excited that they too could do magic, and buy things because they were told what to ask and pay for.
Tarotist Posts: 1253 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 31st, 2022, 11:01 am
The problem with most demonstrators is that they like magic too much. Think about it.BarryAllen Posts: 185 Joined: November 15th, 2009, 6:33 am Favorite Magician: Joe Riding & Chan Cansta. Location: Nuneaton England
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by BarryAllen » December 31st, 2022, 1:51 pm
I wish them every success in their quest to keep two bricks and mortar outlets in business.
However, as Mark correctly points out, the type of Magic tricks that the average (non-magician) punter buys is far removed from what a more experienced Magician would be interested in.
I'm sure that they've got the business acumen to look at the books and identify what sells.
I may have only been a schoolkid back in 1978-80, but I quickly learnt that I could sell Svengali packs, plastic Cups & Balls the Dutch Looper and Dynamic Coins all day long - to tourists.
After these tricks, there was some (albeit less) interest in the Professor's Nightmare, Stripper pack and Spot Paddles. When it came to the rest of the Paul Daniels Dubreq Magic range; and the few Tenyo items that we stocked (Sandwich Platter, Wandering Hole and Squeeze Play) - forget it. They more or less sat on the shelves gathering dust for most of the time.
As also alluded to above, the key element of any future success will be the demmers. These ideally need to be Salesmen, not Magicians - who will often use every opportunity to showboat their finger-flinging skills. In fact, if I opened a Magic Shop, I think I'd rather recruit experienced sales people - who knew diddly-squat about Magic from the outset.
Running a Magic Shop for Tourists is all about a quick dem (not overly complicated) then getting the MONEY whilst they're still a captive audience. As anyone will know who has sold (relatively) low cost items, it's about shifting the numbers to an interested crowd - BEFORE they have a chance to walk away and spend their money elsewhere. The mindset needs to be "you've got a wallet in your pocket - and I want some of the contents" - not "here's another Magic Show for free folks".
Just my experience anyway. Having sold countless very high-value holidays and cruises as a travel agent over many years, nothing compares to cutting my teeth demming jokes and Magic tricks as a teenager. Oh such happy, happy days!
Tarotist Posts: 1253 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 31st, 2022, 2:34 pm
There could also be a high turnover of demonstrators. Who the hell wants to work with videos watching them all the time? And there is a catch 22 situation regarding salaries. The sort of people you want (in other words skilled salespeople) will want high numeration but the sort of people that magic shops often end up with are minimum wage types or starving magicians. Easier on the overheads that way but the downside is that the sales go down. And they don't last long anyway.
The best chance of success would be for Josh to work one location and Andy to work the other but of course that ain't gonna happen for obvious reasons. Which means delegation to other people. And that is where the trouble starts.
Incidentally Barry has the right mentality where this kind of thing is concerned.
AJM Posts: 1490 Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm Location: ScotlandRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by AJM » December 31st, 2022, 2:52 pm
All the very best to Andi and Joshua with their new acquisition. Tarotist Posts: 1253 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » January 1st, 2023, 4:57 pm
I suppose I should mention another obstacle with regard to staff. I could easily not mention it of course but then I would be doing a disservice to the new owners. New staff suffer from a disease known as "mushroomitis" in the business. Of course none of you especially the new owners will know what "mushroomitis" is. You have to be in the grafting business to understand and experience it. It applies in the situation under discussion too. Still, if I just tell you all what it is it will be ignored and not filed away in the memory for future use. However, if you, especially the new owners, make the effort to find out what it is then of course it will stick in the mind far better.
I haven't looked it up on google yet but I will be surprised if it is there. It is part of our secret language. Still, seek and ye shall find.
Richard Kaufman Posts: 26913 Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand Location: Washington DC Contact:
Together, these caring bears form a powerful team, ensuring that no one is left feeling sad or lonely. They go on exciting adventures, using their magic to solve problems and help those in need. Whether it's cheering up a friend, healing a broken heart, or making dreams come true, the care bears are always there to lend a paw. Their magic extends beyond just casting spells. The care bears also have the power to communicate with animals and understand their needs. They teach valuable lessons about empathy, compassion, and the importance of taking care of one another. The magic casting care bears not only bring joy to children who watch their animated adventures, but they also serve as a reminder to adults about the importance of spreading kindness in the world. They encourage everyone to embrace their inner care bear and make a positive difference in the lives of others. In a world that can sometimes feel dark and dreary, the magic casting care bears offer a ray of light and hope. Their magic is not just a fictional tale, but a reminder of the power we all have within us to make the world a better place. So, let's embrace the magic and spread happiness like the care bears do..
Reviews for "Protecting the Magic: The Care Bears Cast's Mission to Preserve and Guard Their Powers"
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