If I were to open a shop, firstly I would get books that aren't New Age oriented (mostly for people like me who hate having that kind of stuff in witchcraft, but also for occultists who aren't witchy but like to study that stuff and want more obscure knowledge, and because I want to support more obscure authors with legitimately interesting works), but also I adore home made stuff and would like to see that in the shop, and I'd also like it to double as a pawn shop or thrift shop so people can sell or pawn their old statues, supplies and other things to the shop. There are some people in the magic community who say second hand items are dangerous but... honestly I don't get why? It's a great way to reuse or rehouse an item that might get thrown out otherwise and if you're one of those people who say "it can have bad energy", literally it's easy to clean off the bad energy. Also I prefer to be taught how to do things rather than have stuff being done for me and a shop that can do both can be really great. My ideal aesthetic for the shop would be something between a vintage gift store and an antique cottage. Nostalgic, warm and inviting. Maybe even a bit grandmotherly.
would definitely love labels (a stoplight system for green = robust evidence/sources, yellow for ambiguous/needs more information, red for common misconceptions with no evidence would be amazing) on essential oils, herbs, etc in witchy stores. I love the idea of used books/consignment for witchy materials and I'd love table/community space for workshops/lessons on making fragrance or tea blends, candlemaking, embroidery, and even on reading/interpreting tarot!
I super wish there was a SASS witch shop anywhere near me. If I had one, it would probably be largely book-based and include little reading areas with a dark academia vibe and a tea station. And books would range from the blatantly witchy to an eclectic mix of subtly witchy, esoteric books on things like placebos, illusions, cold-reading, philosophy books, meditation, neurodivergence, cultural anthropology, etc. with the goal of making it a place where people can discover something totally new to them + a library-style computer catalogue if you want to find something specific. Cheap tea, snacks, and adopted black cats with plenty of places to hide so they can be mysterious and have people saying "wait.. was that the same cat that was just here?" Just creating lots of moments like that of discovery and surprise. p.s. not too small for merch!
Yes x1000 to consignment stuff. Also generally just plastic free, vegan witchy stuff and signage to tell customers what stuff is ethically sourced etc! Where I live there are no witchy shops. It’s either hippie shops (mostly hemp tat with weed motifs on it) or crystal jewellery shops. Sad times.
There’s a witchy shop down the road from me that is a lot of what you described lol. One thing they have that I would include in my own shop are reasonably priced vintage/antique items. They have some old cooking cauldrons I’m eyeing. As well as handcrafted items and art from local artists! Also definitely looking forward to some merch!!
I haven't checked out any of the metaphysical shops near me because the one I tried I walked right back out of due to the heavy fragrances. My ideal witchy shop would have maybe a mild herby scent but no oils or scented candles out, and any perfumed soaps would be tightly sealed. Fragrance allergies are no fun. I like the idea of consignment items and locally made goods. I got my yearly supply of beeswax candles from the county beekeeper association at the county fair last month! My ideal witchy shop would be a shop space in a walkable neighborhood. The alley slopes down for a downstairs shop as well, where my partner would run a tabletop game shop. (Sloping alley is a must to allow for wheelchair entry on both floors.) Both floors would have table space for meetings and events. Magic gatherings upstairs and Magic the Gathering downstairs.
I had to look up what a SASS Witch is. I love it! I like the logo too! My perfect witchy shop would be in an old historic building, a witch cafe with lots of books and locally made witchcraft items. Ahhh dreaming.
I love pop culture witches so I literally want to open a witch shop for both real witchy stuff and stuff like wizard of oz/wicked, bewitched, charmed, etc...
That's such a great idea to describe/brainstorm about your dream witchy shop! Mine would look quite similar to yours. I would also have a big section of witchy zines and some queer-feminist DIY music. Your channel looks so interesting, I love learning more about sass witchcraft!
Hi Sedna, I love your care and commitment to finding an ethical solution. Would it be possible to create an iron on type screen print of your logo so that people can attach it to existing clothing? Or maybe a patch of some sort? I ask because I share all of your content on my Secular Witches of Australia page and I'm sure people (me definitely) would purchase it. Love, love, love your work 💚
It's lovely to have reflections on communal spaces and other brainstorming about your "dream life". 💖It's interesting that from your points (and from some of the comments for this video!) that the vibe and establishment of a SASS "witchy" shop appears to centre around ideals like simple living, ethical business practices, uplifting communities, and environmental sustainability~
One thing a shop of mine would need to have a good supply of is HATS! At least where I live, I can’t find lots of witchy hats. Definitely not simple subtle ones that I could wear on a daily basis, even go out in. And it’s something I’ve really wanted to have. So yeah. Lots and lots of different hats
My shop would have to be a book/cafe/antique shop. It would also have to have a sweet older witch who just kinda chills in the back with a cup and tea and a book. Another must is shop pets, at least one dog and one cat.
If I ever get my Alchemic Intuition service to storefront, I'm not sure how I'd best go about it, because like all my ideas, it'd be very unconventional. I'd definitely would want to have SOME level of wooy thematic to it that people would come to expect from any attractive New Age/Magick shop, but the twist I would to make it stand-out would be a more modern Jungian psychological approach, so there would be a stronger emphasis on placebo, archetype, color theory, etc. In fact, one of my main missions with my particular approach to "secular spirituality" is the destigmatizing and secularization of esoteric/occult symbolism. But I love the idea of shops that act like New Age/Magick café spaces with bookshelves of esoteric material, botanica & tea stations, and community workshop corners. If any of you ever travel up to Salem, Massachusetts, you HAVE to visit stores like Magic Parlor, Omen, New England Magic, and Artemisia Botanicals.
Things I would add in my version of the store: indie board games and ttrpgs, musical instruments, and also it would be next to/near a bakery and we would have cookies or something.
It's so nice to see you excited about the growth of your channel. I'll definitely buy a shirt and if you're open to suggestions, I think your logo would look great on a teacup and saucer set.
For RUclips try The Skeptical Witch, Do The Magical Thing and The Witches' Cookery. For podcasts I recommend The Placebo Magik Podcast and Hex Positive
Love your channel and hope your merch does well! I'd love to buy any kinda witchy stuff from you. I like the idea of diy stuff, I wonder if there are any things that you could sell to make the mundane a little more magical while avoiding the trap of consumerist witch culture...
Merrrrch! Have you checked out Bonfire for shirts? They're ethical and high quality. And I'd love to go to a shop like that, or even work part time there.
Honestly if I had a magical shop I probably would not sell essential oils at all. The very thing that makes them "special"--that they are highly concentrated substances that takes a huge amount of plant material to produce--is what makes them unsustainable. They're not these natural/homestead/cottagecore things that people make them out to be, they're industrially produced chemicals, which isn't bad in itself but we need to take into account the reality of how they're produced and how that affects the planet. Maybe it would be okay if they were used very sparingly but that's not at all the current cultural ethos around them, and I wouldn't want to encourage that. I'd imagine this policy would not go over well with my customers though lol
#1 rule of RUclips - if the puppy makes cute sounds, you have to show the puppy! That was so adorable sounding.
If I were to open a shop, firstly I would get books that aren't New Age oriented (mostly for people like me who hate having that kind of stuff in witchcraft, but also for occultists who aren't witchy but like to study that stuff and want more obscure knowledge, and because I want to support more obscure authors with legitimately interesting works), but also I adore home made stuff and would like to see that in the shop, and I'd also like it to double as a pawn shop or thrift shop so people can sell or pawn their old statues, supplies and other things to the shop. There are some people in the magic community who say second hand items are dangerous but... honestly I don't get why? It's a great way to reuse or rehouse an item that might get thrown out otherwise and if you're one of those people who say "it can have bad energy", literally it's easy to clean off the bad energy. Also I prefer to be taught how to do things rather than have stuff being done for me and a shop that can do both can be really great.
My ideal aesthetic for the shop would be something between a vintage gift store and an antique cottage. Nostalgic, warm and inviting. Maybe even a bit grandmotherly.
would definitely love labels (a stoplight system for green = robust evidence/sources, yellow for ambiguous/needs more information, red for common misconceptions with no evidence would be amazing) on essential oils, herbs, etc in witchy stores. I love the idea of used books/consignment for witchy materials and I'd love table/community space for workshops/lessons on making fragrance or tea blends, candlemaking, embroidery, and even on reading/interpreting tarot!
A stoplight system would work really well!
I super wish there was a SASS witch shop anywhere near me. If I had one, it would probably be largely book-based and include little reading areas with a dark academia vibe and a tea station. And books would range from the blatantly witchy to an eclectic mix of subtly witchy, esoteric books on things like placebos, illusions, cold-reading, philosophy books, meditation, neurodivergence, cultural anthropology, etc. with the goal of making it a place where people can discover something totally new to them + a library-style computer catalogue if you want to find something specific. Cheap tea, snacks, and adopted black cats with plenty of places to hide so they can be mysterious and have people saying "wait.. was that the same cat that was just here?" Just creating lots of moments like that of discovery and surprise.
p.s. not too small for merch!
Little reading areas would be so rad! Then people can hang around and read but no small talk allowed.
Yes x1000 to consignment stuff. Also generally just plastic free, vegan witchy stuff and signage to tell customers what stuff is ethically sourced etc! Where I live there are no witchy shops. It’s either hippie shops (mostly hemp tat with weed motifs on it) or crystal jewellery shops. Sad times.
Omg... I just watched Bell, Book, and Candle and I was like.. I want a witch shop with the old fashioned actual bell. (Not the electronic ones)
There’s a witchy shop down the road from me that is a lot of what you described lol. One thing they have that I would include in my own shop are reasonably priced vintage/antique items. They have some old cooking cauldrons I’m eyeing. As well as handcrafted items and art from local artists!
Also definitely looking forward to some merch!!
I haven't checked out any of the metaphysical shops near me because the one I tried I walked right back out of due to the heavy fragrances. My ideal witchy shop would have maybe a mild herby scent but no oils or scented candles out, and any perfumed soaps would be tightly sealed. Fragrance allergies are no fun.
I like the idea of consignment items and locally made goods. I got my yearly supply of beeswax candles from the county beekeeper association at the county fair last month!
My ideal witchy shop would be a shop space in a walkable neighborhood. The alley slopes down for a downstairs shop as well, where my partner would run a tabletop game shop. (Sloping alley is a must to allow for wheelchair entry on both floors.) Both floors would have table space for meetings and events. Magic gatherings upstairs and Magic the Gathering downstairs.
I love how much you've thought about this. I'm glad it's not just me 😄
I had to look up what a SASS Witch is. I love it! I like the logo too! My perfect witchy shop would be in an old historic building, a witch cafe with lots of books and locally made witchcraft items. Ahhh dreaming.
I tried searching but I still don't know.
I love pop culture witches so I literally want to open a witch shop for both real witchy stuff and stuff like wizard of oz/wicked, bewitched, charmed, etc...
That's such a great idea to describe/brainstorm about your dream witchy shop! Mine would look quite similar to yours. I would also have a big section of witchy zines and some queer-feminist DIY music. Your channel looks so interesting, I love learning more about sass witchcraft!
Hi Sedna, I love your care and commitment to finding an ethical solution. Would it be possible to create an iron on type screen print of your logo so that people can attach it to existing clothing? Or maybe a patch of some sort? I ask because I share all of your content on my Secular Witches of Australia page and I'm sure people (me definitely) would purchase it. Love, love, love your work 💚
It's lovely to have reflections on communal spaces and other brainstorming about your "dream life". 💖It's interesting that from your points (and from some of the comments for this video!) that the vibe and establishment of a SASS "witchy" shop appears to centre around ideals like simple living, ethical business practices, uplifting communities, and environmental sustainability~
One thing a shop of mine would need to have a good supply of is HATS!
At least where I live, I can’t find lots of witchy hats. Definitely not simple subtle ones that I could wear on a daily basis, even go out in. And it’s something I’ve really wanted to have.
So yeah. Lots and lots of different hats
My shop would have to be a book/cafe/antique shop. It would also have to have a sweet older witch who just kinda chills in the back with a cup and tea and a book. Another must is shop pets, at least one dog and one cat.
Community altars make me just melt whenever I go to my local Pagan store.
Yeees!
If I ever get my Alchemic Intuition service to storefront, I'm not sure how I'd best go about it, because like all my ideas, it'd be very unconventional. I'd definitely would want to have SOME level of wooy thematic to it that people would come to expect from any attractive New Age/Magick shop, but the twist I would to make it stand-out would be a more modern Jungian psychological approach, so there would be a stronger emphasis on placebo, archetype, color theory, etc. In fact, one of my main missions with my particular approach to "secular spirituality" is the destigmatizing and secularization of esoteric/occult symbolism.
But I love the idea of shops that act like New Age/Magick café spaces with bookshelves of esoteric material, botanica & tea stations, and community workshop corners. If any of you ever travel up to Salem, Massachusetts, you HAVE to visit stores like Magic Parlor, Omen, New England Magic, and Artemisia Botanicals.
Omg I would love to go to a SASS witch shop! I would add beeswax candles sourced from a local farm.
The smile you made when you said "So I sat down and I made a list" was SO GOOD
Things I would add in my version of the store: indie board games and ttrpgs, musical instruments, and also it would be next to/near a bakery and we would have cookies or something.
I'm not sure if you've watched it, but your giving me some serious Sofie from Howl's Moving Castle feels. You look so comfy! 😊
I have never received a better compliment than this.
This seriously hits me. I’ve been thinking of opening a shop. It’s very fun to think about.
It's so nice to see you excited about the growth of your channel. I'll definitely buy a shirt and if you're open to suggestions, I think your logo would look great on a teacup and saucer set.
i've become obsessed with this channel and i need more content like this. any recommendations?
For RUclips try The Skeptical Witch, Do The Magical Thing and The Witches' Cookery. For podcasts I recommend The Placebo Magik Podcast and Hex Positive
Love your channel and hope your merch does well! I'd love to buy any kinda witchy stuff from you. I like the idea of diy stuff, I wonder if there are any things that you could sell to make the mundane a little more magical while avoiding the trap of consumerist witch culture...
I am looking forward to the March
Classes on local ecology!
Merrrrch! Have you checked out Bonfire for shirts? They're ethical and high quality. And I'd love to go to a shop like that, or even work part time there.
Honestly if I had a magical shop I probably would not sell essential oils at all. The very thing that makes them "special"--that they are highly concentrated substances that takes a huge amount of plant material to produce--is what makes them unsustainable. They're not these natural/homestead/cottagecore things that people make them out to be, they're industrially produced chemicals, which isn't bad in itself but we need to take into account the reality of how they're produced and how that affects the planet. Maybe it would be okay if they were used very sparingly but that's not at all the current cultural ethos around them, and I wouldn't want to encourage that. I'd imagine this policy would not go over well with my customers though lol
This is wonderful information. There are a handful of eos that are a biproduct (like orange rind) but Frankenstein EO is an environmental disaster.
CAT
That's the comment
What is SASS?
It actually has different meanings for different groups but I use it as Secular Atheist Science Seeking Witchcraft