Doing business in a close-minded community

[Anonymous]

Hello, All.

I live in a small town in southern Alabama. Recently, a gift shop opened with a limited supply of "wiccan and celestial" items. I cannot tell you how thrilled my friends and I are about this - it has been interpreted by some as a "sign" that this area is changing. About time, I say.
My dilemma is this - having known many of the residents for over 40 years, I am afraid the wonderful woman who opened the shop might meet with strong resistance. She carries other items, such as art supplies and pet supplies, but we actually have people here who are "afraid of witches" as well as believing we are satan-worshippers who eat babies!
I wonder if anyone has had an experience of trying to do "pagan business" in a Baptist community - and if so, does anyone have any tips?
I was so thrilled to see this shop open - prior to this, my choices were shop on the Internet (which I do frequently) or drive over 100 miles to find any wiccan/pagan items. I really want to do everything I can to help her succeed!

Thanks for your time and thoughts,
PaganTeacher

[Shadow]

I would say that you are begging for trouble that hasn't happened, and may not.  Perhaps you should wait and see what will happen.  You may be suprised.

[Gryphon]

As a business owner myself, I would say the best thing you can do to support her is shop there. Tell all your friends to shop there and tell all there friends to shop there.

The biggest thing that has happened to shops like that around here was groups on the side walk protesting the store and harrassing potential customers.

As Shadow says don't go looking for trouble that may never happen. Support the woman by frequenting her shop for any item she may carry Pagan or not.

[Lark]

Here in middle Tennesse we had just such a shop open in our rather conservative town...and another like it in the town across the border in Kentucky.  Neither shop has had any problems at all...in spite of the fact that they openly host Pagan drumming circles, offer classes in Wicca, and other things that you might think would cause problems.  So I wouldn't just assume that the lady in your town will have problems either.  You may be very pleasantly surprised and nothing untoward will happen.

In the meantime, give her support and your business.  Offer to teach classes,  recommend books and supplies she might think of carrying.  Let her know that the local Pagan community supports her and wants to help her succeed.  

The quickest way for a shop to go under isn't by picketing protestors...it's because people don't support it with their dollars.

-Lark-

(PS:  I used to live in Enterprise, which part of LA do you hail from??)

[Anonymous]

Thanks to you both for your replies. Please know that I am not a "doom-sayer," I have just had some personal experience with these people, and I pray to the gods and goddesses that everyone will welcome this lady and her shop with open arms and minds. Just looking for other thoughts on the matter ;-)
I am sending all my friends there - pagan and non-pagan alike - for she has many beautiful items for everyone. I will certainly be doing much of my Yule shopping there, as well ;-)
Thanks, again!

PaganTeacher

[Anonymous]

Thank you, too, Lark (I sent the other reply before I saw your post.)
I am glad to hear of good experiences ;-)

PaganTeacher

[Zenon]

If the woman changes the name to "Miscellaneous Items" or "Crafts" instead of "Wiccan Items", the the possible aggression she might get will shrink considerably.

The difference between and athame and a regular knife... is just the name.  I guess if she just changes the name, nobody except pagans will notice that.

[Shadow]

The biggest thing that has happened to shops like that around here was groups on the side walk protesting the store and harrassing potential customers.

I want to know how you managed to get the protestors to show up.  When I was running my store, in the heart of the Bible Belt, I couldn't get any of the local fundie groups to come and protest.  I even offered to serve coffee, doughnuts, Gator Aid, and give them access to the rest rooms.  They wouldn't go for it.  Too bad, I could have used the free advertisement by calling the local TV news.

What really killed us was no matter how many people said they supported us, they still were so bargain conscious they would go out of their way to save a few pennies by buying their "Craft" items, (candles, and etc), at Walmart, and their books at Books-a-Million.  As a small store we just couldn't compete with the big guys bulk buying power.

[Gryphon]

It didn't happen to me personally, so I couldn't tell you.   Hard telling what gets people's knickers in a twist.

Up the street a couple of miles from here, an "adult bookstore" opened to huge loud protesting from the local fundy community. The shop owner said it was the best publicity he could have hoped for.

In spite of the months long protests, the shop was eventually granted a business lisence and opened right on schedule. Suprisingly the local community hasn't been over run by a "bad element" as the fundies so direly predicted in their heavy protesting.

Maybe you should have enticed them to protest your store with teasers about naked relations, Shadow!  :twisted:

[Anonymous]

If the woman changes the name to "Miscellaneous Items" or "Crafts" instead of "Wiccan Items", the the possible aggression she might get will shrink considerably.

There's a shop in Hastings Old Town called "The Old Town Craft Shop".  Anyone who isn't Pagan-inclined assumes they sat in the back and crafted all the merchandise.  Those of us who are aware, know that the women who run the shop practise "The Craft" and sell things for others who practise.

On the whole though, we're very lucky.  There're so many Pagans in this town that most people don't look twice at shops like that.  We had Aleister Crowley, for goodness sake, so the odd new-ager doesn't scare too many people!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your responses! I think this shop has the potential to succeed specifically because she carries other (non-pagan) gift items. The nearest Wal-Mart is 20 miles, so most of us would rather pay a little more to shop locally anyway (I personally don't mind paying more if it helps her succeed in business ;-).
I will keep thinking positive thoughts.

PaganTeacher