Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Raymond, Morn Geiger, and Paula Phillips.
Kate, Morn, and Paula, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Morn and I are originally from Maryland. We moved to Illinois in 1990 and worked at St. Xavier University and then Pfizer in Skokie. In 2003 Morn and I lost our jobs with Pfizer as they were shutting down the Skokie Site. Neither of us wanted to continue working as Administrative Assistants so we took some of our severance pay and opened Witchy Wearables. We had a previous small business in Maryland called Babes ‘N’ Beasties (dolls and animals), but opening a shop during the recession was difficult and we closed the shop after 5 years. For years we made witch hats, cloaks, skirts and more for the Maryland Renaissance Festival and at the end of the 80s both of us began following the Pagan Path. After moving to IL, we found many people of like mind. We continued doing local Craft Shows selling funky clothing and witchy-type crafts. I have made soft dolls since the 70s and continue to do so to this day. My current dolls are called Tragedy Annes. They are similar to Raggedy Ann but with a gothic flair. In fact, we call them Raggedy Ann’s twisted sister!
Witchy Wearables started out in Midlothian, Il, in a very small shop on 147th St. Over the years we expanded into two more units in the same shopping center allowing us to have more room for tarot readers and classes. I miss the old shop as it was my baby and I enjoyed the clutter and coziness of the shop but we outgrew this space and moved to a bigger shop in 2014 in Oak Forest, IL. We stepped up the shop to be a bit more aesthetically pleasing to the main stream customer. Before we were more inclined to a Pagan/boho clientele.
With the expansion of the shop, a new POS system, longer hours, bigger need for stock, etc., we decided to hire a manager, Paula Phillips. Paula has been a life saver for us! I was ill with diverticulitis when we opened the new shop and Morn could not handle everything that needed to be done. Paula stepped in and took over and she continues to do so to this day!
Witchies (as we are known in the area) carries a full line of items dedicated to Metaphysics. Some people would be more familiar with the term New Age. We stock herbs, incense, tumbled stones, beautiful/unusual specimens, palm stones, tarot and oracle cards, fantasy-type greeting cards, candles, books, locally made Hoodoo items, handmade soaps, lots and lots of jewelry, Dragon and Fairy statuary, God and Goddess statuary and much more! We are lucky enough to carry many exclusive lines handmade by local artisans.
Since moving to the new location we have also grown in our number of services and readers! We now employ 10 readers and numerous healers… We hold a Psychic Faire once a month (usually the 2nd weekend of the month) where we have 4-5 readers on Saturday and Sunday and offer a special $1.00 a minute reading sessions. These have proven to be quite popular and we’ve noticed other shops in the area have copied this idea as well.
Everyone at Witchies has grown into a family where we love and respect each other and their beliefs. We are quite a diverse group and cater to ALLspiritual paths.
Due to health issues I (Kate) have had to step back a bit over the past year, but am now back and taking over the daily routines and activities at the shop (much to my staffs’ chagrin). 🙂
If we hit the lottery, I would like to bring in more items from England and have an area devoted to Renaissance Clothing. Being a Gemini, my mind constantly goes back and forth about what stock we should carry.
Witchies continues to be Morn’s and my Baby and thankfully we continue to flourish.
We love our customers and thank them for their patronage and friendship. Goddess willing, we will be here for many more years bringing needed items for everyone’s spiritual paths and growth.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A smooth road? Running a business is never a smooth road! We are a niche market and sometimes this has proven tricky to keep our heads above water! The name Witchy Wearables has grown in the area over the years and we have some very loyal customers!
As the years went on and the recession hit, we needed an investor and were lucky enough to find one through a friend who was married to a gentleman who was looking for a shop to invest in. If it wasn’t for this investor, I honestly don’t think Witchies would have made it to where we are today!
Even though he is no longer investing, he was there when we needed him! We thank the Goddess for him and his wife daily.
Of course we have had our ups and downs over the years but all in all Witchies has been a blessing.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Witchy Wearables story. Tell us more about the business.
Witchy Wearables is a Metaphysical (New Age) shop catering to people with varying Spiritual Paths. We pride ourselves on customer service and are happy to take special orders when we do not stock something a customer is looking for.
As mentioned, we have tarot advisors daily and most of our staff are certified Reiki Masters. Reiki is a form of energy healing coming from the Divine.
I believe Witchies is known for our unique and varied inventory. We not only carry spiritual items for the soul, but also carry gifts for the fantasy child within such as Dragons, Fairies, Gargoyles, etc. We make our own Monster Spray and Monster Rocks to keep things that go bump in the night away from children.
We sponsor Craft Shows at various times during the year that highlight local artisans in the area.
Throughout the Summer we have a craft show that runs the last weekend of the month called The Magickal Market. This has proven to be quite popular. We also have Hocus Pocus Craft Show in October and Mistletoe Magick Crafts in December.
What sets us apart from other shops? Again, I believe it is customer service, inventory, knowledge of what we are all about and our wonderful, friendly staff.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can speak for Morn as well as myself in the fact that both of us were raised by loving, caring parents. My mother instilled in me a love of fantasy, my father taught me the value of money and Morn’s parents instilled in her a strong sense of individuality. Both sets of parents stood behind us offering suggestions, making small loans and showing pride when we opened both of our businesses.
I would have to say Lady Luck has smiled on us over the years of running Witchy Wearables and in our lives in general!
Contact Info:
- Website: witchywearablesonline.com
- Phone:Â 708 687-1333
- Email:Â witchywearables@hotmail.com
- Instagram:Â Witchy_Wearables
- Facebook:Â Witchy Wearables
- Twitter:Â @WitchyWearables
- Other:Â Snapchat WitchyWearables
Image Credit:
Witchy Wearables
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