Articles — business

Just a Witch Shop: How I Made Humility the Cornerstone of My Business

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Just a Witch Shop: How I Made Humility the Cornerstone of My Business

It’s a wise person who can say, “I don’t know”—or better yet, “Let’s look that up.” But in the world of Witchcraft, there’s a lot that’s unknown (or unknowable) and not so many reliable ways to look things up. As a result, our community too often falls back on easy answers, bad science, flashy titles, clichés, and cults of personality. How do you work as a professional Witch without preying on the vulnerable or credulous? This is something I’ve grappled with since the first day I decided to start an occult business. The struggle is real—the tension between the weird...

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Spring 2022 Update: Busy, busy busy!

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Spring 2022 Update: Busy, busy busy!

Hello dear visitors! It has been such a whirlwind year--hard to believe it's a few months since I've checked in with you. But I know where my priorities are: First, shipping out awesome magickal stuff to our customers. Second, listing new magickal stuff for our customers. Social media? Way, way, down the list right now. Supply chain issues have led to a real shake-up of our catalog. Lots of things are indefinitely delayed or no long available, so it's out with the old, in with the new. I've vowed to replace every discontinued product with something equally exciting, and I...

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Grove and Grotto Fall 2019 update

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Grove and Grotto Fall 2019 update

Greetings from the Grove! It’s Michelle, your dedicated shopkeeper (and blogger). For all our friends and loyal customers, here’s a quick look at what’s been going on around the store. Improved website Groveandgrotto.com got a l’il makeover a couple of months ago, and doesn’t it look snazzy? We switched to a new store format that supports the most recent security features and a better browsing experience. (We also ditched our signature seafoam green color...everybody is using it these days. Oh well!) You told us you wanted the site to be more mobile friendly, and we listened. We also added more...

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How to spot a fake Tarot deck (and why it matters)

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

How to spot a fake Tarot deck (and why it matters)

If you search for Tarot online, you’ve probably noticed a new trend in the marketplace: E-commerce listings for decks at insanely low prices. Often shipping from overseas, these cheapo decks dominate search results on popular shopping sites. Yep, the tsunami of imported knockoffs has finally (and predictably) swamped Tarot-town. Some buyers of pirated decks know they’re buying a fake copy and just don’t give a damn. But reviews and social media pages are full of comments from regretful shoppers who thought they were getting a bargain on a genuine deck. Fortunately, if you choose, you can easily avoid buying a...

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Event review: Mystic South 2019

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Event review: Mystic South 2019

Howdy! It’s me, your intrepid Pagan traveler with some notes from my first Mystic South event. Mystic South, in case you haven’t heard of it, is a new-ish Pagan conference that happens every summer in Atlanta. Mystic South is a hotel-based weekend event and claims about 450 attendees. The event brings together Pagan authors, performers, and seekers from (mostly) the American South and Southeast. For us southerners, Mystic South is a welcome alternative to flying across the country to attend PantheaCon or going camping outdoors in the godawful heat. Now in its third year, Mystic South is attracting A-list presenters...

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