BUSINESS
ISSUE
BRENT BRAUN
J&B Magic Shop
129 East Spring St.
New Albany
newalbanymagic.com
502.592.2530
What motivates you? At the end of the day, it’s just people: I’s about
making people smile and making people have a better day. I was going
through a divorce, unhappy and didn’t know what I was gonna do. I walked
into a magic shop, and it changed my life. I walked out a happy man. I didn’t
think about the divorce and losing friends and losing everything. For three
or four days, all I thought about is “How the hell did that thing happen?”
and I just want to give that moment to people.
What is the biggest professional risk you have taken? Six years ago,
I quit my big job, a sales job, to start the Magic Firm, which is a magic
business consulting company. I dropped everything. I looked at my wife,
Stephanie, and said I’m just not happy doing what I’m doing, I need to be
doing something else, I need to be making art. We downsized the house, sold
everything, eliminated all of our overhead and started living the dream so I
could do what I loved to do. And then three months ago, we got a brick and
mortar magic shop in New Albany where we are doing shows and theatre.
What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do for a living? The
most rewarding thing I do is sharing moments with people. We actually
had a customer come in this week, saw a magic trick, left, came back three
minutes later crying, “I don’t understand what just happened. Thank you
for that.” Part of having the magic shop is passing the torch forward. I get to
see people my age bring their kids in and tell me the story of how they went
into the magic shop in Jeffersonville 20 years ago. And hopefully these kids
that come into my magic shop will remember the magic and that moment.
MICHELLE WELLS
Mariposa Consignments
222 Pearl St #102
New Albany
facebook.com/MariposaConsignments
812.725.8508
What motivates you? One of my favorite quotes is “Owning a business is
like riding a lion. People think, “Wow, that’s really brave!” In the meantime
you’re like, “How the hell did I get a lion, and how do I keep it from eating
me!?” I get so wrapped up in the day to day stuff sometimes I forget to stop
and be present in the moment.
What is the biggest professional risk you have taken? The biggest risk
would be owning Mariposa Consignments. That was nearly eight years
ago. There were many freak out moments in the middle of the night – still
do sometimes. Downtown was just beginning, and the bridge had closed.
It was sink or swim. I ate and breathed Mariposa. No one cares more about
your business than YOU. Owning a business is a love/hate relationship.
What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do for a living?
The most rewarding things are those moments when customers come in
and tell us we made a difference. Sometimes, it’s us (Mariposa staff ) and
sometimes it’s our space. We help them find that special treat and become
a part of their day. What has surprised me are the moments when a client
says,”You know, when I was here last week, it was one of the worst days of
my life. I came in here and you made me feel better.” I never expect that,
and it humbles me every time. Our customers have become like family.
We have been through births, deaths, proms, weddings, special occasions,
health diagnoses, promotions and life changes.
56 EXTOL : OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019