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Another way that has been
exemplified was the creation
and successful running of
one of the first Magic Forums
entitled: GeMiNi - The Greater
Magic Network. GeMiNi had
an impressive listing of members
who were able to exchange
information on various topics
and addition to the BBS portion;
there were new weekly columns
from a variety of respected
magic icons. Also included
were convention reviews, product
reviews, interviews, and chat
sessions. GeMiNi’s operating
budget was far in excess of
the revenue’s that were
brought in by the annual $20
membership dues but then,
it was never launched to be
a money-maker but a way to
give something back to the
industry that has provided
SME success. After 5+ years
of operation, the decision
was made to pull GeMiNi due
to changes in the industry
and take the energy and focus
it in other areas of SME.
Those that were members, remember
the fun we had and a specials
thanks to Pat Hennessy for
being the greatest system
operator for GeMiNi.
The significance of this
history is to illustrate how
we got to where we are today;
and where we will be in the
future. There is an asset
to the foundation laid over
40 years ago that should help
develop a sense of security
with current clients and new
ones. In magic, there are
more places to shop then ever
before, but in checking the
history of such places, it’s
important to learn if the
company has a strong foundation,
if they treat their customers
with respect, offer them accurate
information and have a proven
ability to maintain a high
standard of customer service
in addition to only carefully
selecting quality products
to feature instead of offering
everything under the sun.
SME is a brick & mortar,
full-service mail order magic
company that has been in business
for 40 years.
The infrastructure is defined
as:
* Retail Sales – Mail
Order/Internet/Phone
* Manufacturing – Limited
manufacturing of select
items
* Wholesale and jobbing
of select SME products
* Stevens Publishing –
Featuring reprint of antiquarian
magic books
* Creation and continued
involvement with World Magic
Seminar (formerly knows
as Desert Magic Seminar)
* The Greater Magic Multimedia
Library – Production
and distribution of educations
multimedia.
* Stevens Magic – Halloween
& Costume group. This
is a group of retail magic
and costume shops worldwide
that we are honored to serve
as their sales and marketing
representatives for several
lines in the magic, costume
and Halloween industry.
We are proud to say these
independent shops have the
highest sales ratios by
comparison to any other
independent grouping of
stores.
* Stevens Magic Consulting
services. We have helped
many people get started
into the magic, costume
and Halloween business via
the education and consulting
that we can offer in regards
to sources, strategies etc.
* Stevens Magic – Antiquarian
sales and collection. Joe
Stevens has some of the
finest apparatus available
(Thayer an, Okito). These
pieces are now being sold.
Our goal has always been
to carefully select only certain
products that are unique and
special or limit run (exclusive
or limited exclusivity) products.
Our clients are usually people
who have been in magic for
a minimum of a few years.
We do not carry all products,
we are not a clearinghouse
that features all products
– we are a selective
store the concentrates on
the unusual, hard-to-find,
or high-end limited edition
specialty items.
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