🎩 Behind the Counter: Life at The Scarborough Joke & Magic Shop
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🎩 Behind the Counter: Life at The Scarborough Joke & Magic Shop
Joke Shop owner, Miles Jackson, shares an inside look at the evolving world of mischief, magic, and modern retail
A Shop Full of Wonder — With a Story to Match
The Scarborough Joke & Magic Shop has been making people laugh, gasp, and scratch their heads in confusion for decades. We’ve been at our current location since 1986, but our roots go back even further — possibly all the way to the 1960s.
I bought my first magic trick here in 1987, aged seven. That moment planted the seed for everything that followed. I got to know the owner, helped run the shop as a teenager, and then, at just 18, I took over the business entirely. That little trick I bought as a kid? It set off a lifelong journey into magic, performance, and retail mischief.
More Than Just Magic
We’re not just a magic shop — although we do have a brilliant range of tricks for beginners, hobbyists, and working pros alike. What makes us different is the breadth of what we offer:
🪄 Beginner and professional magic tricks
🎭 Wigs, hats, fancy dress accessories
😂 Classic pranks and novelty gags
🎨 Stage makeup and face paints
🎉 Party and stocking fillers
😉 A cheeky selection of adult novelties (tucked safely out of reach of little ones!)
From vanishing coins to rubber chickens, our shelves are packed with nostalgia, fun, and a few surprises.
What’s the Best Bit About Running a Magic Shop?
The best bit? Seeing that spark of wonder in someone’s eyes — especially when it’s their very first magic trick. There’s something magical (pun intended) about watching a customer go from curious to captivated in just a few moments.
You’re not just selling props — you’re giving people confidence, a chance to perform, and a moment of real joy. And honestly, it’s hard to have a bad day when your job involves fake poo and fart bombs.
Picking the Perfect Products
How do we decide what to stock? First and foremost, we know our audience. After years in business, I’ve got a strong sense of what our customers want — from holidaymakers to serious performers.
But just as important: if a trick doesn’t impress me, it doesn’t make the cut. I want to be excited by what we sell. I also develop new tricks myself, tweaking every detail until it gets the strongest reaction. Creating something unique for our customers is a big part of what keeps things exciting.
The Challenge of Spoilers and Social Media
One of the biggest challenges we face today is the rise of social media — especially platforms where people reveal magic secrets without a second thought. It takes the mystery out of the art and reduces beautiful routines to “just a trick.”
As a dealer, I try to combat this by focusing on performance and storytelling. We demo tricks live, talk about presentation, and encourage people to respect the magic. It’s about more than knowing how it’s done — it’s about how you make people feel.
A Surprisingly Complex Business
Behind the scenes, things are a lot more complicated than people think. We're not just a bricks-and-mortar shop anymore — we now operate across multiple platforms including:
🛒 Amazon
📦 eBay
🧙 Etsy
🌐 Our own website
📱 TikTok Shop — including live demos and content creation
Each platform has its own quirks and challenges, and managing stock across all of them (while keeping content fresh and entertaining) is no small task. But we’ve adapted, and we're proud to say we’re not just surviving — we're thriving.
Keeping the Joke Shop Spirit Alive
There aren’t many traditional joke and magic shops left in the UK. We’re one of the last, and we take that responsibility seriously. But we’ve evolved — we’ve blended the old-school charm with modern tech, online sales, and digital performance.
The heart of the business is still the same: make people smile, surprise them, and spark their imagination. Whether you’re 7 or 70, there’s still something magical about a well-timed trick or a perfectly played prank.
✨ Visit Us or Explore Online
Whether you’re visiting sunny Scarborough or scrolling from your sofa, we’re here to help you discover the perfect trick, gag, or giggle. Thanks for being part of the magic.
www.ScarboroughJokeShop.com