Vudu Spice Shop
By Jacking Inkpen

TYPE: Official Business

BACKGROUND: My vision of the shop, as it comes to me from the props there and the role-play that happens, it that it is a combination of a smoke shop, magic/voodoo shop, herbal remedy shop. I can tell you that in California, where I live, shops like this actually exist! So, we definitely have at least two areas of expertise to go with here, possibly a third, as I see it: * Smoke shop expert - Jack is slowly, and successfully, turning the smoke shop aspect into a medical marijuana dispensary.. . off the books of course. ** Vooodoo/magic specialist: Someone has to harvest body parts, fashion voodoo dolls and lift hexes.... *** The herbs growing in the shop, the herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and the tarot readings I see almost as being a possible third vein for a more "hippie" type character who may not be so deep into the dark magic arts.... but who knows? Anyone, of course, can role-play more learning or expertise in any of these areas. However, if it just doesn't make sense for someone's character to have a lot of background knowledge about some aspect of the shop, they can feel free to leave in character messages and referrals to the appropriate specialists. We have already grown a regular working crew of approximately ten employees over the past month (October) and have different characters specializing in all three of these areas.

UNIQUE: In addition, there will be the added aspect of the medical marijuana dispensary as well as the 'backyard' of the shop which is the skate park, and lends itself to a lot of extended RP from the Vudu Spice Shop.

EXPERIENCE:In real life I have a lot of teaching and mentoring experience, as well as business management skills. These qualities are what enable me to see the big picture, generate more activity and connections for the group (the business) and to guide my subordinates respectfully.

IDEAS:I have been taking the time to reach out OOCly to employees when I see on the weekly roster that they are new hires or have just come back to work after a long time. I send them an update notecard which includes various key points about the business, and I ask them if they want their character to be known as a specialist in a certain area of the shop. Since I, and others are on the job site regularly these days, new hires will often have others to role-play with.

OTHER:We would certainly need to incorporate a "smoke-out" of some sort (for the clients of the medical marijuana dispensary), but I also think an "alternative healing day" event could be good, where people can get free tarot readings, a sample of some aromatherapy oils and a little herbal packet to bring home.