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An integral part of worldbuilding is developing the economy of the world your story takes place in. Just as in the real world, people need things and food to survive and there are places that provide them, for a cost. Of all of the occupations in the world, fantasy shop owners are one people will interact with the most.
Shop owners are an important boon to the community and the overall economy of the realm. They sell wares that give customers what they’re looking for and they give part of the money they receive to the kingdom when tax time comes around. They’re also competing against each other with the aim of enticing as many people as they can to their shops so that they can make as much money as they can.
With all the products available in the world, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are a ton of different fantasy shop owners. Remember, no matter what they’re like, each one of them is providing a valuable service to the community, regardless if they’re running an apothecary or general store.
There are a lot of responsibilities associated with owning a shop so why would people want to run a shop? One principal reason is the freedom of not having to deal with a boss. However, that means they’ll have to do everything themselves, things like hiring and managing employees.
Where exactly do fantasy shop owners fit in the overall scheme of the world? They are invaluable to the economy of both the towns and kingdoms they’re in. They provide jobs and products that let people live their lives, for a price. Also, they’re pursuing a dream they’ve long cherished.
This is article number twenty-six in the fantasy occupations series. Want more? Check out our blog page!
A fantasy world is filled with different kinds of people. Some are kind-hearted, always eager to lend a helping hand whereas others are more of a recluse. When it comes to owning a shop, people are likely to come into contact with different personalities, some of which they’ll get along with just fine and some they will come to dislike.
The personalities of fantasy shop owners differ from person to person. One thing they they all have in common is that they’re entrepreneurial. They’re taking a great risk to open up a store and sell things with the hopes of making a profit that they can live off on. They see a gap in the market and are moving to fill it before someone else does.
Some owners are tough-minded. Running a shop isn’t for the faint of heart, it takes someone with a steely determination to juggle the enormous responsibilities that come with it and navigate them while steering it towards success. Failure is not in their vocabulary and they have no qualms about removing obstacles that stand in their path.
Many fantasy shop owners are hard workers. They have to go over the books each day, order more or less of what they carry, among other things. They also work long hours, usually being the first to arrive and the last to leave. Furthermore, shop owners also have to ensure that their employees are doing what they were hired to do which can be difficult at times.
Another type of store owner is that of the dreamer. They have a vision, a dream they want to bring to fruition and the store is the vehicle to do precisely that. Some want a far-flung empire with emporiums spread out all over the world whereas others just want to rake in the dough to provide for their loved ones. They will do whatever it takes to make that dream come true.
Running a shop is stressful even in the best of times so why would people want to put that upon themselves? Why would they willingly spend long hours toiling over paperwork and dealing with unruly customers and lazy employees as well as dealing with overzealous tax collectors? The simple answer is that all these hassles are the price to pay when owning a store.
The number one reason why people choose to become fantasy shop owners is freedom. They are no longer working for someone or an organization, they are in charge themselves and that is a powerful feeling that never fades. Though they have a plethora of responsibilities to do, that feeling keeps them motivated, even in the worst of times.
The second reason is to make a living. Everyone has bills to pay and families to take care of and store owners are no exception. The money they keep after they pay their employees and the government goes towards paying off bills and putting food on the table. Some even use that money to reinvest in the business or plan for expansion when they can make even more money later on!
Providing a service is the third reason why people go into this field. Whether it’s food, clothes, or weapons, fantasy shop owners are providing a sorely-needed product to the people living within the community with the aims of making money. They’re helping their fellow citizens while getting paid which is a win-win for everyone.
Lastly, some shop owners want to feel like they’re making the world a better place. They want to make a difference in the community they live in. This is is why you see so many owners that take an active role by doing things like sponsoring events for charity or raising awareness about a local problem with the purpose of spearheading an effort to either solve it or prevent it from getting worse.
A fantasy world is dynamic, meaning it is constantly changing. People run out of things and they need to go to their favorite store to restock. When they’re there, they see the owners and strike up a conversation. They talk about a medley of topics such as the war going on in another kingdom, the new eatery that just opened up, and so on.
Fantasy shop owners, through virtue of their stores, are an instrumental part of the economy of both the community they live in and the realm. They buy and carry products that will be used by the locals, reducing their need to travel a long distance to another town just to get them.
The majority of shop owners get their wares from local producers like farms or blacksmiths. Forging relationships with them strengthens the community and also helps bolster development of local businesses, enabling them to grow, leading them to make even more products that the shop owners will buy and put in their stores.
All employees who work at the shops were hired by their owners. Hiring locals helps the employment numbers of the town in that the money they get paid for working will be used elsewhere in the town. Employees who have their own families are able to get the things they need without worrying that they can afford them.
Networking is important to fantasy shop owners. They attend conventions throughout the year where they see the newest products that will soon be available and they consider whether to carry them in their stores or not. Furthermore, they also meet up with other shop owners where they discuss a plethora of topics. Creating and cultivating business relationships can lead to buying and carrying new products.
In short, the occupation of shop owners is one flowing with responsibility. They have to make sure they have enough wares in stock, manage their employees, pay the bills when they come due, and boost the number of customers. Despite all that, they are happy since they are pursuing a long-cherished dream.
Owning a shop isn’t for everyone. Those with the entrepreneurial spirit and a hardworking ethic are more likely to take the risk of opening a shop than those who don’t have these two qualities. They are dreamers at heart, working assiduously to realize the dream of owning their own business and not having to deal with a boss.
A number of people become fantasy shop owners because they want the freedom of owning a business of their own. The feeling of freedom is always present in their mind, even during difficult times. In fact it shines all the brighter as if reminding them why they’re doing it which lifts their spirit up when they need it.
Regarding the world, shop owners serve to provide the things people need. Whether it’s food, clothes, or something else, they are the ones responsible for having these items in their stores. They make it so that their customers can quickly get what they need and go on with their lives.
In the background, fantasy shop owners are important since they make it possible for the characters in your story to grab the things they need, for a price of course. You can’t go wrong with incorporating this occupation in your world!
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