We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erick Wessel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erick , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Mystic Museum was birthed from my original store Bearded Lady Vintage and Oddities. I specialized in taxidermy, oddities, and mysticism. These were all items I had an interest in and had cultivated a collection of myself. One day I had come across a really unique antique receptionist booth and bought it for the shop. I ended up turning it into a photo op and this was the beginning of me creating photo ops. Once I started to do more and more photo ops, I also started displaying my collection of mysticism items which created the Mystic Museum. I leaned into what my consumers liked and I started doing more and more photo ops that grew into a full exhibit with immersive experiences. Now I’ve done over 25 exhibits each bigger and better than the last. This is what we’re now known for and what our customers have grown to love about us. I’d like to say we offered something that wasn’t out there yet. Everyone was either making haunted houses or artistic immersive experiences but there wasn’t a lot of people bridging that gap. I was recreating scenes from your favorite horror movies and letting people step inside and take photos in them like they were on set. It had haunted house elements, immersive elements, and museum elements. We had props donated by directors or statues created from the same mold as the original. Mystic Museum was doing something a little different than what was already out there. It set us apart and that’s what’s exciting about our experience.

Erick , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Erick Wessel, and I am the founder and owner of the Mystic Museum. The Mystic Museum is a unique horror-themed shop that features a rotating exhibit specializing in the horror genre. It combines the elements of a selfie museum and an immersive experience, allowing visitors to recreate scenes from iconic horror movies and capture memorable photos. We also occasionally showcase screen-used props and memorabilia that fit the current exhibition.
At the Mystic Museum, we are deeply committed to engaging with the horror community. We host numerous events and actively participate in conventions and other industry gatherings, always striving to support fellow horror small businesses. I am incredibly proud of the impact Mystic Museum has made within the horror community and the opportunities we’ve had to collaborate with some of the most iconic and influential figures in the industry.
Our mission is to continually grow and improve, both as a business and as a brand. Looking ahead, I have many exciting plans for the future of the Mystic Museum, and I am eager to share this journey with everyone.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

This year has been all about growing pains. Mystic Museum has outgrown a lot of things that have worked in the past and I’m at the point of my business where I’m learning how to reinvent, shed bad habits, and adapt to the changes of the economy and life. I have spent the better part of the year upgrading systems that aren’t built for the scale of growth that Mystic is in right now. Better ways of keeping the books, better website and online presence, better marketing and PR, and overall better business practices. I feel like I’m almost wiping the slate clean and starting over. Growth comes with so much responsibility. Responsibility to the brand, business, my employees, and to my consumers. This past year has shown me what was sustainable in the start of our business isn’t sustainable 10 years in. I’m learning to adapt and grow and set Mystic Museum up for success for many more years to come.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Mystic Museum was funded from $4,000 and hard work. This business came to me as a hail mary move on bad day. I was at a job I did not see a future in and I had a side hustle making lamps from industrial materials. I had an uneventful day selling my wares at a market and I decided to take a long walk home to clear my head and get some insight. I walked by this little retail store connected to a living space in the back. I saw a for rent sign and walked in and talked to the owners, a doctor and a seamstress. They were moving and looking to find someone to take their retail space and apartment. I had no idea what I wanted to do with the space but it just felt like a sign. I needed to do something to change my life because I didn’t want to stay in my current position. They were so kind and supportive and gave me some great advice. By the time I came home I had signed a lease to a retail space and apartment. I didn’t leave my job. I took turns running the store and working at my job. I started as a vintage shop and thrift store and grew my business to what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themysticmuseum.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themysticmuseum/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themysticmuseum/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mystic-museum-burbank
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@themysticmuseum