Thanks to Alex's growing reputation and the store's popularity, several broomstick manufacturers and Quidditch teams across the UK were eager to collaborate. They wanted Alex to sell their brooms and merchandise, hoping to tap into his customer base. But he had to turn them down, albeit reluctantly. It just didn't feel right.
Local alchemy shops were already struggling, and many Quidditch stores were barely hanging on. If he stepped into that market too, it would be like kicking them while they were down, he didn't want to be responsible for putting them out of business.
Even as things stood, not everyone was thrilled about his success. Madam Primpernelle, who owned the beauty potion shop next door, had grown noticeably colder toward him.
At first, there was no real competition, he sold alchemical tools, and she specialized in cosmetic potions. Business was decent for her. But ever since Alex started importing products, everything changed.
The French beauty potions he stocked were not only better packaged, but their quality was top-notch. Though they came with a higher price tag, many customers saw the value and were willing to pay for it.
Madam Primpernelle, who had previously cut corners to make a profit, found herself losing ground. She could no longer keep up, and it was starting to show in her attitude. Their once-friendly relationship had cooled significantly.
To avoid disrupting the local business scene too much and stirring public backlash, Alex decided to significantly raise the prices of imported goods and restrict the entry of high-quality local products. Instead, he focused on selling only the items produced in-house by the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica, along with products from a few partner companies.
During this period, he also visited several alchemy shops across mainland Britain and struck deals with them to allow Wilson's Arcane Alchemica's products to be sold at their counters. However, these were consignment deals with extremely low profit margins, less than 3%, and these shops were only permitted to sell basic items for everyday use. They also carried fewer product styles than the main Wilson's Arcane Alchemica store.
Even so, given the strong reputation and growing international status of the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica, those alchemy shops happily agreed to the terms. After all, being able to offer popular items like magic lamps, phonographs, and records would help attract more customers. From the perspective of the shop owners, even a small profit was better than none, and they could always adjust the prices slightly higher than the original store, most wizards wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for convenience.
This arrangement wasn't just about building relationships with local alchemy businesses. A bigger reason was that Alex planned to transition the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica into a more modern model.
Instead of operating strictly as a traditional shop with a manufacturing space in the back, the company would shift its focus toward development and production, similar to how large broomstick manufacturers operated. Retail would gradually be handled more through partners and local alchemy shops.
Of course, the main store in Diagon Alley would remain open, continuing to offer the full range of products. Meanwhile, the partner shops would focus on selling newer, high-margin items. This would help boost sales while keeping the production line from becoming too complex.
After carefully setting everything in motion at the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica, Alex was finally free to turn his attention to his upcoming journey to Europe. In the office behind the store, he sat with Fang, Shalltear, Wimzy, Vivian, and Azalea, going over final details.
"Master, are you really ready to go?" Wimzy asked anxiously, glancing at Alex. "If you take Shalltear with you, I'll be the only one left here running the place. I'm worried I won't be able to manage everything on my own."
After hearing Wimzy's concerns, Alex stayed quiet, but Vivian was the first to react, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, come on, Wimzy. Do I look like a ghost to you? Of course I'm staying to help after they leave.
And don't forget, Azalea's still here too, there's three of us. You think we can't handle one little shop?"
"That's not what I meant…" Wimzy quickly shook her head, nervous from Vivian's response.
"It's just... now that the firm has gotten so big, and we're dealing with so many international clients, there are still a ton of orders we haven't finished. I'm worried I'll mess something up and end up delaying everyone's work."
"Don't sell yourself short, Wimzy," Alex said with a reassuring smile. "Besides me, you're the one who knows the business best. I trust you completely.
While I'm gone, you'll be in charge of Wilson's Arcane Alchemica. Remember what I told you, learn to think independently. You've done well so far, haven't you?"
Before Wimzy could respond, Vivian chimed in with a smug grin, "Well, I'm not one to back out just because things get tough. If Alex's keeping me around, you can bet I'm not going anywhere!"
Fang, standing nearby, gave her a sideways glance and sighed silently. What did her opinion even matter here? This was clearly a conversation between Alex and Wimzy.
Honestly, if Vivian hadn't failed her application to that magical gossip magazine, she wouldn't even be here begging Alex to take her in. Shaking his head in disbelief, Fang looked over at Shalltear and called out, "Hey, you overgrown bat, done testing that sunscreen yet? Don't come crying to me when you get sunburned!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Shalltear snapped back, clearly annoyed. "Do you think I'm stupid enough to risk my own life like you would, you dumb mutt?"
Shalltear, who still looked like a gothic lolita doll, had clearly updated her look since the last time. She was now dressed head to toe in a tightly fitted gothic outfit with a few new additions: sleek black stockings on her legs, long lace gloves on her arms, and a tiny top hat adorned with a lace veil to protect her from the sun.
The look gave her a more mysterious, alluring vibe, and also ensured that not a single patch of skin was left exposed.
This special outfit was actually designed by Alex specifically for Shalltear. It protects her from sunlight, allowing her to move and fight normally during the day. Although the outfit still leaves a bit of skin exposed, it doesn't seem to affect her negatively.
"Alright, if you two keep arguing, I'm leaving you both behind," Alex said, glancing at them with a hint of irritation. "I don't have to bring you along on this mission, you know."
He then turned to Wimzy with a more serious tone. "Keep an eye on the butler, and especially watch Vivian. The store's stocked with food, and we don't want her eating everything."
"Hey! That's rude, you're saying that right in front of me!" Vivian snapped, glaring at him.
Alex just rolled his eyes at her outburst and then addressed Azalea. "You too, stay alert. If you hear anything from headquarters or the enemy, contact me immediately. I might be heading to Northern Europe soon. If things go well, I'll see if I can rescue your sister while I'm there."