Kindly Speaking . ..

Yep, that's Cheryl - the other half of FAB - shown here with our 'sailor' son Cory who is now furthering his education in Washington after a five year stint with the US Navy. Cheryl sits in the background and doesn't take any credit like she should. While I am working on the 'technical' stuff here at FAB she is busy using her creativity to enhance the FAB brand. Whether its designing a new poster, website, layout in the store or scolding me for 'jumping into something'  Cheryl makes her presence known and 'grounds' me when I get out of sorts. Over these past 12 years we have taken criticism for opening another magic company in Colon - and there were days when I could pull my hair out (what is left of it anyway) - but here we are a dozen years later, growing the business to new heights and her support is still unwavering. There were 'salad' days when we first started FAB and everyday poses new challenges but I know with her support we will continue to go forward making tough decisions that are beneficial for this company and for us personally.

I work long hours - check that - I have fun - this isn't work....work is laying bricks or digging a ditch. I get up every morning ready to tackle the challenges of the day knowing at the end of that day Cheryl 'has my back' :) So if you are in the store or come by our new workshop and you see her running around just stop and say hello :)

It's amazing how time gets away from a person. We have been so busy with the shop and MagiCelebration I haven't had time to sit down and write in this blog. Lots has happened in the last 4 months here at FAB. We hired Tammy Whiting as our new office manager and she is doing a terrific job. She stepped into the role famously and is a true asset to this company. A friendly smile on the other end of the telephone makes all the difference in the world. Tammy is now also our coordinator for the ARTS & CRAFTS portion of MagiCelebration next July

We have repainted inside and outside here at FAB and Cheryl has done a FABulous job of bringing everything up to date and making it all look like a brand new penny :) You have to have 'vision' when planning these things and hers has certainly left a lasting impression on the way we brand FAB Magic. Thank you my dear - kudos to all of your hard work and putting up with me :)

New signage, new look, same great tradition ----- and NEW building! We have moved all of our workshops into this new facility just outside of town which gives us the space to construct just about anything in magic! New woodshop,paint shop,sewing dept, printing dept = the complete package. It's all about the future of magic and we are now positioned to give you everything you need - let us know what we can build for you! Moving forward we have lots of plans in the works - MagiCelebration July 20-25th, 2015 - so much to do...and I promise to update this blog more often :) Now..............back to work :)

This building will house our workshops

 New look at our downtown showroom/general offices

When FAB Magic first opened 11 years ago we started with a skeleton staff. The three of us did it all - shipping,demonstrating, constructing, cleaning the toilets, you name it --- we did it... and did it and did it. Lots of bumps in the roads and stuff that had nothing to do with magic that we had to endure on a personal level.

Well, now 11 years later we have grown to the point where we now have 2 wood workers, a full and part time seamstress and yes now we have to add additional staff. We are looking for a good experienced woodworker and office manager - with the busy summer months/tourist season just ahead and increase in orders we have to grow- I have to tell you it's hard for me to let go but it is necessary if we want to continue to grow this operation - and grow we will. :) Custom orders used to be the exception now they are taking up nearly 50% of our time - more and more of you want special products - and have made a committment to do more of these. Illusions are now a part of our product line and our new Elite line of illusions is on the horizon. Yes, all of FAB Magic is made here in Colon - absolutely NO outsourcing - not one FAB product is manufactured or assembled outside of the United States. We are American proud and that will NEVER change....so thank you all for your loyalty! We appreciate it!

..................................so now watch us grow!

Rick Fisher, president

Idols

We all have 'idols' - not the kind you see on these 'reality competition idol' shows - I mean people you could look up to - emulate and inspire you. The three people that did that for me growing up were Percy Abbott, Neil Foster & Edgar Bergen.

Edgar & Percy were good friends and several summers back in the 1950's Edgar spent part of his summers here in Colon. They both were showmen - they had a real passion for what they did. Percy's 'magic' was in his personality and Edgar's 'magic' came in the form of three wooden puppets that were imbued with life by their master. They are legends - they have set the bar for both magicians and ventriloquists. The Abbott family shared this special video with me  - two men and Gladys Abbott having a ball in their back yard here in the magic capital of the world. Enjoy. . . . .

New Year - New Ideas - New Products - New Friends

 New products are on their way at FAB Magic!

Here is our latest - Imperial Die Box

Hand made in our studio - it's a thing of beauty and yep it works great too!

Lots of new products coming your way in 2014 - expanded wood shop we are moving into this spring will give us the maximum potential to craft all types of wood products. 

 Made from Baltic Birch!

Will last a lifetime!

Happy New Year From FAB Magic Mfg.

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU !

 2013 Was a Record Sales Year for FAB Magic Company and we are excited about 2014. New products and our 11th annual MagiCelebration Festival highlights the year. 

We have also started a new website to promote tourism for Colon. Our goal this year - to preserve history and tradition ~ building our future! www.visitcolonmichigan.com

Stay tuned for ALL NEW magic here in the

 Magic Capital of The World!

MagiCelebration 2014 - July 23-26th - MagicIdol 2014

Well October is here - it's National Magic Month and here at FAB and Colon we have lots going on! On Saturday, October 26th we will have the official unveiling of the Stars Walk Of Fame at 1:00 pm  - 12 stars to show off! Hope you can come and celebrate with us. Then at 7:00 pm our Abbott-Watson IBM Ring 386 will host the 2nd annual SHARING THE MAGIC show at Colon High School - a fun magic show to help raise money/food donations for the Colon Food Pantry. Then of course the big Halloween trick or treat/costume party on the 31st. I have two daughters' birthday this month - Ashley on the 2nd and Brandy (and soon to be new mom!) on the 31st and...uh...I turn (50 something) on the 22nd :(

We have just booked Paul Romhany for MagiCelebration 2014 - he will lecture and perform in both our close up show and emcee/perform on evening show. Add to that Richard Osterlind, Tomas Medina,John Born & Cody Fisher ---well you have the makings of one heck of a convention - watch for more details - www.colonmichiganmagic.com - and MAGICIDOL 2014 - EXCITING NEWS FORTHCOMING!

36 Hour Clock

I need a clock that has 36 hours - there just isn't enough time to get everything done. As we are looking at a new production facility - and custom orders coming in at a record pace - I look back over these past 10 years and reflect a little on this Labor Day Weekend...What we have accomplished as a team - what we WILL accomplish going forward. MagiCelebration - our magic convention here in the magic capital - is now a full blown 4 day event. We are already looking at acts and have some verbal committments from some of the top names in magic for next year...In a nutshell ~ you ain't seen nothing yet!

Products? Magic In General? Well we heard this week that Morrissey Magic from Canada decided to put an end to their wonderful line of metal equipment. Sign of the times? Perhaps - but let it be known now and in the future - FAB Magic is committed to Colon, Michigan - WE believe in Colon and we are here to stay. It's been a wonderful ride so far and we look forward to serving you now and in the future. Thanks for a great 10 years!

...............Friends

Magic lost of it's most prolific inventors this week - Magic Ian Sutz (Garrison) had invented many magic effects in his long career. The top pro's knew who to call on when they were looking for a new idea - Ian always came up with one. We had him perform here at MagiCelebration a few years back and actually had him booked this year until he was forced to cancel due to health reasons. A great guy - our sympathies and condolences to his family - Magic has indeed lost a true pioneer.

Rick

YIKES!

Where has all the time gone...................we've been so busy here at FAB I haven't even had time to update this blog..promise I will do better :) - New products, several new estates came in. I am trying to push for a new 36 hour clock - I could get more  done around here and with MagiCelebration on the horizon time becomes ever so precious - our Youth Stage Talent Contest is FULL! That is great news and we hope you can join us for our big week July 31 - August 3rd.

Above you see our new EZ Hippity Hop Rabbits - the artwork was completed by the late Ed Harris - and this great classic of magic is so easy to use and affordable at only $39.95! And we ain't kidding!
Watch for several Hip Hop Versions to come out eg: Christmas,Easter and so many more ideas are coming!!! I DO love my job :)

A Big Thank You to WJR Radio & ITC!

We made some new friends this week with Paul W. Smith and his wife and crew who came to Colon, Michigan to promote the Magic Capital Of The World! A HUGE plug for this great community. Here are some pics and links to the podcasts

                                         Paul W. Smith at the helm

                                         Paul W. Smith, Bill Watson & Joe Ganger

                                         Arriving Sunday night and on to the cemetery . . .

                                         Joe Ganger giving the grand tour of Lakeside Cemetery

Village President Tom Tenney & Colon Chamber prez Edie Doenges

Listen to the podcasts from the WJR Radio - http://podcasts.cmlsdet.com/player/?feed=38&id=2231

Dave Pendleton & Friends Just Booked for MagiCelebration 2013!

Breaking News! We've just booked Dave Pendleton, one of the finest ventriloquists in the country,to perform and emcee our Friday night show at MagiCelebration ! You've seen Dave on cruise ships and across the United States - even headlining in Shipshewanna, Indiana - another reason to come to Colon this summer and have fun! Dave is one of the 'fun' guys with two decades of experience. He's one of the most sought after comedians/ventriloquists and we've got him here in Colon! So, don't delay - what are you waiting for??? Come join the fun - www.colonmichiganmagic.com

Granddaughters & The Easter Bunny

When I asked my granddaughter Lilly where she would like her 6th birthday party to be held she didn' hesitate "The Shop Grandpa!" So with several of her friends and classmates we all celebrated her 6th year on this earth and ..uh...6th year in the shop. You see she has grown up around here - surrounded by hundreds of magic tricks,book,weird looking gimmicks even Barbie can't compete with. She takes it all in stride knowing this is Grandpa's chosen profession but she also takes pride even at this young age knowing that magic is in her blood too. She loves to watch me tinker with new ideas back in the woodshop and oftentimes will find her out front welcoming in a new customer with that familiar smile of hers. I love having her here - she is the light of my life - and with her charm heck I can't go wrong! Happy Birthday Princess!

 



This past Friday, literally minutes before the Colon fire, I was contacted by ITC Group. These folks are a part of large electrical co-op here in Michigan. Colon has been selected to be the location for a live remote/on air program hosted ...by Paul W. Smith of WJR Radio in Detroit! They will be setting up here at FAB on April 29th for 4 hour live broadcast from 5:00 am - 9:00 am to promote COLON! Refreshments /coffee/donuts and thanks to Dawn & Phils will be serving good ole' biscuits and gravy as well.

And....I have just been informed that during Paul's radio show ITC will be presenting Colon Michigan a check for $10,000 to help aid in the fire restorations projects...At the Village Council meeting tonite I revealed the details much to the appreciation of everyone there.

Come show your support for Colon if you are in the area...

 

An exciting opportunity and we thank ITC for caring.....

In the Blink Of An Eye....

Life can change - and just when you think you have a handle on life it throws you a curve ball. Here in the magic capital of the world we are very fortunate to have so many people who care about one another. In 2006 when the Hill Opera House burned to the ground it was the village residents who banded together.

Now nearly 6 years later we are enduring once again. To lose nearly 1/2 your downtown businesses would seem to some insurmountable - but not in Colon - not in the town that prides itself on sticking together when times get tough - it makes us tougher and stronger.

We have so much to be grateful for - each other. Forget everything else. The comraderie - the compassion - the unity - can't be described in words. In a world where change is constant so goes our little village. So much to look back on and so many new opportunities lay in front of us. But today, we take this time to remember - and to feel compassion for our business neighbors who lost their dream - many will re-build that dream and make it stronger for the future.

We are, after all, Colonites . . .

Saturday Smiles :)

 

Saturdays here at FAB Magic have been oh so much fun! We had a packed house this past Saturday with young magicians - who WANT to learn magic! Yes, magic is just as popular as always regardless of what the pundits say. It's more widespread now than ever - just in a different form. Kids are getting excited about magic again - great to see! This 8 year old budding magician from Kalamazoo came in with his parents along with about a dozen other folks - wanting to learn stage magic....he loved our Dream Zombie - and as you can see by his expression enjoyed his new purchase. This is what makes it all worthwhile :) Come see us in the Magic Capital Of The World - we're havin' fun here :)

Dick Stoner Added To Our Close Up Show!

 

One of the most successful trade show magicians in history has just been added to our

Close Up Show At MagiCelebration this year. Dick Stoner is one of the most sought after trade show magicians in the world! Not only is Dick emceeing our Saturday night show but he will be performing some of his unique/time tested trade show material in our Close up show along with Ron Jaxon & Charlie Frye! Wow ! Just one more reason to register for FAB's MagiCelebration this year!

 

and guess what.....we aren't finished yet :) Stay Tuned!



1st Official Sponsor Of MagiCelebration

 For the past several years we have partnered with several corporations to help make MagiCelebration the successful event that it is. This year is no different! America's Best Value Inn in Three Rivers, Michigan is our first one on board this year! Herb Howard and the gang always give first class service. We are very picky when it comes to reccommending motels - its a general reflection on where we feel is the most comfortable and CLEAN!

You can't go wrong with America's Best Value Inn!

 

For those of you coming to MagiCelebration July 31 - August 3rd - we have special room rates just for you! $62.50 per nite - with free wi-fi and a wonderful continental breakfast.

Make sure you mention MagiCelebration Colon to get your reduced rate.

 

America's Best Value Inn

1211 W. Broadway
Three Rivers, MI 49093
United States
(269) 273-8100

       

Hotel Highlights

• Free Wireless High-Speed Internet Access
• Guest Laundry Facility
• Free Continental Breakfast

 

Ron Jaxon Just Added to MagiCelebration 2013

Just Added - Ron Jaxon to MagiCelebration 2013

Ron will be performing in our close up show with Charlie Frye & Special Guest!

He is a very talented performer who was the first recipient of our 

Percy Abbott Award For Showmanship several years ago.

Another reason why YOU should attend MagiCelebration 2013 - 

Come see the magic!

www.colonmichiganmagic.com

 

 

Come See History In The Making - The Scimitar Illusion

We are very excited to bring Larry & Nancy Pew - The Zodiacs - to our stage Wednesday, July 31st during MagiCelebration here in Colon, Michigan. In 1962 on this same Colon High School stage, the legendary McDonald Birch presented the SCIMITAR illusion - now 51 years later it's coming back!

You won't want to miss this once in a lifetime event! Tickets available NOW!

www.colonmichiganmagic.com