A CLACTON shopkeeper has spoken about the determination it has taken to keep his independent business running while living with osteoporosis.
David Howitt, owner of Myths and Magic, has run the spiritual and crystal shop for 11 years after first starting out in Clacton’s indoor market in 2009.
The 54-year-old said staying positive and adapting around his health condition has allowed him to continue working five days a week.
“I can’t walk very far,” he said. “If I don’t feel too well, I just close early. And I only open five days a week. It's all about adapting my hours to keep going.”
David said support from friends and family has also been vital.
“If it weren’t for the help from my friends and my auntie, I don’t know if I’d be able to do it some days,” he said.
Despite the challenges facing independent retailers, he said the business has continued to attract loyal customers interested in crystals, incense, tarot cards and spiritual healing products.
David said: "We have been operating in this shop for 11 years now, but I first started trading in Clacton’s indoor market in 2009 before moving into the shop."
“People who are into crystals, natural healing and spirituality — it’s different from the norm,” he said.
“But regardless of what goes on in the world, they still come back.”
The shop experiences busy summer periods followed by quieter winters, but David said overall the business has remained stable.
The inspiration for the shop began in childhood.
“I was always into crystals and geology as a child,” he said. “Gems and stones fascinated me growing up.”
Before opening Myths and Magic, David originally ran a sweet shop before gradually transforming the business into the spiritual store it is today.
He has now been self-employed for around 25 years and continues to source products from around the world.
Asked what has kept him going through difficult periods, his answer was simple: “Determination.”
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