Note to readers: PayPal Point of Sale, formerly known as Zettle, offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions designed to streamline your business operations.
Between navigating unpredictable event schedules, fluctuating foot traffic, and the need for streamlined payments online and in-person, Dancing Muse faces real-world challenges.
Running a mobile, niche retail business in the world of cosplay and historical costuming isn’t all magic and make-believe.
Whether they’re vending at a Renaissance fair or selling online to fantasy fans worldwide, Dancing Muse uses PayPal’s seamless solutions to keep the sales coming, no matter what.
Dancing Muse isn’t your typical costume shop. It’s a mobile, magical experience designed for cosplay lovers and LARP (live-action roleplay) legends in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The Dancing Muse mission was born in the late 1990s, when founder James Martin found a unique market: selling hosiery at events to cosplayers who’d forgotten costume pieces or couldn’t find the right pieces for their look.
The side-hustle evolved into a full-fledged business. Now, James and wife Janene run their busy shop in Keizer, Oregon and vend at Renaissance fairs, pirate festivals, and fantasy-themed conventions.
Every weekend brings a new adventure for Dancing Muse. For a business constantly on the move, mobility is non-negotiable.
Selling locations and customer needs shift, but PayPal Point of Sale solutions—including both the PayPal Reader and the PayPal Point of Sale app—keep them ready for anything, virtually anywhere.1
“Our location and sales volume change weekly,” James explains. “PayPal keeps up with those changes...it just works, wherever we are.”
Long-distance cosplay lovers can shop online via the Dancing Muse website—powered by PayPal Checkout.
Whether they’re selling in-store, online, at a crowded comic con, or in a whimsical medieval marketplace, PayPal provides a seamless checkout experience that makes it easy for customers to make purchases any way they choose.
Building a wonderous wardrobe can come with a price tag. And with event dates looming, aspiring cosplayers may not always have time to save up.
Dancing Muse uses PayPal Pay Later solutions to make it easier for shoppers to purchase big-ticket items and complete their looks with accessories and more.2
With Pay Later, Dancing Muse customers have the option to split their checkout total into four payments (Pay in 4) or make monthly payments.2
These flexible payment options can turn browsers into buyers3, and help even more customers suit up for their next adventure.
Throughout the decades, Dancing Muse has weathered the hurdles of working in a business that is largely event-based. Limited vendor spots, changing locations, and even bad weather can threaten sales volumes.
With PayPal, James and Janene don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time they set up shop. Mobile checkout, unified reporting, and fast, versatile setup make any vending opportunity more manageable.
“PayPal's handheld card reader is my favorite,” James states. “Janene uses the PayPal Point of Sale app on her iPhone for contactless payments, while I use my phone as a Wi-Fi tether to the card reader.”
From vending at packed festivals to managing their storefront operations, having a single, unified payment platform from PayPal Open continues to be a key ingredient in Dancing Muse’s success.
With PayPal handling payments in-store, online, or on-the-go 4, James and Janene can spend more time doing what they love: turning every sale into an epic story.
Business owners can get paid, get growing, and get ahead—with one platform to power all your payment needs. Learn how PayPal Open unites the tools that fuel your business growth.
In partnership with three expert business owners, the PayPal Bootcamp includes practical checklists and a short video loaded with tips to help take your business to the next level.