'We're spooky all year round' - T-shirt design shop with a supernatural vibe has magic formula for success

A husband and wife team have proven they have the magic formula for success as they enter their third year of running their own shop in Stourbridge.

With two successful years under their belts Chris and Sally Pearce-Jones, who run Pentagraphix Designs in Hagley Road, have been there, done that and got the T-shirts!

It’s been hard work with lots of late nights building up the business, which prints T-shirts, mugs and workwear as well as selling candles, crystals and witchy-themed gifts - but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The couple, who live in Stourbridge, quit their demanding jobs in finance and education to start the business, which has grown out of a side hustle that began during the Covid pandemic.

Chris, who worked in finance for Virgin Media in Birmingham after previously working as a retail manager for an electronics company, said the pandemic forced a re-evaluation.

“I was going to work every day on the train to Birmingham and thought there's got to be a bit more than this...I'd love to do something else.”

Sally, meanwhile, had been a teaching assistant at Gig Mill Primary School in Norton, and while walking through the town one day mentioned how it would be nice to get a shop.

A lucky windfall that arrived in the post shortly afterwards gave them the kickstart they needed to take a chance and follow their dream.

Chris said: “It was not much money but enough to do something with.

“We thought should we be sensible and pay a bill or just have a go? So we had a go.”

The decision to open a shop, located prominently on the corner of Hagley Road, proved the right one - and they haven’t looked back.

With control over their own destiny, they’ve built a growing customer base which is being propelled by a rising trend of people starting their own brands and creating their own merchandise.

Chris said: “We must be doing something right. We've got a lot of happy customers who like to come back and like unique things made. Luckily people seem to love what we do.

“Lots of people have a side hustle, their own brand.

“We can offer everything from workwear to hoodies and street wear.

“People can come down and choose a T-shirt - within 15 to 20 minutes they can have a custom T-shirt printed. “

The shop prints merchandise for brands including Future Rebel, created by Stourbridge artist Cal, events company Ostara Events created by TV ghosthunter Jayne Harris, and Stoürburgring - a locally-created brand celebrating Black Country car culture, inspired by Stourbridge Ring Road.

Pentagraphix also features on the town’s art map thanks to the painting of a large mural paying tribute to influential Stourbridge rock band Diamond Head outside.

“It's lovely to be part of the art trail.

“Stourbridge has always had this really creative side to it. It's nice to still have that little bit of art culture around the town, so any way we can be a part of it - I wasn't going to say no.”

Artist Cal created the Diamond Head artwork as part of a series of town murals honouring Stourbridge’s music heroes.

He also donated artwork to the shop created with the paint leftover from the Diamond Head project.

Chris said it was great to see the band members themselves celebrating the artwork - if not a little nerve-wracking watching frontman Brian Tatler climbing up onto the scaffolding outside.

The rock star is not the only celebrity they’ve rubbed shoulders with this year. The couple were among the exhibitors at the first-ever X-Con event - held at Himley Hall on October 17 - which celebrated the weird and wonderful.

The convention for those interested in UFOs, Bigfoot and the supernatural included talks, trade stalls and celebrity meet and greets with VIP guests including actor Chris Barrie of Red Dwarf, singer and TV presenter Toyah Willcox and American paranormal investigator Chris Fleming.

Pentagraphix created the event’s official merchandise including T-shirts, mugs and tote bags.

Chris said: “It’s the first time we as a business have done anything like that. We're pleased with how well it went. It was very busy on the day.”

There were some long days preparing for the event in the run-up to the convention, but it was worth it and better than ‘working for the man’.

“When it gets difficult - when you're working until 11pm at night - you stop and think we still enjoy this,” Chris said - adding: “We don't want to be T-shirt tycoons or anything like that.”

Sally, who was born and bred in Stourbridge, said she has been “shocked at how well it's gone” running their own business - adding: “We're very pleased with the way it's growing.”

She had never worked in retail prior to opening the shop, having spent 15 years at Gig Mill - latterly as a teaching assistant and before that as a dinner lady.

But she’s become aligned with her new role effortlessly and sources the crystals, candles and new age gifts for the shop - having always had an interest in ghosts, witches and the supernatural.

Sally said leaving her school job behind was “a big leap” but she’s enjoyed working with her other half - saying: “We work really well together. We thought about it for a long time. It seemed like a natural thing for us.

“I love seeing people’s faces when they see the products.

“I miss the kids and people but I don't miss the work and the deadlines. The kids still pop in and call me Miss Jones.”

So what’s next as they enter their third year in business?

The couple, who are both aged 48 and have two children, say they’d like to get out to more events after enjoying the experience at X-Con.

Chris said: “We really have been very busy but we'd like to get more involved in local events and the community.

“We've had a psychic medium to do readings here and would love to do more of that, and after X-Con we hope to try to get out to more events.”

Successes aside - the shop, like many small businesses, has not been immune to rising costs associated with the current economic climate.

Chris said: “We do offer something quite unique for customers but there's no getting away from how tough it is. There's energy and material costs. It's concerning but we're trying and do the best we can.”

So would he still encourage people to start up their own business in 2026?

“The economy could be in better shape but if you want to do it and you think you can - just have a go, just go for it. Nothing happens unless you have a go and put 100 per cent in,” he said.

Having a few spell candles to hand and abundance bowls aplenty helps.

“It's all about the mindset, we set our intention,” the couple said.

So will they be doing anything special this Halloween?

“We do always love Halloween and like to do something fun...but we're spooky all year round,” joked Chris.

The shop is open 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays, with plans to stay open slightly longer towards Christmas.