Carving a name in the tattoo business

The art of tattoo has been in existence for several thousand of years with history tracing far back before the birth of Christ. According to an Internet source, its styles and reasons varied from individual to individual throughout the evolution of society and of man.

Tattoos were considered as a form of ornamentation and to some beliefs as a way of practicing faith and worshipping their Gods. It has also came to symbolize being part of a group and to some cultures, it signified power and authority. Today, this art form still continues to develop wherein more and more individuals especially artists are driven to meet its growing demand.

Here in Cebu, there is already a growing number of artists who offers tattooing services but only a few has a shop that could be rightfully called professional based on the level of work efficiency and high standard of hygiene. Among them is the young tattoo artist Ralph San Ramon who operates Needle Point Tattoos, a tattoo shop that has been in operation for a month now.

Even at a young age of 21, he is no newbie in the business as he used to own one like it before in Banilad. He also has quite a number of qualifications. He has been doing the craft for five years now. He has been improving his skills as a tattoo artist right in the tropical island of Boracay where he worked in one of the shops there and he gets to service mostly local showbiz icons vacationing at the beach paradise.

He is a Fine Arts student at the University of San Carlos majoring in Advertising. He had his tattooing apprenticeship at the Tattoo Museum, a shop in Colon where he learned the art and skill of tattooing and where he himself got his first tattoo. He masters the oriental style of tattooing and some designs under this kind are dragons, samurais and lotus flowers.

However, starting a tattoo shop is not that easy. Since it is skill-related and service-oriented business, lots of factors should be considered to be able to succeed in such venture. To aid you if ever you're interested in this kind of business here are some tips to consider:

Self -preparation

A Tattoo shop requires the artist to have the talent in the art of tattooing. According to Ralph, it requires both aesthetic and technical skills. You need to know how to draw and at the same time be used to handling tattooing equipment, which differentiates it from painting or drawing because your instrument is not a pencil or a paintbrush and your paper or your canvas is the skin.

There is also a need for you to assess yourself if you are really ready and that your skills is sufficient enough to meet the standard set by your clientele especially in terms of the designs they may want to have.

Capital

In any business venture, capital is very essential because it's used to pay for every required billing. And in order for you to start with the business you should have sufficient amount to carry the finances and purchase your equipments, pay the rents and permits, etc.

As a starting capital, Ralph spent an initial sum of P100, 000 - P150,000. He utilized the amount to obtain a high level of professionalism in terms of his shop's equipments.

Tools and Equipment

To be in operation, it's important to acquire all the tools you need for the business. For a tattoo shop you need to have tattooing machines, grips, needles, inks, and sterilizing device. And since Ralph stressed on professionalism, his equipments are of A1 quality and is the best of the best. He assures to keep the shop updated with the recent trend for he does not want to be left behind by other tattoo artists. He researches the Net every now and then and is so much willing to upgrade every equipment he has. He doesn't want to follow other artist who settles on just mediocre instruments just so they could do a tattoo. He says, he does not want to compromise his name and the shop's so he avoids any risk of contamination and throws out any used equipment like needles for instance.

Physical Set-up

In order for your shop to succeed in its operation you need to have a set-up that would speak out so much about the services you are offering. In order to establish this, the shop should look comfortable and safe enough so that customer's hesitations would be lessened and their fears would disappear. So, Needle Point Tattoos makes it a point that the shop's physical structure would meet professional standards for customers to be assured of their safety and be assured that every job will be done proficiently.

Location

To be able to acquire quite a number of clientele, you need to find a place that is visible to everyone and would bring in more and more prospective customers. Needle Point is located along the main road where it easily catches the attention of passersby. It is also near a pension house where foreigners fond of tattoos usually flock.

Shop Name

Of course to be able to establish a mark in the industry, you need to have a name so that it will be easy for your shop to be recognized. Ralph chose to call his shop Needle Point Tattoos from among four other options for the very reason that it embodies every service the shop offers. A permanent tattoo, a body piercing and even a henna tattoo is created from the point of a needle so he decided to settle on that name. But he practically placed a big "Tattoo" sign outside the shop to scream out the service it offers and so that it'll get easily noticed.

Permits

Every legal business establishment needs to secure all necessary permits. Without them, you'll be out of the trade and even behind bars in no time. Needle Point had already acquired everything from SSS, BIR and DOH clearances and Mayor's permit because it is part of the standard of professionalism it strives to maintain.

So, with all these pointers you are now ready to start your own tattoo shop!

A tattoo shop business' profitability depends upon its number of clientele since it is a service-oriented type. Right now, Needle Point Tattoos is just starting to build a name here in Cebu and as an artist; Ralph San Ramon is still in the process of carving his mark in the industry. In doing so, he says the shop is a good start because in there he will be able to practice more of his skills and develop his talents. But it's not all about money that really makes him stick around. It's actually his passion for the craft and love for the arts that drove him to put-up a tattoo shop of his own.

Needle Point assures its customers a high standard of hygiene and proficient quality of work at a reasonable rate. A permanent tattoo's minimum rate is at P1, 500; its size is 3 by 3 inches. A tattoo is charged by piece depending on the amount of effort and time spent by the artist in doing it and the equipment that would be thrown out after the procedure like needles and inks. Body piercing is charged P1,000 for plain jewelry and prices differ upon the value of the jewel. Fancy designs and gems, are at P1,500- 1, 800. Their jewelry is imported from Thailand and the US and is made from surgical steel, which is used to make laboratory equipments like forceps. For a henna tattoo, they charge P200.

So, if you are planning to have your first tattoo or you want to have more of it, do visit Needle Point Tattoos located at Gorordo Avenue corner Escario Street beside Kukuk's Nest near SSS. For those interested of their service you may call these numbers: 422 4174 (Home Line) and 2315180 (Kukuk's Hotline) and you may call or text this mobile: 09174959177. You're assured high standard of professionalism right at Ralph's Needle point!