05/30/2026
I think a lot of people misunderstood my last post, so I want to clear a few things up.
I do not want to close my business. I do not want to quit tattooing. Tattooing has been my life for the last 15 years, and if I had it my way, I would stay right where I am and continue doing it for the rest of my career. The point of my post was simply to let people know that if business continues to decline, my shop may not remain open in its current form. This isn’t about whether I can afford to keep the lights on. I could continue funding the shop. The issue is that if a business consistently declines and doesn’t meet the goals it needs to, eventually you have to make difficult decisions.
I’ve considered downsizing into a private studio. I’ve considered relocating and starting fresh somewhere people don’t already have opinions about me based on rumors they’ve heard from local shops and “tattooers”. None of those are things I want to do, but they are things I’ve had to think about. At the end of the day, I am not the one who decides whether this business stays open. You do. Every customer who chooses to support me, recommend me, or trust me with their tattoo plays a role in whether this shop continues. I’ve never run my business like a corporation. When you come to my shop, you’re not a number. You’re not rushed through a revolving door while being over-charged. I take the time to get to know people. Many of my customers have become genuine friends over the years. I want people to feel comfortable, have a good experience, and leave with artwork they’ll proudly wear for the rest of their lives. I don’t hide behind a receptionist. I don’t have employees making money for me. I don’t sell merchandise, jewelry, or offer piercings. My business is funded entirely by tattooing not many shops out there can survive the way I have for almost 10 years. It’s been built almost completely through word of mouth and the quality of my work.
Most importantly, I want everyone to know that if my shop ever did close, I am not disappearing. Anyone with unfinished work will be taken care of. Any gift certificate I’ve ever sold will still be honored. My gift certificates don’t expire because they’re attached to me, not a building. I’m not posting this for sympathy. I’m posting it because I believe people deserve honesty and a heads up. I hope I’m still here tattooing for many years to come, but I wanted everyone to understand what I was actually trying to say.
-Pat
