01/02/2026
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🖤
I’m beyond proud to share that I am officially the new owner of Whaling City Tattoo Company.
2025 — a year we did a lot of growing.
Not metaphorically. I mean literally.
A baby, a business, our first home, and somehow 434 tattoos. 😅🖤
This year I packed up my life in Miami and moved back to my hometown of New Bedford — and you all showed up for me in ways I’ll never forget. You filled my books, trusted me with your skin, and welcomed me home like I never left.
In between diapers, stencil paper, and late nights, I:
• Tattooed 434 people (still processing that)
• Did more Portuguese-inspired tattoos than ever — azulejos, roosters, sardines & saudade 🇵🇹
• Became a mom and worked my way toward ownership
• Bought our first house (!!)
• Spent 2025 building, learning, and grinding for what was next
2026 — I’m stepping into ownership.
I’m officially the new owner of Whaling City Tattoo Company, and I don’t take that lightly. Hard work pays off.
Huge thank you to Heather and Tim for trusting me, supporting this transition, and helping make this next chapter possible. I’m beyond grateful and excited to carry this shop forward with so much respect for what you built.
Thank you for supporting a woman-owned, mama owned tattoo shop and letting me grow right alongside you.
The mothers that came through and supported my art as well- I see you 🖤
More color. More fineline realism. WAY more Portuguese tattoos.
More storytelling on skin. More community. More heart.
Obrigada sempre— Julia Harley 🖤
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