Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Crawford.
Brandon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Deep Ellum. However, I grew up all around the metroplex. East Dallas has always felt like home for me. So it was not a hard decision to decided on where to open my tattoo shop. I always knew that I wanted to own my own business. someone once said, “you will never make any money working for someone else.”
However it has been a hard road getting here. opening a bussiness is the hardest, most rewarding, and educating experience I have ever had. I started saving my money about 6 years ago working as a fleet manager at recycle revolution in deep ellum. I had saved about 5k my first year after deciding this is what I wanted to do. However 5k was not enough so I acquired my electricians license and went to work in construction so I could make more money.
After 3 years of saving I had about 50k. It took 5 years to save about 100k so that I could comfortably open this shop… (I ended up spending most of that on building a completely unique and amazing shop full of surprises and old world architecture. I rented and old run down building on the end of its life in the heart of east Dallas and gave it a second chance.) During this time though I was also going to school working towards my associates in science. I knew I needed a plan B and education I decided was going to have to come along with my dream of owning my own shop.
Currently I am an electrical enginerring major at the univeristy of texas at Dallas this is my jr, year. It is a very hard balanceing act that I have to play every day. I live two diffrent lives. However I live them successfully everyday. I choose to live now how most people wont. So that i can live tomorrow how most people cant. I have sacrificed so much to make this dream come true. Every day I wake up and I tell my self the dream will come true the future will be rich, Then I thank god for all i have been givin.
Has it been a smooth road?
This journey has been far from smooth. I’ve had roof leaks, exploding water heaters, sewage line bursts, and ac failures. I had to replaced a whole crew in the first year. That turned violent fast. I had an attempted burglary that left the shop in a complete mess with all the new windows destroyed and the front door bashed in. luckily our security measures held and kept the store insides safe. Things have smoothed out a lot since then.
I have been blessed with an amazing new crew of young artist that are driven and passionate about expanding and growing their art. They believe in me. They trust my big dreams and crazy new ideas for taking us all to the next level. Every day we grow more now and we learn more and more. I couldn’t be happier..
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Franklin’s Tattoo and supply story. Tell us more about the business.
Franklin’s tattoo and supply is an east Dallas tattoo street shop with a 5 man/women crew. With me as a couch. Also, at Franklin’s, we sell high-end professional tattoo supplies to the elite tattoo artist in the city. I carry the best quality of tattoo supplies at the best possible price to professional licensed tattoo artist only; ensuring that only qualified tattoo artist are able to tattoo with our equipment preserving the quality of the tattoo industry in Dallas. However, it does not end there.
Franklins is also an outdoor music venue with a 24ft X 16ft lighted stage and over 2500 sq ft of open space with access for food trucks to service our events. I am taking the tattoo shop to the next level with sponsorships from I heart media, gas monkey live, and 97.1 the eagle. This allows me to bring tattoo culture to a more mainstream audience allowing franklins to grow at a rapid rate far faster than any other new shop in Dallas.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The Tattoo industry is becoming more mainstream. Tattoos are the norm now. So the future looks full of growth and opportunity
Pricing:
- $60 min
- $100 palm size roses every Thursday
- $150 hr min
Contact Info:
- Address: 4904 Columbia Ave Dallas Texas 75214
- Website: www.franklinstattooandsupply.net
- Phone: 469-904-2665
- Email: franklinstattoodallas@gmail.com
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