Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Jones.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with the world of body art and tattoo studios. The stigma in main stream society surrounding body art made the allure even more appealing. My husband and business partner had a background in the arts, studying both art and architecture in high school and college. We dreamed of one day having a studio of our own, where he would spend his days tattooing, and I would spend mine interacting with the fascinating clients that would walk thru our doors. An apprenticeship was never a viable option as we both needed steady incomes to support our family and provide for our two kids. Instead, my husband would draw upon his artistic background and along with a steadfast determination, would teach himself the art of tattooing. Several years into his tattooing journey, the kids would graduate and leave home, opening up the opportunity for us to realize our dream of opening a tattoo studio of our own. In 2021, we founded Old Souls Ink, a shop rooted both in our faith and our dreams. We opened our studio doors for business with a single artist, my husband. We prayed others would see our potential and join our team. We prayed clients would have the faith in us and the confidence to sit in our chairs. Within months, artists began to take notice and join our team. As artists came on board, more and more clients would visit our studio, both curious and excited to embark on their body art adventures. In the first year of business, we inked and pierced over 3000 people. These people would become like family to us. They became witness to our faith our perseverance. One client at a time, we were breaking down the societal stigmas in our conservative community. As we now approach our 2 year anniversary, we have 6 artists, a piercer, and over 6,000 clients. Our dreams our prayers have come to fruition. Our studio is a place we call home, a place that welcomes all people, a place where faith in God is first and foremost. We are beyond grateful for what the good Lord has provided, and we are so blessed to share that gratitude with our amazing community; we look forward to what the future holds as we wake up every day living our dream.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The tattoo industry is a sacred sector, full of old-school artists and studio owners, mostly outcasts and rebels from mainstream society. Apprenticeships are a must, where dues are paid, and the art is slowly passed down from the old age to the new age. Artists slowly learn the art of tattooing and spend years practicing their skills. Studio owners are artists who’ve truly honed their craft, the only ones that have any real respect in the industry. Those owners operate studios adorned with walls of flash and rows of chairs. The ambiance is loud and intimidating, and artists are arrogant. They are, after all, the experts of their trade. The barriers to entry into the business are stacked high, with years of old-school traditions and expectations. Artists that are self-taught are ostracized in the business, as lepers in society. A self-taught artist wouldn’t dare open his own studio, and certainly not with just a few years of experience. My husband and I are those lepers, full of stubborn tenacity, slowly breaking down those barriers. We endure ridicule and judgment, how dare we buck the age-old system and open a shop of our own, with little to no experience. How dare we operate on our faith and our acceptance of all people. It’s a challenge we deal with daily and work to overcome. We work to demolish not only societal stigmas surrounding the art but the age-old traditions in the industry. We rely on the good Lord to direct us, we treat people as family. We have a studio that is relaxing and inviting, a place to gather and celebrate the art of tattooing and piercing. We are active members in our community, always working to help make it a better place for all. We consistently donate half our profits to the community and to those in need of a hand-up in life. While others are still snubbing their nose at our audacity, we are showing up and showing the community a different side to the industry. We’re breaking down walls every day, earning the respect of the clients we call family. We’re lone wolfs in an outdated, archaic, industry, always working to make the world better for those around us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My husband and I work as a team, always striving to better ourselves and the business we operate. We’re surrounded with a team of not only amazing artists but amazing people. He spends his days consulting with clients, designing and tattooing custom pieces. He’s constantly watching and learning from the tenured artists, always looking to improve his art. I spend my days managing the studio and interacting with clients that walk through our doors. I love to engage each client, as I can’t help but be eager to hear the story behind the tattoo. I consistently look for opportunities to improve the business and the experience for each client. We love to be out in the community, as we’re always looking for ways to support our small town. We rely on our faith as a beacon that guides us in all that we do. We show up every day excited for what is to come, and each day give gratitude for all that the good Lord has provided.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
To be successful in the industry, one must have tenacity and fortitude. The business is certainly not for the faint of heart. A tattoo artist is more than just an artist. One must have the obvious artistic skill but must also have a heart for people. A good artist will listen to and interact with his clients. The interaction must be a genuine and memorable one so that the client is motivated to return. Shops are a dime a dozen, each artist must stand out to the client in order to not only capture their business, but their hearts. A shop owner/manager must not only be business-minded but forward looking, always seeking out ways to build and improve upon the business. The owner/manager must have a grasp on social media and an understanding that social media is the way of the future. A background in business and marketing is huge, as the owner is always looking ahead at ways to attract new clients and opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.OldSoulsInk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Oldsoulsink
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldsoulsinktattoos
Image Credits
JB Photography
Stephanie Jones
