Today we’d like to introduce you to Tami Martina.
Tami, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was always into the art of all kinds, but the one thing that I always was the most interested in and impressed by was body art. From theater makeup to tattoos and everything in between. Body art is my true passion. My interest and curiosity are what spurred my pursuit of learning about, and in turn, learning to create makeup effects and open my tattoo studio Mr. Inkwells Classy Tattoos.
Building a business from something you love and are truly passionate about is great, and I feel that love shines through at the studio Mr. Inkwells.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think any business owner has their ups and downs but that is what is exciting about owning a business. I feel your biggest accomplishments come from your struggles along the way if you learn from them and know how to turn them into opportunities. Ups and downs go hand in hand, it’s just the way you deal with them and learn.
Please tell us about Mr.Inkwells Classy tattoos.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Martina.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tyler. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. I have always been into tattoos. Tattoos are an amazing form of art that has been around for thousands of years and have been helping people express themselves in a very cool way. Although tattoos have been around forever they have just recently become an accepted part of our cultural identity. Although they are becoming more mainstream one thing has remained the same… the “Tattoo Shop”.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are some great tattoo shops out there, however, there are many that are unfriendly, not upfront with the pricing, you don’t know the quality of the tools or inks, and they seem maybe a little dirty. These tattoo shops are stuck in the past and have not progressed to meet the needs of clients as tattoos have gained popularity and the client base has changed.
So, one day I am in the car on my way to get some new ink. This trip to get more ink is going to take 7 hours round trip… why so long you may ask? Because, I wanted to get my tattoo at a shop I trusted, and it so happened that the only place I knew I could trust was a 7-hour round trip away.
That’s when It clicked, I said to myself “This is ridiculous!” There has to be a better way, a way that I can you to a tattoo parlor and know that it is going be a good experience, upfront pricing, clean place, good quality inks, and of course great artists.
Light bulb moment. That’s when I decided that if a place like that didn’t exist I would create one… And that is when Mr. Inkwells Classy Tattoos and the Mr. Inkwells Guarantee was born.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road isn’t always easy when trying to create something new and different. This was especially true in the case of Mr. Inkwells.
“Tattoo shops” have always got a bad rap, and a lot of the tattoo shops out there have been living up to those expectations. This means that cities, shopping malls, and just about everywhere you want a business need a lot of convincing, persuading, and of course money to take a chance on a new kind of tattoo shop.
Next, you need to find great artists that want to be a part of the revolution. Luckily there are amazing artists in southern California who know that creating a place that customers will love will help them share more of their incredible art to the world.
Then just like Field of Dreams, you build it, however unlike the movie they don’t instinctively come. That brings us to the struggle that never ends… Marketing. Let the public know who you are, what you do, where you do it, and most importantly why they should use you. That is the journey of any creator, the struggles are what make quest worth it, The trials make life fun. You must love the process, if not then you should probably be doing something else.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mr. Inkwells Classy Tattoos story. Tell us more about the business. Mr. Inkwells Classy Tattoos is designed to be your one-stop shop for Tattoos. We make the normally difficult process of getting a tattoo Easy and Enjoyable.
To help make your decision easy we have the Mr. Inkwells Guarantee which includes:
-Upfront Pricing
-Top Quality All Natural Inks
-Clean and Classy Shops
-World Class Artists
We are known for great tattoos and of course a great experience. And we don’t leave you after you get your tattoo, no, we help you keep that tattoo looking great by providing with aftercare processes products.
The thing that makes me the most proud of Mr. Inkwells is how happy our clients are. I love seeing the smiles and hearing them talk about how great the experience was. Then seeing those clients bring in their friends and family.
I think the main reason why we see this success is our team and the environment we have built. Like in the days of great artists like Da Vinci we have created an artists workshop, a place where everyone works together to create great art for our customers. Living art that people can use to truly express themselves. And I think that is something very special.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memories from childhood would be when I was creating art. Whether it was drawing or just putting things together in a creative way. I personally don’t tattoo but I love being around artists and seeing the art they create. I have a true appreciation for art and love all different mediums.
Pricing:
- Small Flash $99
- Medium Flash $199
- Large Flash $259
- Custom ( Hourly) $149
Contact Info:
- Address: 10901 Los Alamitos Blvd. Los Alamitos, Ca 90720
- Website: www.mrinkwells.com
- Phone: 562-446-3656
- Email: www.mrinkwells.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.inkwells/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrinkwells
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrInkwells
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-inkwells-classy-tattoos-los-alamitos-2
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/mrinkwells/pins/
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
