Today, we’d like to introduce you to Grant Loveless.
Hi Grant, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started thirty-two years ago when I got my first tattoo. I have been getting tattooed ever since. I do not tattoo, but I was always hanging out with artists and shop owners. We always talked about how cool it would be to own a shop one day. So, thirteen years ago, I had the opportunity to open my first shop with a few artist friends. I ran the shop for five years before splitting ways.
I had a different vision of what I wanted for my shop. I wanted to grow with multiple shops, have tattoo conventions, and do other things. The Marked Society has been open for over seven years in McDonough, Georgia. The Marked Society II has been open for over five years in Locust Grove, Georgia. The Marked Society III is our newest venture that has been open since August of 2023 in Fayetteville, Georgia.
In 2019, we hosted our first convention, Pit Row Expo at Atlanta Motor Speedway. We were able to have Pit Row Expo again in 2022. We determined that there was not enough walk-up traffic in order to continue. We were approached in 2023 by Days of The Dead to host a tattoo convention along with the horror convention. We were very successful with this event and we are planning more for future dates.
Alright, 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?
It has never been a smooth road. If it was, then everyone would have a tattoo shop. The biggest struggles have been recently with the change in Georgia laws for tattooing and piercing. Most tattoo shops have verbal or understood policies, the new laws want everything written. Along with the datasheets for all of the inks and manufacture cleaning instructions for the machines. We are working with the health department to stay up to date, but it is a lot for shops.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Marked Society. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a very clean, upscale, and drug/alcohol-free business. We specialize in tattoos and piercings. We have plenty of artists that can do any style requested. Around 85% of our clientele is women. We pride ourselves on making them feel comfortable while in our shops. Also are proud of our great reviews. Google has sent us an award for Best Reviewed Tattoo Shop for shops one and two. This happened before shop three was opened.
One of the things we hear from the client, we listen to them and suggest the artist that will give them the best tattoo. Some other shops are not very friendly to the clientele and don’t listen to their request. We also want to change the way that people look at tattoo shops. We also stay involved in the community.
We help sponsor events, enter the scarecrow contests in the fall, and fill Millie’s Pantry on the square with food for people in need. We have had fundraiser events for Atlanta Redemption Ink (ARI) and a police benefit just to name a few. Our crew would volunteer their time and supplies to make sure funds were raised for the cause. We are super friendly, listen to clients, want to provide the best service possible, and make it an experience.
Any big plans?
We are currently looking at attending different conventions throughout the year to make new connections and bring artists into our area as guests in our shops. Our artists are always looking to learn. If they can learn one thing from each artist, then we have achieved the goal. We are planning on continuing working with Days of the Dead. Possibly having the convention in other cities. Be on the lookout for future announcements.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themarkedsociety.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkedsociety?igsh=MTMyOTI5M2lwOXd6ZA%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themarkedsociety?mibextid=ZbWKwL
