Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry and Heather Brown.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Back in high school, I was not goal oriented. I was more interested in partying and enjoying my youth. At the age of 24, I had two daughters, worked 40 hours a week at a company called ChoicePoint, verifying criminal background records for employment services. I worked with this company for almost ten years. Just getting by and making ends meet. I probably would have never left, but this business closed our building in Duluth, which laid me off. I worked for the City of Sugar Hill for two years after that. Realizing that the 9-5 desk job wasn’t going to make me happy.
I left there and found a tattoo shop where I could be myself. I instantly learned to pierce, which from the age of 18, I always had multiple piercings, colored hair, and tattoos. I found an industry I could be myself and embrace my inner artist as well. Working there for a year, I met my husband. Instantly fell in love, and we welcomed our son just two years later. Neither of us was happily working for other shops. We felt like we were working in tattoo sweatshops. Just taking whatever came in the door. Working very late hours and not getting paid what we were promised. After going through a very rough experience with a local shop, we opened our own shop, together. We had the help of friends and family doing the build out. In January 2017, we opened for business. It was a small 800 sq. ft. shop, but it was just the start and it was ours. We had business hours that made sense for tattoo artists with families. In 2018, I took a 6-month course to learn Microblading because I wanted to introduce cosmetic tattooing into the tattoo industry and I wanted to do more than just body piercing. After two years, we outgrew our tiny little shop. We went from three tattoo artists, and myself as the piercer to five absolutely incredible tattoo artists, a professional body piercer and myself as the microblading artist, including an Art Gallery with art from local artists in the Atlanta area. We upgraded our shop to a better location and with 1400 sq. ft. to better serve our artists & clientele. The drive to be a better woman, for myself, my husband, my children and for all women is more now than I’ve ever known before. I’ve awakened. Being an entrepreneur has given me the drive and determination that I’ve never had before. I want more! I want to continue growing and learning and being the best I can be. I want to leave behind a legacy for my children and grandchildren. I want them to look back and remember how hard I worked. My goal is to make people feel good about themselves, to make people feel incredible, bring spark and self-confidence. I want to give people a place they can go to and see Art, get art, get pampered, feel beautiful, feel welcomed and feel at home.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Running a business, of course, has its ups and downs. Good months and bad months. It has not been easy by any means, but the fact that my husband and I make a really good team, is what keeps us humbled, We can tackle any problem, together. When we relocated our tattoo shop, we had 10 leases. We were denied most of the time because the other tenants didn’t want a tattoo shop near their family business. Even though we had regular business hours and our shop was family oriented too. City permitting and county ordinances definitely didn’t make it easier either. Needless to say, we are located in the bible belt and a tattoo shop is closely compared to the adult industry. We looked at over 40 different locations and seven different cities. No one wanted a tattoo shop in their city. We looked for ten months. We looked every single day and we didn’t give up. We only had two more months on our old lease before we found our new location. Then, we couldn’t find a contractor that could just put a wall up for us. After three contractors, we just decided to not put up a wall and put up curtains instead. Separating the lobby from the tattoo work area. One day soon, we will be building out the shop again to better suit everyone’s needs. For now, we are all enjoying the décor and beauty of the shop.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Once in a Blue Moon Tattoo – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
We are a custom tattoo shop, including an art gallery. Our tattoo artists all have their own styles and are very talented in the area of art and tattooing. Everything we do is custom designed for every individual client. Tailored towards what the client is wanting, thrown in with some artistic ideas and styles from our artists. Custom just for the client so no one is walking around with the same tattoo. The tattoo is designed just for them. Our art gallery is also full of different mediums and artists. We love art, we love all kinds of art and we love artists. We love that people can be celebrated for being themselves and we really enjoy seeing what art looks like through many different eyes.
I am proud of the team we have! Everyone is very friendly, good with people and welcoming. I love how our team is honest and loyal, family oriented, goal oriented and more importantly outrageously talented!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Microblading also helped me because inspired to learn more about the skin. So, I became a student at Virtual Beauty and Esthetics in March 2019. I will be graduating in October and as soon as I become a licensed Esthetician, I will open up a second business; a Spa. I plan on training under permanent cosmetic tattoo artists to become certified in the area of lip tattooing, eyeliner tattooing, areola tattooing, freckle tattooing as well as many different microblading styles. My spa, that I’ve already bought the rights too, will be all holistic and all natural. Giving a woman the control to choose their own ingredients for their services being offered. Pink Moon Spa, LLC coming soon! I want to make women feel like the goddess they are and I want men to know that essential oils and natural ingredients can also change their lives as well. I want to open up more businesses and help even more people feel good about themselves and give them a place to feel welcomed and celebrated.
Pricing:
- Piercing ranges from $50 on up. We pierce with sterile tools, and we only use the top of the line, high-grade titanium jewelry.
- Our tattoo artists charge anywhere from $125/hr-$150/hr
- Microblading runs from $350-$450 including 1 free 6-week touch-up service
Contact Info:
- Address: 3616 Atlanta Hwy
Suite 700
Flowery Branch, GA 30542 - Website: onceinabluemoontattoo.com
- Phone: 678-828-7998
- Email: onceinabluemoontattoo@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Brad Mitchell
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