3 minute read
Emerging Franchise: Reimagining the Tatoo Industry
What do you do when you have been thinking about getting your first tattoo? You open a tattoo shop, of course! At least if you are Maria Joukov of inq Tattoos. Maria and her husband, Peter opened their first storefront last year in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and started franchising in February.
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“Neither of us had a tattoo when we started, so we both got our first one in our own shop,” Maria said. “When we started, we reimagined the idea of tattoo shops and tried to improve on the experience to accommodate the changing demographic of people who are getting tattoos.”
They decided to bring an updated approach to the tattoo industry. inq Tattoos offers online booking, digital design catalogs, an active presence
by Elizabeth Denham
on social media and digital payments. The space is sleek and modern with an emphasis on cleanliness, stringent sterilization requirements and single-use equipment.
“We wanted to provide an experience that was better for both the customer and the artist,” she said. “We have more of a spa-like feel in the physical space. It’s lighter and brighter than a traditional shop. There is a nice waiting area with tea and water where you can look at designs on an iPad.”
Maria said that the type of people getting tattoos has changed over the years, and now more and more business professionals, soccer moms, lawyers and doctors are joining in the trend. They wanted their business to reflect this growing trend.
“We cater to both the experienced and inexperienced,” Maria said. “We do a lot of customer education and talk people through the process. We work to understand what they are looking for and make sure they understand that we use high-quality, vegan inks and focus on hygiene. More importantly, we want them to leave feeling really comfortable and walking around with art they love.”
As far as the artists they have in the shop, the Joukovs recognized there were a lot of ways to improve their professional experience.
“In a typical shop, the artists either rent space or have a revenue split with the owners. They are mostly contract workers,” she said. “We wanted to make it so the artists can focus on what they do best, so inq Tattoo artists are all salaried employees with benefits and stable schedules.”
Maria said their way of supporting the artist eliminates the competition for clients as they have team goals and are free from having to run the business side of things. They also have paid leave and a relaxed work environment.
Both Maria and Peter have experience launching and operating businesses across several different industries. Maria started a government contracting company. Peter, after a stint in the
Navy, has an events company and previously started and ran a private equity fund. Starting inq Tattoos was an exciting next step for them together.
Goals
The Joukovs just started trying to sell units when the pandemic hit. As things open back up, they are focusing on sales in the southeast. The good thing about being an emerging franchise, according to Maria is that you get to be at the forefront of a new trend. They are more accessible to more people and strive to be inqlusive – with a ‘q.’”
“It’s really great to see people’s reaction when they walk into the boutique,” she said. “Even the seasoned pros say that it’s a great experience!”
Ideal Franchisee
• No tattoo experience required
• Trailblazer mindset a must
• Emphasis on customer service
• Interested in community engagement
Community Service
• Sponsors fundraisers for breast cancer through the Pinq Campaign
• Sponsors Arlington Police Officers race for 9/11 memorial
• Sponsors races for the fitness community
• Local raffles, fundraisers for Association of U.S. Army and local Air Force Unit
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Old Town location is temporarily closed. They plan to reopen in June if it is safe to do so. In the meantime, Maria and Peter are available for inquiries and look forward to growing and trailblazing in the tattoo industry! For more information, please visit www. inqtattoos.com/franchising
