As with everything in life competition exists within the Tattoo Industry. This competition increases even more when a shop is located in a heavily populated city where other shops are located. Chicago for example has well over a hundred shops both in the city and in it's suburbs. Rockford is Illinois third biggest city and it also has plenty of shops competing for the consumers dollar. That competition among artist can be very competitive to outrageous, this past week I had to let an artist go because of the competition took a turn for the worse.
This artist was good, but he let his personal life and jealousy for a co-worker drive him to the point where his whole attitude effected his job. Competition is great for the industry but at the same time we as artist have to keep it within reason. I can see a friendly kind of goofing around or giving someone shit about how they do things. But when that friendly goofing around turns into jealous outburst then it's time to nip it in the butt.
Every one in the industry needs to keep that in mind because the industry has come to far to go backwards because of something one shop does against another.Tattooing has become main stream and in order to succeed in the industry an artist must get out there and promote themselves to the public. I ponder something that someone told me this week about how they talked the shop up more then they should've. That statement made no sense to me because isn't it the artist who wants to make money? In order for the artist to grow their business they have to get out there and promote the business.
The last couple of posts have dealt with what kind of stuff can go on in a shop and what to expect if your thinking about opening one on your own one day. The biggest thing about opening a tattoo shop everyone has to realize the amount of competition out there and how to deal with it. Do you have the network marketing skills to promote your self? Do you know the mediums that your target base is going to be? Does your business plan deal with your competition? All very needed questions that warrant an answer.
Opening up a shop isn't about going and getting flash or tattooing. It's a business with lots of ups and downs. In order to prepare for these ups and downs one must get experience in the field first. If your not with a shop who is currently strong in the marketplace then you will have a hard time learning what to expect in this industry. On a day to day basis the following factors apply to running a shop.
1. Competition and how to respond to attack ads or ill will
2. How to bring the customers in so the shop and your artist make money.
3. Current Economic situation and how to adjust to it.
4. Promoting the business within the shops means and getting a return on investment
5. How to keep a good shop atmosphere for the employees and customers.
Not to mention how to pay the rent and bills the shop is responsible for. Many artist have trouble with the shops out there charging a 50 percent commission on a tattoo. Well the shop is responsible for all the rent, utility bills, up keep on the building, advertising which cuts out a big percentage of the pie. After these factors the shop is lucky to break even on what it splits with an artist. Thats why you see most shop owners also tattooing because thats actually their profit for the month.
Lets remember this when you want to open your own shop. Is it better to just work for a shop because your not responsible for any of the bills except for promoting yourself. Or do you want to dive into the owner aspect and hope to turn a profit?
Twilight Dreamz Tattoo and Rockstars Full Service Hair Salon at 404 Gardner South Beloit Illinois. 815-389 -1900
I think a lot of people let their ego get in the way of logical thought. I know when I was in my 20's it was the absolute truth. After working at a company for 3 years, I felt entitled to a larger raise than what I got, and let it affect me to the point that I had to leave the company. Looking back at it now, I see the things that I didn't do, or should have done differently, or should have done something, period. I recognize missed opportunities (and there are a lot of them). Frankly, I didn't deserve even the raise I got, but couldn't see the bigger picture from my perspective.
ReplyDeleteAs a small business owner, I am obsessed with the overhead I have to carry. The bottom line is something I watch like a hawk. I work 4.5 days a week to cover the essentials - and the extra work I put in from there is profit.
I bill out at $50/ hour for the repair work I do, so to the blind eye, I should be living like a king. But scratch the surface, and you find a van payment each month, fuel, maintenance, supplies, tools, liability insurance, advertising costs, fax machine costs, printer cartridges, paper, pencils, internet charges, cell phone bill, electricity, heat the shop, order parts, pay a ridiculous amount to accept credit cards, and even more. Profit disappears quickly if you're not careful - and sometimes it doesn't come at all.
A 50/50 split is perfectly reasonable, and is the accepted norm in the industry. If you don't like it, save up your money because your costs to launch that storefront are going to be double or triple what you're expecting.
You'll soon realize that the money you make provides more blessings in it than just the cash value. Through saving the money you'll see a clearer picture of the costs involved just to operate a storefront. As a working artist, you are and should feel blessed that you get to practice your craft, gain valuable experience, and learn some life lessons on the way to owning your own shop, and life in general.
.............and then, everyone eventually learns that it's not how much money you MAKE, it's how much you SPEND that determines your wealth...probably another blog, though ;)
I think anyone starting out in any business should start by working for others. It gives you the experience you need to learn the business. As artists it gives us more time to be just that...artists. Perfect your craft first then worry about all the business behind it and learn from the people around you. As far as competition, the best thing to do is stay positive and make yourself and your shop look the best. Trashing other artists or other shops is only going to make you look bad. Be the best you can be and promote your ass off and the people will learn who to come to.
ReplyDeleteI want to own my own shope eventually. I know it takes a lot of work. But I think it'd be worth it. Also, with competition, you have to realize other shops now a days are less civil and think all rights are theirs.They think if they have a big shop with a lot of artists that they run the place which isn't true. Shops have to watch out for other shops and if they feel the need to threaten you then they obviously feel threatened by you. When I have my shop in the future, I will act civil. Also you gotta look at the demographics of where you want to open a shop. You have to know the poverty rate, racial make up, surrounding businesses and even the competition of other shops.
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