Steady business started with E 1 800
This will read like a business fairytale, characterised by a few losses but major and steady gains along the way.
Tattoos. They have developed from many different cultures into what we all know today. They are used by generations to sculpt identities, experiences, and originality, transforming the body into a work of art, and telling a person’s story without a single spoken word.
A young man in the country Trevor Martin started his tattoo business with a mere E18 00 and years later he has a story to tell. He has helped explore how the popularity and cultural acceptance of tattoos caused a “boom” in the Tattoo Economy.
But what is it exactly that makes the billion-dollar tattoo industry that we all know and love work? The tattoo industry is larger and more lucrative than it has ever been even in Eswatini.
“Let me take you back, falling in love with art, especially tattoos, was way back in 2017. In every movie I watched back there, my favourite characters were people who had tattoos, I did not have much cash to start this tattooing business, yet I was lucky enough to know a guy by the name of Blaine from Manzini, I approached him with cash around E1 800 to get a secondhand tattoo kit,” shared Trevor.
He started his tattooing practice in 2018 still wet behind the ears and afraid to approach people as canvas for their skin instead he used his skin as a practising sheet and used oranges to practise on.
When things were looking up, he spent about E2 500 to gather everything he would need for tattooing (inks, needless, drawing books, carbon paper and more)
Practising
“As I kept practising a lot on my body, I then got to improve my skills in the industry of tattooing which made me make much money and not regretting the step I took in my small investment,” he added.
Business is not without hiccups and failures, Martin faced a few too, he shared that being a tattoo artist was not and still is not a joke when it comes to this country.
For him it became hard, when there was little to no support at all and lack and motivation from people, especially from those with no inks.
“There was a time I almost gave up tattooing due to the lack of tattoo equipment in our country and by then, I had learnt that I cannot do this without having the love of art, love of ink and being Hamble to the society without pride,” he mentioned.
Entrepreneurship according to Martin requires a lot of faith and networking. This helped him a lot and thanks to social media.
This is where he found his family (tattoo artists) around Eswatini; Smurf inks, MaxMillion, killos and Tattoo Sharks and then they all worked as a team (collaboration).
“We contact each other, share clients amongst ourselves, and share new tips for us to improve as we all must keep practising being a good tattoo artist. However, now is much easier for me in the country as the number of people showing interest in tattoos is extremely increasing and they are supportive,” said Martin.
Within the past two decades, the tattoo industry has exploded. Body art was once exclusive to underground and fringe crowds. However, now that mainstream popular culture embraces tattooing as an art form, the market continues to grow.
Celebrities from all over the entertainment industry are known for their tattoos. From music industry stars like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus to Hollywood actors like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, tattoos are made famous by the celebs that wear them.
Acceptance
The fine art world has shown an acceptance of tattoos. Photographs of tattoos and fine artwork from tattoo artists are displayed at museums across the globe. Tattooing is the latest form of “outsider art” to rock the world of fine art.
What keeps this young man going is of course the money he makes which ranges from E700 to E3000 depending on the art being tattooed and the improvement he sees in himself.
However, he says his profit varies as he is still in the growing process in this game, but with the little profit he gets he intends to open a car wash and a poultry house very soon.
Martin intends to eradicate unemployment and he looks forward to getting his own tattooing store around town because for now he is mobile and does house calls or uses his house as a studio.