There’s a reason we’re Skin Design Tattoos — not Robert Pho Tattoos.

This company is about more than just one person, one artist’s ego. We’re a brand that represents a commitment to the growth of the industry as a whole. That’s why we’ve been so successful. It’s the dedication of each SDT artist — their story, their art, their families, that builds up Skin Design’s legacy.

We’re a family.

Skin Design culture is what defines that.

I know that Skin Design is bigger than just me. I’m so grateful for every artist that’s a part of our clan, from New York to Las Vegas, for their part in this empire that we’ve built together. They’re the reason. They’re the backbone of who we are.

And I won’t forget that. I can’t.

I’ll never stop promoting SDT artists. I’ll never stop trying to give back to this industry, mentoring upcoming artists, and pushing boundaries — redefining industry norms.

Because that’s what makes our industry so powerful. Constant evolution. That’s what’s gotten us to this point — where our art went from stigmatized to mainstream.

As our artform grows in popularity, why wouldn’t we want to make it more affordable, more accessible to anyone who wants to be a part of our community?

Why wouldn’t we want to share it with as many people as possible, to give more people the means to express themselves, to transform themselves through ink?

I’ll keep pushing, not just for me, and not just for Skin Design. For my daughters, now emerging as artists of their own. For their generation. For their children to inherit someday.

Because it’s not just about me. I’m just a part of something bigger. It’s about creating an empire that outlives me. Outlives all of this. Every step, every decision we make as a brand, is made with that in mind.

Partnering with Klarna and Affirm might be controversial to a lot of artists, but it’s no different.

Supporting the SDT Team

Skin Design is made up of so many team members - artists, apprentices, front desk, booking managers, and management - from all across the United States. They all have their own lives, their own families to feed.

As a business owner, it’s my job to make sure they have everything they need to succeed. I have to give them the tools to connect with as many clients as possible.

But I have to consider more than just the artists. We also have an out-of-studio team we created to support them, freeing up their schedules for more direct face-to-face client communication.

Without a designated team to handle some of the back-end communication, to free up our artists to do what they do best — create art and connect with clients — we’d be backed up by details.

They give a lot of balance to what we do. We have employees from all over the world working together for the growth of our company.

We’re all responsible for a lot behind the scenes — even outside of the studio. We look out for each other. We take care of our own. We’re always looking to help each other elevate as a business and in life.

That’s what makes us so strong.

As the founder of Skin Design, it can be challenging — managing so many different personalities, obligations, perspectives. I have to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, that everyone feels valued and respected within the company.

But that’s the price of being an entrepreneur. Nothing good comes easy — and we’re still on that path to growth, toward new levels of success. We never settle. Even if the choices we make as a brand are controversial, we do them with the intent of uplifting the whole SDT team.

Challenging the Tattoo Industry Status Quo

Offering financing has been one of the more controversial decisions we’ve made to date.

It’s taboo to our industry.

Traditionally, artists and their shops have flown under the radar. We’ve had so many team members come to us needing support paying back taxes or getting their finances in order because of this. I’ve been there myself.

This motivates the direction we’re moving in as a brand. We want to rise above what used to keep us down.

Staying stagnant is not what makes our industry sustainable. We have to continue to fight to legitimize our work. To make people take us seriously. To keep our industry culture strong while also giving it room to grow.

I think about piercings, how they were so polarizing for artists not too long ago.

Anesthesia with tattooing has raised a lot of eyebrows within the industry, but now it’s picking up a lot of traction. We even have an upcoming, 6 artist anesthesia SDT collab later this month, something I can’t wait for my daughter and the team to be a part of.

Even numbing cream — more “old school” artists still frown upon this today.

So many things that were once highly debated within the industry are becoming the norm.

At Skin Design, we’re always trying to stay ahead of these curves. We see value in blending more traditional methods with more innovative practices. It’s what gives us that edge.

We can’t afford to get left behind — and I’m not just talking about money. We’ve got to continue to evolve to keep our SDT name strong.

This economy is brutal. After Covid, people are so hesitant to spend money the way that they used to, especially on “luxury” purchases like tattoos. I get that. Everyone’s feeling it.

But I also know how, to so many people, tattoos aren’t just a luxury.

I think about all the memorial tattoos I’ve done, how they’ve helped grieving parents hold onto the children they’ve lost. How they’ve given widows the chance to keep their late spouses close to their heart.

I think about all the people who’ve come to me for more than just an art piece, but for an informal therapy session. How they’ve cried to me about the challenges in their lives, how I’ve listened, shared a piece of my story, and inspired change within theirs.

How I’ve had clients literally change my life with a single conversation.

I think about all the people who’ve felt uncomfortable in their own body, like their skin was foreign to them — and how body art has helped transform their self image.

What we do is so important. It’s so much more than skin deep.

I want to make sure — not just for the artists that are a part of the SDT team, but for the clients we serve — that our art is accessible. That no one has to decide between paying their rent and immortalizing the art that means so much to them.

It’s why we’re so willing to adapt to the changes in our industry. Because it’s not just about any one person. We have to uplift the industry as a whole, and every individual within it.

A New Era for the Tattoo Industry

When we first started providing financing, it was something that hadn’t been done before. Another uncharted path SDT took as a family.

When we met with Klarna and Affirm, they were so impressed with our numbers — something I take a step back and thank the team for accomplishing.

After proving ourselves with good business and good standing, they raised our credit limit from $17.5k to $20k in just a year, meaning clients have the opportunity for more intensive body pieces.

This isn’t easy with huge, reputable companies like that. It makes me so proud of the SDT family, how far we’ve come.

Now, we’re seeing more studios offering opportunities for financing. It makes us so happy to see. To think that we had even a small part in leading a change within our industry. To see that other shops are adapting to the shifting demands of our economy.

To know that more people are excited to be a part of the tattoo community, even when times are hard. It’s so humbling.

I’m grateful to be a part of it - a part of a community that’s accomplished so much, even with the odds against us.

And I know that this is just the start.

Everyone who prays for our downfall, everyone who’s opposed to change — they just make us stronger. They motivate us more. Reaffirm our purpose.

To keep giving back to the industry (an industry that’s given me a second chance at life), improving the lives of our SDT family, connecting with clients, and creating art.

That’s the legacy we’re leaving at SDT.

Thank you to everyone who’s a part of it. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve next, together.

Let’s gooooooo!