The Big Show: Motor City Summer Tattoo Expo!!

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Biggest News, Biggest Show, and the Biggest Smile on My Face!!

I am proud to announce I am officially registered to vend at the First Annual Motor City Tattoo Expo in August this year!!  Keep reading about this journey and how truly excited I am for this opportunity.

When getting accepted to this show, I quite frankly thought it was a long shot to get in. It’s quite possible I cried!

It all started about 6 years ago when I went to my first tattoo convention.  I was traveling around, as a tattoo collector and visiting a few conventions that season.  I remember to going to one in particular thinking, “Man, I want to spend some money on some stuff!”.  Nothing was really available and that thought stayed in the back of my mind.  I wanted things that fit my alternative lifestyle and fulfilled me a little bit, even if I couldn’t afford a tattoo that day.

My second thought was, “What a dream it would be if I could sell at a venue like this”.  People of like minds, appreciation for art, unique items, small business’ and the hustle that goes along with all of those things.  I had that thought hidden in the depths of my mind, and there it stayed for years.

Fast forward seasons later and I am developing my own small business...  Two years ago I moved back to Michigan and I knew it was my time to stop being afraid, have confidence in myself and just hit the ground running with my creative impulses- and I  haven’t stopped since.

I recently just accepted a more demanding 9-5 job, which on the upside has mandatory breaks and a predictable schedule so I am often working on my business during those down times at work.  
I was anxious about taking on this responsibility, what it would mean for my lifestyle and my small business I’m trying to grow.  But I'm really enjoying the structure, the challenge and the new skills I'm learning (eghem, see the awesome flyer I made at the top of this page.)

I heard of the convention when getting tattooed at the show in March from my buddies and thought maybe I could do the March show next year.  Again, just writing it off as a maybe one day option.  

One day I just knew I had to do it and thought, “Why the hell not?!”.  I had no idea what it would cost or the work involved, but I had to just contact them and ask if I could apply.  Even though I knew I’ve never really seen any hand makers at the show vending. About a week later I was accepted and was on a high for a while.  I crunched the numbers, set goals and now have an inventory and booth plan for the next 15 weeks to prepare for the show!!

I have so many exciting things planned, a photo shoot for my line, new Items to offer for the fall (which some still have to be designed- :) and other new shows I’ve been looking at for a while.  

I am challenged with advice that it's too much work. That it may compromise the quality of my life. But I say fuck that. I can do it, I can do anything I put my mind to so in free time I'm reading books like "Girl Boss" where I'm continually inspired and encouraged. I can take this task on, and you know what? I'm shooting to succeed!

This is my opportunity to create what I visualize my business to become. I am determined to not let anything hold me back, but enjoy the ride and have fun doing it! It's 3 day long show with a new booth set up, better advertising, product development, give-aways, and a site redesign. My two hands have their fingers crossed so hard it hurts.  

Reality is I may not sell a damn thing, or close to it.  But this is a dream, an opportunity and something I am so proud of just for having the courage to try.  I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope I have the time, energy and focus to post the process- the good and the bad.

If you are reading this, I appreciate it as this is such an amazingly huge step for me.  I am pulling out of a retail space I haven’t been fond of and after all the mental work and planning for my business the beginning of this year, I’m in awe of how this fits right into my plan,  It’s the most work I’ve had to take on, four times more expensive to get into any show I’ve done and technically out of season for my business and I’ve never been so ready for anything in my life!!

Let the carpal tunnel begin...

Check out my new Photo Shop Skills!!
I think this will be showing up a bit in the next few months.

Sites of the Ren, home of the convention.

Becoming a #GIRLBOSS.  Fell in love with the Netflix series, and loving the book!  It's given my great energy and inspiration when I need it