Tattoo business stays out of red

Eating veggie burgers and rice for the past two months has paid off for Jessica Dorman.

Like most people these days, Dorman, 24, thinks twice about how and where she spends her money. For her, eating out was optional but spending more than $1,000 on a tattoo was not. After waiting eight months to get an appointment with the tattoo artist of her choice, she was not going to let the economy get in her way.

“This is something that is really important to me, and I wanted to make sure I had the money to get it done,” she said. “I mean part of cutting back was about securing the way I live, but the other part was to make sure I could get my tattoo.”

Dorman is not alone in her quest for the perfect tattoo in these tight times. Several tattoo artists around metro Atlanta say their business has been steady, if not increased, while other retail segments are seeing significant declines.

Mike Cummings, owner of Inksomnia Tattoo in Johns Creek, said his revenue has increased more than 20 percent each year for the past three years, and he’s on track to see the same gains this year.

“The tattoo business is not like a convenience store,” Cummings said. “We don’t count on seeing 200-300 people come through the doors every day. If we do 10 tattoos a day, we’re very happy.”

Prices for tattoos in the industry vary wildly, but for the top artists around town, hourly rates can range from $100 to $500 an hour, he said.

The least expensive tattoo at Inksomnia is $50 and can take less than 30 minutes. On the other end of the spectrum, Cummings said he has spent more than six hours on one tattoo and made $1,200.

Russ Abbott, of Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour in Decatur, is Dorman’s artist. He says the “tattoo collectors” are keeping the industry solvent during these otherwise tough times.

“Sure the economy is doing what it is doing, but the people who are serious about their tattoos are going to find a way to get them done,” he said. “This is bigger than some passing fancy for them.”

Dorman said her tattoo, an elephant in a Victorian frame, is “more than just a picture on my arm.”

“This is as serious as me buying an expensive painting for my home,” she said. “This will be with me for life, and I want to make sure its is done right and done well.”