| describe the key events & opportunities that led to your founding |

When starting I simply wished to offer a greater level of service and care than what was available across the industry to a single studio’s clientèle. ‘Walk-in’ studios were famous for what may only be politely described as having a somewhat discourteous attitude towards communication. It seemed to me that the type of interaction people came to expect from a ‘tattoo studio’ would largely influence or indeed dictate how both sides approached commissions, to the extent of affecting the quality of the art produced. This constituted a huge portion of the process that was not being addressed, one that inherently limits the scope for the artist as well as the collector
 
Many people still view tattooing as something rebellious, underground and or entirely separate from the traditional art world. Broadly speaking it can be common for many to spend more time researching and paying higher prices on a new jacket or a pair of shoes than they do for their body/art – yet only the latter will most likely be with them for life. This kind of segmentation and stereotyping is becoming less commonplace though. The majority of our clients are high-powered executives, CEO’s, artists and true professionals from all walks of life. And in this respect I have always held that body/art commissions differentiate themselves in both importance and lifespan from almost every other market or service. Such permanent commissions involve the development of highly particular, permanent artworks that may be all too frequently rushed into or not fully considered. I see the development of our Body/Art Concierge as contributing to the alteration of perceptions around the practice. Adding a measured evaluation to something that frequently involves ownership of art for a lifespan far exceeding that of even say a traditional canvas. Furthermore the centralization of consulting services, management, scheduling, education and payment processing permits an increased authority that has typically not been associated with individual artists or studios
 
| how has the greater China market for your industry grown and how has your company responded |

I would estimate that on any given week we speak with clients from over 40 countries around the world. For the Mainland China market specifically we are finding not only a larger number of art collectors looking to utilize a different ‘canvas’ yet also a group of overseas executives stationed in say Shanghai, Beijing or top tier cities that take advantage of their comparative proximity. Yet as bookings are frequently made years in advance the segmentation would not necessarily be geographic, pertaining instead to a shared patience and dedication more than anything else
 
 

 
| what niche does your company fill to differentiate itself from others |

I believe it could be most succinctly summarized as the Worlds’ First Body Art Concierge. Just as boutique hotels, private banks or personal trainers assist in the tailored development of individual desires – we see ourselves as the liaisons between genuine body artists and collectors. This entails a delicate balance of having a conscientious understanding of highly unique aesthetic preferences against measured possibilities and technical limitations around translating these into ‘unique living art’. Essentially the service involves mutually defining what are frequently highly emotive, abstract concepts and then assisting with their translation into reality, i.e. the creation of art
 

| how does your company offer more value than its competitors |

The Concierge service requires a very select set of skills that are not often associated with any ‘standard’ mainstream position. Furthermore there must exist an understanding of art, psychology, interpersonal communication as well as the rich technical possibilities around physiology within application. We are the first concierge of its kind yet I would say personal, objective professional guidance surrounding genuine body/art is the value not currently provided elsewhere
 
 

 
| what obstacles have you faced in HK, how have you overcome them |

Any obstacles have primarily revolved around education as well as patience in answering questions or addressing the most common, historically associated prejudices. We schedule personal consults and phone people directly, regardless of where they are in the world, to answer their questions as well as advise on possible approaches or interpretations of concepts. Apart from direct discussions around individual works I built the on line ‘Body Art Guide’. This contains hundreds of academic articles as well as an eclectic range of insights into the practices’ transition across almost all cultures over the ages. I released the ‘Masterpiece Reference Library’ which contains over 200,000 different art works alongside making all ‘flash’ and common tattoo pieces freely available in an effort to show that inspiration for body art can be drawn from any source, not just templates or what has traditionally been done. We further have outreach programs with international schools and routinely participate in a number of university studies. Such campaigns must be performed in a measured and consistent manner. Throughout all media interviews and filming we attempt to concentrate on the practice itself rather than individual ‘celebrity’ clients, trends, top-tips or the usual somewhat surface level discussions so commonly publicized
 
| what plans do you have for expansion and growth in the region |

At this stage we are looking for a more global expansion with a select group. As the majority of clientèle already fly in from overseas rather than continuing this unidirectional flow we are aiming to bring the service to their neighborhood. While it will remain necessary for most to travel in order to work with their ideal artist, there are no longer limitations around ensuring a stable quality of service when working with a plethora of unique masters of the craft
 
| what is the secret of your success |

That’s very kind of you to classify the work up to this stage as a success yet I see it as simply the first steps. I’ll let you know when I classify it as a success!

Tattoo Concierge | The Artists’ Choice

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