GODERICH – Solid bookings for tattoos and body piercing have prompted Tribute Studios of Goderich to expand even in this COVID environment, owner Matt Cottrell told attendees at a virtual social event for members of the Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron recently.

The local shop, which opened its doors in 2017, has hired a part-time apprentice piercer and is on the hunt for a second tattoo artist to help whittle down the wait time for customers. It is currently booking tattoo work for larger projects for as long as seven months in advance and delicate piercing work three to four weeks in advance.

The shop, located on East Street in Goderich, consists of a retail area, sterilization booth, piercing room.

The body modification industry is in general riding the crest of a wave, popularizing the industry in mainstream media and culture that has been growing in momentum since 2010.  According to StatsCan the industry had its largest period of growth in the six years leading up to the beginning of the pandemic.

As of 2019 about three in 10 people have a tattoo or piercing outside of the traditional, and that proportion climbs to nearly five out of 10 among Millennials.

“Tribute Studios, by virtue of its business model featuring clean, precise and thoughtful services, often well beyond any other facility of this nature in the region, found itself in a perfect position to adapt to the ‘new normal’ that is the COVID landscape,” said Mark Woodward, who is the manager.

“Additionally, as a business with an established customer base, Tribute Studios is uniquely positioned to move into a dominant market position in the region as we all move forward,”

Nothing touches a client that has not been through autoclave for sterilization. It is tested twice a month with results verified by an independent lab that issues a certificate each time. All processes are inspected and approved by the Huron Perth Public Health unit.

Discussion with the attendees ranged from hygiene to ethics to ageing, and plenty in between.

Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron hosts Business After 5s monthly. They are an opportunity for members to showcase their businesses and organizations, and for members to network.

Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron is the voice of business dedicated to the promotion of economic development and prosperity for the enrichment of the community. It is a member-driven organization, representing small and large businesses with training, leadership, advocacy and continual economic revitalization of the area. As active participants in committees, with other Chambers and BIAs as well as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) we keep our members in touch with all levels of government from local to federal.

For more information, visit us at www.huronchamber.ca.