We were lucky to catch up with Stabitha Sidel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stabitha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
When I first started my apprenticeship with body piercings, I was just starting out as a Massage Therapist in a spa down the street the tattoo studio. I really enjoy the salon atmosphere, it is very different from the tattoo atmosphere. I am very bubbly and kinda loud..lol, so the idea of bringing Body Piercing into the Salon/Spa world has been there since the beginning.

Over the years, this idea has evolved from Salons, Renting a room, and now owning a Suite in a Salon Spa Building with other Services Professionals. With Body Piercings rising popularity and acceptance all around has brought in lots of parents with their kiddos getting ears, and nostril piercings. It has been such a great privilege to be apart of these kiddos experience at finding their grit! Getting a piercing can be scary, and they still go through with some StabbyTabbyTime!

With having this private suite with spa atmosphere, I have also had the privilege of young adults finding their way into the world, make their way into my studio. They are facing addiction, depression, and self harm. Instead of falling into these pits, they found my studio and finding a better way to work through these moments in life. I never thought that would be something this studio provides, but know that I know, it is a much more sacred place to me and my clients.

Thank you to everyone who has evolved with me throughout this journey :)

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I really got into this industry slow. I have been in the tattoo/piercing shops since I was 16 with my first tattoos. Piercings I was getting at 10. So body modification was just normal to me in my small town of ohio..lol.

After going to Nurse’s Assistant, Dental Assistant and Massage Therapy School, I had the medical discipline that is now required for this trade. Over the years we have learned that Aftercare is very important and often times last for about 6 months. I am able to be there for my clients throughout the healing process, Technology has been a major upgrade with me being a one man band show. I now have online booking with same day appts often available. This enables my clients to see my books and make appts from there phone for follow up, jewelry changes and to book the next stabbing session!

Even though I did not start out as StabbyTabbyTime, I love how it has evolved to its Name and way of holding space for my clients for all the reason that bring them to my suite.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I first opened my studio to be completely on my own, independent on a Salon or Tattoo studio on March 13, 2020. It was Friday the 13th, and for Piercers, this is our day! But not this year, the whole world shut down that day of my Grand Opening. It was heartbreaking. So many emotions of what was going to happen next. I ended up getting a job with a Tattoo Studio that needed a piercer but it didn’t last long because it is not where I belonged. Later in 2021, I found Phenix Salon Suites and decided to try it again. StabbyTabbyTime was in place with a logo meow, and it just felt right. Over night I was completely on my own at the start on slow season for the industry.

And I have not stopped. I left the massage world and fully have embraced my Body Piercing Career. I have been able to open vendor accounts with the top brands in Fine Body Jewelry in the industry, and provide an amazing unique space for individuals to be themselves. I provide a different type of therapy today, and with the new change in this world, I believe it works well with us all finding our new selves.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?
This is always the scaring part about starting a new business. Where am I going to get the money?

I built my studio very slowly over a decade because I did not have any savings and I didn’t want a loan. I am glad I went this route because it saved me thousands in wasting money learning along the way. When its your money you are playing with, you are more cautious of your buying decisions. I worked as a LMT while working in other studios as a Piercer/LMT.

I worked my regular Job as an LMT to pay bills and while I was doing piercings. It like working 4 jobs but when you love it, you do it….everyday. This was my life for nearly 10 years. Being a mom, and business owner.

After March 13th, 2020, I just could not do massage any more. My trauma was hitting me like everyone else and I was unable to touch people. So I just pushed with everything I had for Piercing. When you want something, and you wake up everyday doing something little to make it happen, the world conspires to do the rest for you!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stabbytabbytime.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stabbytabbytime_bodypiercing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stabbytabbytime
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stabitha-sidel-81016872/
• Twitter: StabbyTabby
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stabbytabby-body-piercing-phoenix-3