We recently connected with Alexis Wolfe and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alexis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

As far as creating a more inclusive work place, I try to do everything I can to make my clients feel more at ease while they’re in the shop. I always make sure to ask my clients if they have a preferred name/what pronouns they’d like me to use, I always reassure people that body hair, stretch marks, acne, etc. is 100% normal and not to apologize for it if they bring it up while I prep their skin for a tattoo, I let everyone know that if they don’t think they can have color in their tattoo they absolutely can, they’re allowed to cry/take breaks, and a few other small things here and there to assure my clients feel safe and comfortable. I’ve had quite a few clients tell me that they’ve had artists be rude/disrespectful to them in the past and I hate that. I never want my clients to feel uncomfortable or unsafe while they’re in the shop. Getting tattooed already hurts enough, there’s no reason to make it any worse.

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’m a tattoo artist in Over the Rhine, Cincinnati. I was weirdly young when I decided I wanted to be a tattooer (around 10 years old) because my older sister came home with a tattoo one day and it blew my mind that I could put my art on people permanently – forever! It was so wild to think about at the time, but it excited me. I was always an artsy kid and I was always creating something, so I felt like tattooing was a great fit for me. I got my first apprenticeship in 2017, went through a couple of apprenticeships altogether, began tattooing friends/family in 2019 and eventually became a full time tattoo artist in 2020. I began working in OTR in 2021, and have had a blast since. I’m honestly not too sure if anything really sets me apart from everyone else in the industry, but I’m proud of the set of friends/supporters I’ve gained through making my art. I’ve had the opportunity to work with and become friends with some of the kindest people, artists and clients included, so I’m constantly surrounded by such great, supportive energy. At times I find myself utterly blown away by it, but I’m eternally grateful for all of the support and love I feel daily. And with that, I suppose what I would want people to know about me, is that they’ll always be in a safe space with me. I’m fortunate to work in a shop full of amazing people/artists who also go out of their way to make people feel comfortable and free to be themselves, and it’s absolutely wonderful. I never ever want my clients to feel like they have to act tough, reserved or act “cool”, or have them feel unsafe in anyway. I just want everyone to be in a safe, comfortable environment while they’re at the shop.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I would say what helped me build my reputation was getting miles and miles and miles out of my comfort zone. To make a long story short – in learning how to tattoo I ultimately had to find a shop that was the right fit for me. I was comfortable where I was for awhile, but I found a shop where I really connected with the people there and knew that that’s where I wanted to be. Switching shops was terrifying for me. There were new people I had to get to know, a new creative space I had to get used to, and the dread of telling my clients I moved shops. I was so worried people wouldn’t make the drive for me or that they’d just go to other shops a few minutes closer to them, and it was a lot to think about. But most of my clients followed me to the new shop, brought their friends/family with them for me to tattoo as well, and continued to support me. Which was a major relief, I also began taking walk-in tattoo clients at the new shop, and adjusting to meeting so many new people everyday was tough. I’m naturally a very shy person, so I had to try super hard to engage and talk to new clients, which also made me nervous. I was worried it would come off as awkward or as if I was trying too hard, but I was fortunate that nobody felt that way. It was all in my head. And then those walk-in clients became new clients, and the rest is pretty much just that. I continue to go out of my comfort zone to meet and talk to new, potential clients and I think it has helped tremendously.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There aren’t any books/videos that I got this information from, but Ive worked with so many different artists who have all taught me different things about managing yourself as a tattoo artist and attracting business. One big thing I learned was just like any other art form, you have to take risks. Don’t be scared to put out your drawings, paintings or tattoos for people to see. It may not be for everyone, but that’s just art. Everyone’s taste is different, so you can’t please everyone and you can’t worry about pleasing everyone. So every time I’m scared to put out a design, I just hold my breath and do it. By doing that so often, I’ve gained so many clients that have the same taste in art/tattoos as myself, and I get to do fun tattoos every single day. It has truly paid off.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TattoosByGerty
• Facebook: Lulabelle Gertrude