We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aura Lillian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aura , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

Thank you so much for having me again! Absolutely, thanks for asking;

I have built my clientele base around empowerment, safety, and self-acceptance. My first shop was cliquey and toxic, it didn’t take long to spot the dangers in this industry; creating safety and genuine inclusion for my team lays the foundation for the type of environment we wanted to create for our clients.

When it comes to my team, an open door policy and genuine check in’s are key. I want to consistently be asking the crew what I can be doing to serve them and how can I support them. No judgement, just growth. I have a zero tolerance policy for gossip and undermining each other, we’re a team, or you’re out. Flamingo Noir Collective was born when Joshua Scott and I had left yet another toxic environment, discouraged and just wanting to create the space we’d always wished we’d had, we wanted to create a space of genuine support; where our employees feel safe to bring up concerns and voice their hearts on anything without fear of backlash. I believe in paying close attention to mental health and taking personal days when necessary. My apprentice should always know she’s safe to tell me she’s tapped out instead of being ran ragged into the ground, like we see so often in tattoo shops. My notion is: water and nurture, instead of the old school notion of beating into submission.

We build trust with every interaction. It can be scary for some clients to even walk into an intimidating tattoo shop in the first place, best believe they’ll be feeling like a million bucks leaving ourshop, because we celebrate YOU. Inclusivity is felt when it comes from the bones, and when clients see the team in flow and the vibes are immaculate, you can’t go wrong.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m honored. My name is Aura Lillian, and I am a Canadian tattoo artist and reiki healer, with a focus on black and grey realism and illustrative styles – but my special sauce is weaving sacred intention and reiki into my tattoos, to promote healing and internal goals. I am currently based out of Dayton, Ohio as the co-owner of the Flamingo Noir Collective in Englewood with Joshua Scott. I began tattooing in 2020 and quickly set myself apart by introducing sacred intention and ritual into my work right away. Before becoming a tattoo artist, I owned a life coaching business centered around empowerment and mindset, helping people transform their lives by learning how to reprogram their limiting beliefs while setting actions to achieve their goals. I quickly aimed to integrate my coaching into my tattooing after experiencing the level of trust and depth I was experiencing with my tattoo clients. People needed space held for them; to safely process traumas in a judgment free environment, to share and celebrate their wins, to have unbiased feedback from a genuine soul. On the frequency of therapy that flows with tattooing, I wanted to really hone in on creating safety and to help empower people to step into their most authentic selves, which always leads to personal success. Safety and authentic support are the building blocks Joshua and I are building our business upon, after experiencing so much toxicity in the tattoo industry, it was time to create the kind of shop we’d always needed. Together we rise.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Authenticity. Energy doesn’t lie, but a lot of people do. I believe in maintaining the frequency I bring to the table and I pay close attention to the kind of people who can do the same, those are my people. Showing up consistently for your clients, not just to their appointments with a banger portfolio, but in a genuine and heart centered way, speaks volumes. People just want to be loved and valued. When you come to our shop, its an experience that stands out from the rest. What is yours? What are you passionate about? What makes you different from others? Tap into the deepest parts of your authentic self and allow people to see it. Your people will always find you.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Pick a niche and post quality content consistently. Pick the vibe of your brand so people will associate you with it and stick with it – branding colors, fonts, and elements all speak for you. People want to see your face and know who they’re supporting and following, let them in a little. That weird thing you’re possibly self-conscious about is often the secret sauce that sets you apart and people resonate with authenticity. Post daily and engage with other content creators in your industry. Support each other and build valuable relationships, networking is everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.FlamingoNoirCollective.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredaura.tattoos/