We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dominique Ransom. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dominique below.

Alright, Dominique thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Being a business owner is a wild ride. I love it, I chose it, and I’d choose it again , but I’d be lying if I said there aren’t days where I’m like, “Why didn’t I just get a nice little 9-to-5 with PTO and a lunch break where nobody asks me where the paper towels are?”

The last time I had that thought, I was dealing with… everything. Staff questions, cleaning issues, schedules, inventory, clients, trying to remember the last time I ate something real — all while still needing to show up as the calm, confident leader. And show up for my personal clients.

the truth is, I’m not built for “normal.” I thrive creating, leading, building something that has my name on it. I’d rather have stress and freedom than peace and a punch-clock. I can complain about the chaos and still be obsessed with the life I built. That’s entrepreneurship.

And yeah, sometimes I cry, sometimes I question everything, and sometimes I fantasize about being blissfully ordinary. But at the end of every spiral, I land right back on the same conclusion:
This is my dream. I was made for this. And I’ll take messy success over comfortable average any day.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a tattoo artist and the founder of Lilac Tattoo Studio in Dallas–Fort Worth. I didn’t come into this industry with some cookie-cutter blueprint or a “one day I’ll be a CEO” fantasy. I came in because I genuinely fell in love with tattoos . The storytelling, the emotional weight, the art that stays with people for life. Tattoos aren’t just decoration; they’re personal history inked onto skin.

I built Lilac from scratch with vision, stubbornness, grit, and a standard that I refused to lower. No shortcuts, no hand-outs, no bank loans , it’s just consistency, discipline, and a refusal to quit on myself even on the hard days. Every inch of these studios has my fingerprints on it , walls painted at 3AM, cleaning floors myself when needed, mentoring artists, building systems, and showing up every day to raise the bar.

At Lilac, our focus is intentional, detail-driven custom work , offering fine line, ornamental, color , different styles and very delicate but powerful tattooing. We don’t rush art and we don’t do ego. My goal wasn’t just to create a place to get a tattoo; I wanted to build an environment where people feel respected and held, not judged or intimidated.

We are proudly and loudly an LGBTQ+-affirming studio. Always have been. This is a space for everyone. People deserve a shop where they feel safe, welcomed, and celebrated, not just tolerated. I stand on that. Our community matters to me deeply, and I want everyone who walks in to feel like they belong here — no matter who they are, who they love, or how they identify.

What sets me apart? I care. It sounds simple, but in this industry, deeply caring is rare. I care about my craft, my clients, my team, and the energy inside my spaces. I’m constantly growing as an artist and a leader because I’m not here for a good run , I’m here to build legacy.

Lilac is more than a business to me. It’s a safe home for creatives, a sanctuary for clients, and a living reminder that you can build something beautiful without watering yourself do

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my social media audience in the most unexpected way ! literally overnight. One of my friends, Nick, who was a YouTuber at the time, made a quick TikTok in my studio. I went to sleep, woke up, and suddenly the shop was flooded with people and messages. Everyone kept saying “TikTok! TikTok!” and I genuinely had no idea what TikTok even was at the time.

That moment changed everything. Demand skyrocketed instantly, and I had to move fast. I knocked down walls, added workstations, and expanded within 72 hours because I didn’t have enough artists to keep up with the traffic coming in. It pushed me into a level of entrepreneurship I wasn’t expecting, but I rose to it.

Since then, social media has been a massive part of our business. We’ve grown an authentic audience of over 120,000 people who truly support and follow our artists’ growth. Getting verified was a huge milestone for us — I still remember opening that email and feeling like, “Okay. We did that.”

And I’m so grateful that Nick wants to still keep working with us since she’s been a part of the social media since day one

We don’t rely heavily on viral trends or gimmicks . we show real work, real artists, and real clients. We post consistently, sharing tattoos and piercings daily so people can watch our progression and feel connected to our studio. Consistency, authenticity, and quality have been our formula. No shortcuts just genuine connection and staying visible.

My biggest advice for anyone starting their social media journey:
Post every day. Show the process. Show the growth. Don’t try to look perfect try to be real. People don’t fall in love with “content,” they fall in love with the person and the story behind it.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

We keep in touch with clients by genuinely staying connected with them , not just when I want to book them, but because I truly care about the people who support my business. Tattoos and piercings aren’t “essentials,” especially in today’s economy, so when people choose to spend their hard-earned money with us, I don’t take that lightly.

We drop flash, surprise discounts, and loyalty rewards not because it’s a marketing tactic, but because it’s my way of giving back and showing appreciation. I love doing random deals and coupon drops , especially when I know people might need a break but still want to do something meaningful for themselves. Tattoos are deeply personal and emotionally healing for many people, and if I can make that more accessible sometimes, I will.

We also run SMS updates for clients who opt-in, so they get first access to promotions and exclusive offers. I’ve done special events, holiday deals, and little moments of “hey, thank you for rocking with us” because building community matters to me more than just filling a calendar.

At the end of the day, brand loyalty comes from treating clients like humans, not transactions. I try to make our studio feel like home . a place people want to return to because they feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.domransom.com
• Instagram: DomRansomtattoos
• Other: Shop’s website:

  Www. Lilactattoo.com

  Shops IG

  LilacTattooStudio

Image Credits

My self