We recently connected with Julian Lightner and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Julian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
A year before I opened, I did tons of research. I spent some time making sure that I had everything in place. Double checked that my customer service skills weren’t slipping and did a lot to strengthen my resolve in wanting to achieve such a goal like this. It’s a rough path to walk if you don’t have the right team/support system (i.e. family and friends) in place to help you back up when every time you feel knocked down.
Julian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, my name is Julian but everyone calls me Jules. I’m a Tattoo artist and Owner of Hidden Dragon Tattoo here in summerville, sc. My way of getting into the industry wasn’t a conventional one but I made sure that all the boxes were checked off in the correct order before making such a big leap into doing this. I offer a wide variety of tattoos but enjoy the anime and cartoon style the most. Tattooing is all about an experience, and just like Disney World, I’m the 3rd happiest place to be on the planet.. Or at least that’s what my mom tells me. The biggest thing that I want anyone to know about me and my private studio, is that I offer a very unique experience to everyone that comes in through my door. I take care of each and every one of my clients specifically and tailor the experience and laughter while they’re in the chair into something that’ll never be forgotten.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Not everyone you come in contact with is a friend. This has always been a major lesson and a rough one for me to come to terms with. I have a big heart and feel the need to help everyone else out even when I may be sinking on my ship. In the business world of tattooing, it’s a little more cutthroat than the average job on indeed ( in my personal opinion) and a lesson that now makes sense to me… No big backstory to it. Had a bad business deal go through and I’m the one who almost got burned in the end. So now, I proceed with caution but without losing me and myself in the process.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I may not look it, but I’ve been in the rat race and game of the customer service world for 15 years now. Giving a tailored experience to the client is how I have fostered such a beautiful relationship with each and every one of my clients… so much so, that I am now a brother in one family, an adoptive son in another, a godson in another, and the family tattoo artist in not just my family but also another. It’s truly a beautiful thing. I’ve always put others before myself and I think that’s something that helps tremendously in the work of fostering the loyalty and love with all of my clients. As far as keeping in touch with them, I’m ADHD… so they’re usually keeping in touch with me. Whether it be over some lunch, or just stopping by the studio to check in with me, or even a text/DM…. Every last one of my clients has kept in touch and that’s something I’ll always be thankful for, because it’s something they don’t have to do… but they choose to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Hiddendragontattoo.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hidden_dragontattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554372886324
