We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kara Gutierrez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kara below.
Kara, 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
Business doubled especially after some “double tattoos” walked in my door. For 11 years I have been a tattoo specialist in a rare niche. I literally put and take away ink for a living. In this case 2019, Jamie Ledbetter came to my office for removal of two sets of eyebrows (google “woman with 4 brows” or any botched microblading and you wont miss the Fox 4 news article and video on the matter. After going viral business for every tattoo and tattoo removal blew up I went from 3 months booked up to now 14 months getting booked.
As wonderful as that all seemed it was overwhelming and taught me an extremely valuable lesson in my business, learn now to say NO!!! Tattoos were coming to me from botched permanent makeup, body art and areola tattoos to fix, I learned that people do not research their tattoo artist because they think its easy to put ink into skin which is false! It takes hours and time tattooing and learning from your mentor and the mistakes (which are supervised by a tattoo mentor) Also regulations in every state is different. For example Missouri doesn’t require a license for over half of the PMU tattoos which is horrific if you think about it. The botched jobs means people think they know more than you so saying no with a kind manner helps a lot or tell them their harsh reality of removal. That has to be the best story and biggest “Business advice” I have to give for all 11 yrs of tattooing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Voted Best Permanent Makeup Artist in Kansas City & Missouri!!! With the eye of an artist, the hand of a technical expert, and the personality of a close friend who has your back, Kara Gutierrez at Spot on Beauty is a cosmetic tattoo specialist and trainer like no other! Her outgoing, high-energy attitude makes you feel right at home and completely welcome to speak up to express your thoughts, questions, and concerns. As a fully licensed and insured tattoo artist & Instructor, she’s knowledgeable and detailed as to what you’re getting and clearly communicates what to expect along the way. You can feel confident you’ll get the look you desire with the correct color choice and proper tattooing technique.
Kara’s greatest accomplishment in business is her 501c3 Breast Cancer Foundation called, SPOT ON SURVIVOR. Giving breast cancer survivors areola tattoos or body art after they have faught or got preventative surgery and get back what they lost with breast cancer and more…MUCH MORE!! Find out more about that on her instagram Spot On Survivors. Donate huge to spotonsurvivors which is dedicated JUST for donations
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
My significant other, Arian Culp, MD (specialises in Family Medicine) who I met off of a dating site called bumble.com. Arian is literally the medical doctor of your dreams! Not because he’s easy on the eyes, but very easy to talk to and what I consider “the doctor you don’t feel like you have to lie (hold back info) from”. He is extremely non judging and really loves getting to the bottom of things. With the medical knowledge he has, plus an eye for aesthetics from his background in body building he and I decided to embark on a amazing journey. Tattoo Shop, Medical Practice and Med Spa.
This is very unique and extremely profitable, I’m lucky to have opened a spot with him and the future is very bright! Thankfully meeting this man has turned into the best decision in business and personal I have ever made.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
2011 I had to decide to stay at a dead end job with a salon and day spa and working part time as a medical assistant at a podiatrist (For 5 years) to dropping my life and learn tattooing. Moved into my parents house to help raise my (now 13 year old amazing son, Adrian) who was about 2.5 years old at the time and worked around the clock it seemed like. From the how to actually tattoo to taxes and saving money and everywhere in between to try and convince others to let me permanently tattoo their bodies was a challenge to say the least. I failed and failed better!! I literally couldn’t hold a conversation with ANY human I met or knew that didn’t involve me discussing my career or getting advice to how to do it better. That’s what it took and has only gotten better and gone up from there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spotonhealthandbeauty.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaspotonbeauty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permanentmakeupbykara
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spotonbeauty/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spot-on-beauty-lees-summit?osq=spot+on+beauty