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

Michael , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

First of all let’s start with how wrong Claire’s, Walmart, Target, etc. Is doing piercings with piercing guns. First, you can not sterilize a piercing gun. Which is gross, and these companies are reusing thes guns on people. On kids at that. Piercing guns are also blunt force punching through tissue and cartilage. This is doin extreme damage, scarring, and discomfort. The jewelry being used is definitely not long enough for swelling which creates the tissue to grow over the jewelry. You then have to go see a reputable professional piercer or a doctor to have this jewelry removed. Totally not worth it. Corporate America is also selling crap jewelry to the public in malls and stores such as Spencers, Hot topic, piercing pagodas, as well as the place is stated above. We call this mystery metal. Which usually contains nickel and/or zinc two things that you can be allergic to. It also rusts and changes colors. This can lead to some serious health issues. Places like Target are trying to bring nurses into the industry, but these people have not been properly trained by professional piercers. It is also illegal for anybody to perform any piercing besides ear lobes without a professional piercing license. These places do not hold professional piercing license because they do not have proper environments or zoning for piercings. Corporate America does not belong in the piercing industry. If anything it hurts our industry. They are doing improper procedures and selling trash to the public.

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

Hi! Well I go by Piercer Mike and own my own piercing parlor called Piercer Mike’s. I have been piercing for about 15 years. I started in Lafayette, Indiana at a shop called Operation Ink. I actually helped them open the location. They all were at a shop called New Breed Tattoo and piercing. My mentor Daniel Mills was working there at the time and I was hanging out there on an almost everyday basis. I had wanted to be a piercer since I was a little kid. So I finally got the nerve up to ask. Daniel stated he would have to talk to the guys since they were leaving New Breed and moving to a new location. The day they moved into the new location they all showed up at my house and informed me that I will be starting my apprenticeship. It was probably one of the greatest days of my life. Body piercing is my pride and passion. It’s the one true love of my life and it has been since day one. I pierce with all high-end body jewelry such as ASTM f-136 titanium, niobium, glass, 14 and 18 karat gold. I use internally threaded or threadless jewelry as well as genuine stones and crystals. I also sell one of the industries top selling aftercare products “Steriwash”.
I strive to give people the best piercing experience possible. I am a total perfectionist when it comes to piercing. Everything has to be spot on or I’ll completely erase all the marks and start over again. A needle will not go through anybody’s body until everybody agrees that everything looks spot on. I pride myself in this.
I want people to be happy. There is nothing better in the world than a happy client with a big smile on their face.
I do just about every piercing that you can think of besides the ones that put people at risk or have very high rejection rates such as snake eyes, horizontal tongues, and eyelids just for an example.
I love performing ear projects, punch work, play piercings such as corsets. I really just love doing piercings It’s all my favorite when it comes down to it.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Well the best thing is always doing your best. Getting people your best and above. Word of mouth is and always will be the best way to spread the word. Happy clients talk about their experiences. Social media is also the new and second best way to spread the word. It is literally free advertising. It shows your work and gives you the opportunities to explain yourself. I think social media has help my industry a lot. It helps us learn and helps us teach other artist how to better their craft as well. It informs you of new products as well as the older products you might not have heard about .

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

I keep in touch with my clients the old-fashioned way. Through phone and text. I also keep in touch with clients through social media. Like I was saying in the last question social media is the new and second best way to spread the word. It also makes it much easier for clients to get a hold of you in case they have any questions. I am always available to answer any questions about piercings if they’re my client or a potential future client. Social media has also helped me help clients that I’m will probably never see in person in my life, but I have helped people save their piercings just talking over the internet and then sending me pictures. Of course with these people my best advice is always to go see a reputable piercer in your area. Also if you have an infection or think you have an infection you should always go see a doctor.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/piercer_mike
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piercer_mike
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piercermike1985
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Piercer_Mike
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/gkAWQW

Image Credits
Payton Koestler