Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Olivia Kimball. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I grew up a small town girl in Massachusetts and decided to move away from everything and everyone I have known and loved all by myself. This was the biggest risk I have ever taken. I bought a house young, at 20 years old. I took a trip to North Carolina for a four day weekend and decided that I wanted to be there. My family was surprised at how fast I made this decision and I was called impulsive multiple times. While this may be true, my impulsivity has gotten me where I am today. After four days in May of 2021, I got home, contacted a realtor and sold my house. I was moved to North Carolina by mid July of 2021. When I moved that is when everything began falling into place. I obtained an apprenticeship at a tattoo shop and completed it. During my apprenticeship and the time following receiving my tattoo permit, I worked a full time job and also worked full time at the tattoo shop. I was averaging 80 hour work weeks, but I was just getting myself to the point where I could leave my regular 9-5 to pursue tattooing on its own. I did this schedule for a year and in August of 2023 I decided that enough was enough and I took my next big risk and decided to leave and tattoo only. This was a very hard decision of removing myself from a consistent pay schedule with benefits. But despite this, it has opened so many doors for me. I now currently travel between Massachusetts and North Carolina working at a shop in each state. I also obtained an LLC, and own my own business, Livin’ Designs LLC that I operate my tattoo artistry through. I am also in the process of developing my own tattoo aftercare line as well as a clothing/apparel line. Taking risks is hard, but life is short. I am so glad I have taken the risks that I have. I want to achieve financial freedom and do what I love every day. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities that have been provided to me, and none of them would have happened had I not chosen to jump at every door that has opened for me.

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

I am a tattoo artist in my second year of tattooing. I had the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship through a local tattoo shop. I received my permit to tattoo in June 2022, and currently provide fine line black and grey illustrative realism tattoos. I think there are a few things that set me apart from other artists. Aside from providing you with a custom tattoo that you LOVE, one of my main focuses is the overall experience. Getting a tattoo (especially first time) is such a nerve wracking and exciting experience. I want you to feel comfortable from the moment you walk through the shop door. It is my priority to make you feel in control of the entire experience. I allow my clients to choose the music they would like and build time into every appointment to discuss your design and make any edits you’d like to it. Especially for first time clients, I leave the floor open for any questions you may have. I believe that knowledge is power, and I want my clients to have a full understanding of the entire process so there is no confusion and they know what to expect 100%. I have had many clients tell me how comfortable I have made them feel and how much they appreciate my energy. I always try to bring such a positive vibe to every interaction I have. Tattooing is also a very male dominated industry and in recent years we have seen more and more female artists come into the scene. Many clients I have worked with have really appreciated having the choice of having a female artist. I am so proud of the environment I establish for my clients and the artwork I have created that they get to carry around forever.

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

The most effective strategy for growing and maintaining my clientele has truthfully just been being myself and not being afraid of speaking up to new people. I maintain my social media presence and use my art to connect with people. Providing a comfortable experience for my clients and allowing them to speak their feelings during appointments really helps make them feel respected and in this, they tell their friends about me so that they can have similar experiences. Word of mouth is powerful, and the key is providing a service that makes your clients want to share with others. Another way I gain clientele is by promoting myself wherever I can. For example, when I go out to eat, I try to provide business cards to servers and people I interact with. Not being afraid to discuss my business with people I do not know has gained me so many other clients I never would have connected with otherwise. Being kind and personable goes a very long way and I utilize who I am at my core to connect with others and gain clientele. On social media I also try to provide giveaways and other incentives that help to grow my media presence and give back to clientele.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have always wanted to be a tattoo artist, but getting into the industry is really difficult. When I first moved to North Carolina, I had a sterile processing technician certification, so I began working at a plastic surgery office as a sterile technician. While I was working there, I came across an apprenticeship at a tattoo shop and was accepted for it. I worked both jobs and committed all of my time to working. Once I was certified, I began working for the tattoo shop and continued to work at my other job at the same time. For the next year I was working an average of 75 to 80 hours a week, and I was completely drained by the end of it, just to do it all again the following week. After a year had passed, I decided that I needed to make a change because the way that I was working and living wasn’t sustainable. This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, because I was leaving a consistent pay schedule as well as benefits, such as health insurance. Fortunately, the job that I worked at was super supportive and allowed me the freedom to build my career as a tattoo artist, knowing that I would eventually be leaving their company. When I made this transition, it was extremely stressful, but also lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders because my work load had lightened up some. It was really important that I went through this experience because I know the amount of work that I put in to get to where I am and I think it really displays my resilience. It was making this decision that has accelerated my career. Once I was able to solely dedicate my time to tattooing it opened more doors for me to build more clientele and make more of a name for myself. Now that I am tattooing, I have the ability to travel between two states, working at two different shops which allows me to have clientele in two  locations. The shop that I am working at in addition to the one in North Carolina is in my hometown so it allows me to visit my family as well as work. Having this freedom allows me to live where I want to live and also not have to give up seeing my family that lives in an entirely different state. The transition was not easy, but change typically never is. Choosing to take the risk of leaving something stable, was one of the best decisions that I have made.

Contact Info:

• Website: livindesigns.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livin.designs?igsh=dm9hdHVxdndnaTI1&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivinDesignsLLC?mibextid=2JQ9oc

Image Credits
Katherine Kirchner