Monday, August 15, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Tattoo shop sees success in first months of business

Authentic Art
provides the city
with a clean and
unique alternative
By MARISA WINTER
For the Daily
Since Authentic Art Tat-
too Studio first opened in April,
owner Jordan Epstein has strived
for his costumer-friendly, single-
artist tattoo shop at 527 East Lib-
erty Street to serve as a fresh and
original outlook on an ancient art
form.
Epstein said his promise to
put the people before the competi-
tion in Ann Arbor with his 1,000
square-foot shop has proven suc-
cessful thus far in his first few
months of business.
Born and raised in Ann Arbor,
Epstein said he gives a warm wel-
come to his neighborhood clien-
tele and invites potential clients
to focus on specialty artwork and
the "innovative and cleaner feel"
that his shop offers.
"Most say that my shop looks
different than most," Epstein said.
"We go for a different feel and a
different look. It's not your aver-
age tattoo shop."
- Inspired by a Floridian tat-
too shop, Epstein created a parlor
without "flash" - popular prints
put up on the walls by artists to
serve as references or provide tat-
too ideas - giving the shop a more

inviting ambiance and cleaner
appearance.
"I've visited many different
shops throughout our country and
internationally, with many vari-
ous layouts and artists," Epstein
said."But I've committed to keep-
ing a solid focus on customer
interaction and goal to provide a
higher }standard in customer ser-
vice."
Epstein added he plans on hir-
ing more artists but wants to stay
true to his views and practices of
personalization so his shop can
build lasting relationships and
create custom pieces for his cus-
tomers.
According to Epstein, his cur-
rent artist Cory Torrans - who
has sixteen years of experience
and has won multiple awards for
his work - will help build the
shop's clientele.
"Corey consistently performs
with quality, specialty work,"
Epstein said. "Because of that, he
has loyal clients."
As far as competition, Epstein
said he recommends people find a
shop that best fits them and their
needs, even if it isn't Authentic
Art.
"Look around and see what
you like, check it out, and see if
you like what you see and the feel-
ing you get - and that says it all,"
he said.
Epstein said he opened his
store in Ann Arbor due to the
demand he had seen in the area
for a tattoo parlor similar to his,
adding that he has branded his

business as one that focuses on
customer feedback.
"Feedback - that's what sets
us apart," Epstein said. "We are
different from what people are
used to. We are dedicated to our
customers. The point is not to
point out different shops, just start
our own and do what we want to
do. Those able to start businesses
in the tattooing community run
things differently. There's no need
to conform or ask for permission
to be who we are."
Leo Zulueta, owner of Spi-
ral Tattoo on Packard Road, said
cleanliness is instrumental in
attracting customers, and is some-
thing Authentic Art has ensured
to be a priorityworks on a tattoo design at Authentic Art Studio on ACH ROSS/t i1 y
"I've been in the business 30
years," Zulueta said. "It is impor-
tant that most parlors are clean to
serve public." Mention This AD
Dana Forrester, owner of And Receive $100 Off. Now is the
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tant than anything else in the tat- -Small lasses
too business. She added that she is " Expert Instructors
skeptical of the variety of tattoo -Free Extra Help
shops in town because she has
seen so many come and go.
"One has to be up to the caliber ngRevie
of stellar shops that are already
here in Ann Arbor," Forrester
said. "There is already a lot of
high caliber of tattoo shops here.
Anyone coming in better have tal-
ent if they want to be successful
because clients expect a lot. We've
seen a lot of business come and go
that were not up to par." ...

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