Published: March 28, 2009 11:15 pm      

Recession-proof?

Local tattoo parlor’s business remains steady despite tough economic times

At Copaset’x Tattoos on Eisenhower Drive in Beckley the buzz of electric tattoo machines seems to be constant. It appears the economic downturn isn’t preventing customers from spending hundreds of dollars for skin art.

“My question is ‘What recession’?” said Quinton Randall, a tattoo artist for the past 13 years and owner of Copaset’x.

Randall says repeat customers, as well as new customers, come for new skin art daily.

“Every day, new clients are being born,” he said.

It doesn’t hurt the tattoo industry that today’s sports heroes, rock n’ roll stars and models all have tattoos.

“Everyone is getting tattoos these days,” Randall said. “People from all walks of life.”

He said tattooing dates to ancient times and that almost all cultures have song, dance, dressing for special occasions and tattoos in common.

“This is the art history that art history teachers forgot to tell you anything about,” said Randall. “It is global and ageless.”

Tattoos don’t come cheaply. Many of the top artists warn against bargain hunting when deciding to get a tattoo that will likely last as long as a person lives.

“If you spend a small amount for a cheap and bad tattoo, it will be a memory forever that you cheated yourself,” said Randall.

Dave Reid was one of many customers who elected to get a tattoo at Copaset’x.

“I saved up for it,” he said. “It (the economy) didn’t play a factor on whether I got a tattoo. It was something I wanted to do.”

Randall says for many tattoos are like an addiction.

“One thing people definitely don’t have a problem spending on is their ink,” he said.

Randall thinks maybe the recession has helped his business in a different kind of way.

“When people get sad, they sometimes opt for a tattoo,” he said. “In hard times people come in to get tattoos and brighten their day up. Tax season is amazing because they have extra cash.”

It appears tattoo parlors and shops may have found a near recession-proof business.

“Honestly there has not been that much impact (from the down economy),” he said. “We’ve stayed busy.”

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com