Today we’d like to introduce you to Britty Snow.
Hi Britty, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I joined the tattoo industry in 2018 when I was hired as a receptionist at The Gremlin House in Jenison, MI. I had only a few tattoos, and didn’t know a lot about tattooing. I was referred by a friend to apply at this studio because it was a well-established, woman-owned studio that had a great reputation. I was super intimidated, but instantly fell in love with meeting potential clients, setting up their appointments, hearing their stories, and giving them feedback on their ideas. I eventually moved up to becoming a studio manager, and began handling supply orders, annual licensing with the county and state, learning about bookkeeping/payroll, and handling all advertising/marketing/social media. At the end of 2021, my co-worker and best friend Mary approached me with the idea to open our own studio. She and I had worked together since I had started at The Gremlin House, and the two of us had been handling most of the day-to-day operations at that time. We began talking to realtors, hired a lawyer, and making business plans to open Cloud Jelly. In January 2022, we signed a lease on the perfect building and started construction. Leaving our previous place of employment was bittersweet, but we were feeling ready to start our new journey. We diy-ed almost all of the construction ourselves, and had a few family members and friends help us with the projects we couldn’t do ourselves. Every wall was repainted with glittery periwinkle paint, we installed gorgeous marble white floors, and furnished the building with a perfect mix of vintage and modern furniture, artwork, and trinkets. Our opening day was April 19th, 2022, with a staff of me, Mary, a new apprentice (Gabby), and another fellow artist we had met at The Gremlin House. We are proud to be a queer, women-owned studio with a focus on creativity and inclusivity. We host pop-up events with local artists for them to promote themselves and sell their goods, have our t-shirts locally screen-printed by Transfigure Print Company, and have teamed up with the Michigan Health Department to offer free family planning products (birth control, condoms, plan b, etc.) right inside of our shop. We have been open for over 3 years now, and it has been the biggest blessing and learning opportunity I have ever been given. I feel so lucky to be a business owner, and I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else besides Mary.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! A few months after celebrating one year of being open, a car smashed into our building. Thankfully, there were no clients here, but Mary and I were working on a few decorating projects and while I was taking a short phone-scrolling break, we heard the loudest boom. Mary had hear the sound of an engine revving right before it happened, and so she immediately said “I think a car just hit our building!” And she was right! At 3:00pm on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, a father and son had swerved on the road and completely lost control of their vehicle. Everyone was totally okay, but our break room was completely demolished. After about a year of dealing with contractors, the insurance company, the local police department, etc. we were finally able to repaint and have our room back. I am SO thankful that no one was hurt, and everything we lost was replaceable (except our poor plants!), but it was an incredibly scary time to be a business owner. Other struggles have included the always increasing cost of supplies, the uncertainty of the economy, and the constant stress of juggling the many responsibilities of being a business owner. Thankfully, the two of us can divide and conquer a lot of these tasks, but it can still be incredibly exhausting.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a queer, women-owned body art studio with a passion for vintage, cats, and maximalism! We are an appointment-only shop that specializes in adorable tattoos. We are known for our kitchsy decor, bright bubbly environment, and being one of only a few women-owned studios in our area. I am extremely proud of our talented team for putting out consistent, well-done tattoos, our lovely reviews from our clients, and I am proud of Mary and I for creating such a beautiful environment for us and our artists to thrive.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as coming home everyday and feeling proud of what I accomplished that day. I have had so many jobs that I came home feeling frustrated or beat down, but over three years in, I feel so proud of myself everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cloudjellytattoo.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloudjellytattoo/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571594796909
