Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Centellas.
Hi Raquel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Raquel Centellas, I was born and raised in Saginaw after my family moved to the states from Bolivia when pregnant with me. I had been working in the medical field as well as continuing my education in nursing when I was approached by a longtime friend (Byron Conkright who owned Drunken Monkey Tattoo that he was looking to sell. Drunken Monkey Tattoo was established in 1997 and has been a very well known studio in our area and I was interested in keeping the doors open. I took the opportunity to go in and shadow and learn the dynamics of the industry and day-to-day basics and once comfortable decided to jump in. I had help from another former owner, Patrick Kuhn to continue to get keep the piercing aspect up and running as well. I ended up changing my career path into running the studio and submerging myself and dedicating my time into Drunken Monkey Tattoo. I started teaching in the medical field on the side at an allied health facility for Medical Assistants, as well as teaching bloodborne pathogens and CPR through the American Heart Association. The medical schooling, training, and experience helped immensely in running a clean and safe body art facility. To date, I’ve been running Drunken Monkey Tattoo since 2014 it’s become now my primary job since the covid pandemic.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning everything needed to know to run a small business for a first-time business owner is always tough. When I purchased the studio, it wasn’t common to own a studio without being a tattoo artist, let alone being a female tattoo studio owner wasn’t the most common either. I had to learn a new industry and the dynamics, but me medical education did help smooth out one of the main priorities being health and safety first..The pandemic was quite a challenge as well, it shut us down for some time and as it became a new way of handling business. I think we handled it the best and carefully as possible. I worked on a state level to help develop reopen policies for businesses in the personal care services alike. Supplies have drastically increased in price since pandemic and for a while some were just not available at all, some supplies can be very difficult to get still, but we are doing best we can.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Drunken Monkey Tattoo?
Drunken Monkey Tattoo has been in business in Saginaw since 1997. This tattoo studio has been well known for having sanitary, knowledgeable, and very talented artists. We take pride in having artists that are able to just about every style, but also honest in helping guide clients into what the best turn out and lo. We are trusted in our work to be honest of expectations and capabilities and doing our procedures safely. Tattoos can be done in so many styles and preferences so we like to be prepared to do as many styles as requested and know when to give a certain request to the correct artist for the client. We have a standard of jewelry that we are confident is the best options for our clients and are always happy to give as much info as possible. Drunken Monkey Tattoo puts health and safety at a high standard and we always want our clients to feel confident in our work. We worry about making the right choices for our clients rather than making a dollar, and that’s why we have been so well trusted in our community. We are custom studio and want to give everyone a customized/personalized tattoo just for them that they should love forever. One thing about being a small business is that we also think its important to give back to our community, we love helping with benefits and local organizations that take care of our community.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Aspiring Tattoo artists or piercers should focus on learning safety protocols first before starting procedures, it’s hard to break bad habits, and when it comes to you or the client’s health that should be priority. Those wanting to open a studio should definitely do research on what your workers will need or want but also what demands your community may have as well. Running a tattoo studio assumes a lot of responsibility to the public health and safety. Also working in permanent body art, it is also a big responsibility to make sure your putting good work out and are honest with clientele expectations. No one is perfect at first, and this is a skill that requires alot of practice and dedication.
Contact Info:
- Email: saginawdrunkenmonkey@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/drunkenmonkeytattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenMonkeyTattooSaginaw
