Today we’d like to introduce you to Elias Gleason.
Hi Elias, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello, I’m Elias, proud owner of Ink & Iron Tattoos here in San Antonio. When I was 18 I got my first tattoo at Ft. Benning Georgia and had gotten intrigued by the environments and lifestyle in the shops I would go to. Later on in life, I became good friends with people in the industry while I myself was in the restaurant business. In my free time, I spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends at the shops they worked at and picked up a lot of knowledge doing so. In the restaurant business, my job as a corporate manager was to open new locations and ensure standards were being met in existing locations. While in San Antonio opening a restaurant, a friend had told me about a tattoo studio that was closing and being business savvy I might be able to do something with it under my own brand. I checked it out and decided to take the risk and opened up Ink and Iron Tattoos. I brought my style of customer service and management and to this day have a very hands-on approach to the daily operations. I had my most experienced artist begin to teach me more of the actual tattoo process and have become a decent artist myself where I never Imagined being able to do the type of art I currently do. I work every day here at my studio always placing an emphasis on the whole client experience to be memorable and fun so it doesn’t feel like a job at all. I’m blessed to be doing what I love and surrounded by great people.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting out owning a tattoo business and not being a tattooer myself at the time was at times difficult. Some artists do not have respect for owners who don’t tattoo and take advantage that I would not be capable to do what they were capable of. Also, while knowing how to run businesses and manage them the tattoo industry has different quirks where I was behind the curve so reaching out to the friends, I had in the business was crucial. At the same time, being very careful about the artist I surround myself with is of the utmost importance. Not just them having talent but being personable and of good character is a must. I truly learned on the fly but I’m proud to say I’ve created a brand with a good reputation
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have various artists that specializes in different styles but am proud to be able to say our realism style tattoos are some of the best in San Antonio and Texas in general. But what we have built our clientele base from is having a great vibe and customer service. Gone are the days of the rock star attitudes and rough and tough shops where some people may not feel comfortable. We are a family-friendly shop and have many minors accompanied by parents come for piercings. Some shops treat clients more like a number and are just in it for the money. Here we truly care about the art and making people happy. Our style of customer service is what truly sets us apart.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Social media nowadays is a great tool for seeing local artists/owners and reaching out to them for advice. Traveling a bit also helps for instance we have been to some of the tattoo conventions put on by Ink Masters and made friends with other artists that had great advice to level up our game. Always striving to be better than yesterday and not being afraid to ask how to improve is the best advice for anyone in any field.
Pricing:
- Tattoo Minimum $80
- Piercing Minimum $25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inkandirontattooing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkandirontattoos210/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InkandIronsa
