Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Diaz.
Hi Tommy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur since I was a little boy. I guess when you come from a poor and struggling family, that is what will drive a kid to want to do more. My family were immigrants; they didn’t have a lot of opportunities, worked hard, and got nowhere. I did not want to go through that struggle. I wanted to be in control of my destiny. Throughout my journey, I’ve had 13 businesses. Body Expressions is my most successful and longest-running business. Body Expressions Tattoo Studio started in 2007. We are the first professional Award winning tattoo studio in Seguin, TX, Guadalupe county area. In those days, it was hard for our industry to be accept. So it took a lot of hard work to show our small community at the time that ex-cons and biker gangs own not all tattoo shops, haha. And now, 16 years later, we are still moving strong! 5 years ago, I met the love of my life who has had to deal with all the long nights, no sleep, and the stresses of me running a business. Without her being my support team, I don’t think I would be where I am today. She is now my business partner and has helped scale Body Expressions to a new level. We have since opened Beauty Expressions, an esthetics and cosmetic tattooing studio. I am also launching a podcast named Texas Tattooed. We’re diving deep into the tattoo and body modification industry! We will be interviewing Texas Tattoo professionals and conversing about interesting tattoo-related topics.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not! I have had many struggles as a minority business owner. My grandfather has always been my mentor. He is a 93-year-old hard-working Wiseman who taught me the importance of hard work and family. He gave me my first business loan to show how much he believed in me. Having a successful business is harder than most people think. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of sacrifice and hard work. You have to worry about paying your bills and business expenses and making sure those who work for you can also pay their bills. I’ve had to bounce back plenty of times from debt. It’s funny because people assume owning a business means you’re made of money. I’ve helped out and invested in a lot of people, unfortunately you get some people who take advantage and demand more. I’ve had people try to do a lot of hurtful things to me because they don’t get their way, but honestly I don’t let it get to me. I have a strong support team, my family. I do have to say, many people who see you successful don’t know what you must do on the back end to stay successful. The work never stops. I’m constantly solving problems, improving my business, and wearing many hats to keep the business flowing and smooth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Body Expressions, we pride ourselves on customer service, quality work, and cleanliness. We offer tattoos, piercings, tooth gems, and permanent jewelry. We also sell body jewelry and clothing. Our sister company, Beauty Expressions, offers brow, lash, facial, and body treatments in the studio. Our studio is a judgment-free, happy, safe place. We encourage our customers to be and express themselves and treat them like family. We do a lot of community events. We have a friendly and diverse team of artists specializing in many styles. We are one big happy tattoo family who loves what we do.
What does success mean to you?
Everybody has their definition of what success is; it is not one size fits all. Success is taking care of my family, helping less fortunate people, and traveling to beautiful places with my wife and kids. It’s not about making all this money and being the wealthiest person in the world; it’s about having freedom, feeling happy, and genuinely enjoying life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bodyexpressionstattoo.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/bodyexpressionstattoo
- Facebook: Facebook.com/bodyexpressionstattoo
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bodyexpressions
