Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Gilroy, Arisson Reyes
Hi Kayla Gilroy, Arisson Reyes, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Apollo was founded by two friends with a passion for art and storytelling. We both met in the industry and hit it off as coworkers, before realizing that we shared a common goal: opening a contemporary tattoo shop centered around creativity and customer service. Having a rich background in the service industry allowed us to identify ways we could elevate the traditional tattoo experience to provide a more reliable and comforting service for guests.
Arisson and I blend together perfectly, as our strengths and weaknesses complement each other.
Arisson has always been an entrepreneur at heart, always finding little ways to turn his creativity into income, whether that be creating a clothing brand, flipping furniture, or hosting events. He even found a way to sell his own Christmas trees! But what really sets Arisson apart from other CEO’s is his human connection. He can walk into a room a stranger and leave with ten new friends. He is the heart and soul of Apollo.
I (Kayla) was originally pursuing a degree in medicine, before I found tattooing. I had never before considered turning my passion for art into a career. And although I was already four years into my degree, the support of my friends and family drove me to make the decision to follow my dreams instead. Where Arisson is the face of Apollo, I am more the brains behind the scenes. I didn’t end up in the field I was studying, but I am still able to use the skills I learned to succeed in college in running our studio.
We are where we are today because we are a team.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business is never easy. You can spend years planning and preparing, but there will always be unforseen challenges along the road that you will have to face. Truthfully, our biggest challenge was starting. Throughout our friendship we had always joked around about opening a studio together, tossing out casual ideas around the dinner table. The biggest obstacle for us was ourselves. Having the courage to turn an idea into something concrete. It happened in a car ride to Millers for dinner. After making that call, nothing could stop us. It took two months to find a location, and one month after signing the lease to open our doors for the first time. There have been setbacks, like leaky ceilings and unforeseen expenses. But once we made the decision to try, nothing else mattered.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Business aside, Arisson and I are artists at heart. Having each worked at many different studios we saw a trend in the industry of shops focusing too much on one aspect of the field and ignoring others. Make a shop too modern and you lose the personality and creative expression of your artists. Make a shop too imaginative, and you lose structure and quality. Apollo was designed to cater as much toward our artists as our clients. We achieve this in several ways.
Building a team of passionate people makes all the difference in ensuring quality work. Although we are all independent artists, we wanted to build a team that could come together as a group. Aside from streamlining operations so our artists can focus more on their creativity, we want everyone here to feel like they have a say in the direction of Apollo. We decide our events as a group. We decide our products and equipment as a group. Everyone gets a say in what we do, and how we do it. We work on our art together, critique, give ideas, and grow as a group. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.
When our clients walk-in the door, we want them to feel comfort. Getting a tattoo/piercing can be a daunting experience! Feeling relaxed and taken care of, can make getting stabbed a fun experience. Things like complementary snacks and drinks, surprising our guests with flowers for special celebrations like birthdays, or letting clients choose the shop music to take their mind off the pain. These are the little ways that we make a difference. We want the experience to feel like Apollo is as much your space as it is ours.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I have so many amazing memories from my childhood, there is no way I can pick just one. But I will say, the day I adopted my first pet was probably one of the happiest days of my life. His name is Willie, and he is the sweetest, fattest orange cat on the planet. So I would have to say that, or going to my first concert with my dad which was Paul McCartney!
Pricing:
- Our shop minimum is $80
- One discounted flash event a month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.apollotattoostudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apollotattoostudios?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Image Credits
All photos taken by me or Arisson.
