A red beanie on his head, big square glasses, Camille goes back and forth between his desk and the workstations of the resident artists at the shop he co-runs with Robin. A portrait.
How did you get into tattooing and why open this shop?
"I had no plans to open a shop at all. After lockdown, my dream was to cook. But cooking as a job—it's not the same as cooking for your friends. Eventually, the opportunity to open the studio came up with Robin, and we decided to go for it. No regrets. It's been an incredible experience."
Why this location, right across from a sex shop?
"That was not intentional! We liked the space because it had a ton of potential. It's big, unusual, but complicated for other types of businesses. Before us, it was a lighting store, and before that, it was part of the sex shop—with dungeon stories upstairs. It was perfect for us: it gets people curious and fits the artistic vibe we wanted to create."
How would you describe your way of recruiting artists for the shop?
"We were looking for personalities above all—artists with a sincere, strong approach. When we met Esteban, for example, it was his artistic vision that struck us. We were looking for someone who had more than just technique. For us, it's about betting on people, giving them space to grow artistically."
What's your approach to managing such an unusual shop?
"Everything happened smoothly, no pressure. We wanted a space where everyone could work at their own pace, in a supportive environment. We're not here to be the most famous shop or the one with the biggest reputation. What matters is the cohesion between team members and the atmosphere we create for our clients."
You also organize events in the space. Why?
"We like the shop to be more than just a place to get tattooed. We've organized performances, fairground games, even short film screenings. It's a way to share our passions with people and build a community around the shop. It also shows we're open to different artistic experiences, not just tattooing."
What advice would you give to someone wanting to open their own shop?
"Take it step by step and don't rush. The beginning can be intimidating, but you need to take the time to surround yourself with the right people and create a space that truly reflects what you want. For us, the key was staying true to our values and keeping a long-term vision instead of chasing immediate results."
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