 Association
of Professional Tattoo Artists, what is it?
Tattoo
Inkorporated started in 1986. Seven people formed a
partnership to run EXPO at Hammersmith Palais.
Hopes of making a fortune didn't materialise, and in 1987
the partnership for EXPO '87 was of four people
(Brent, Ian, Lal and John). The partnership continued for
eight more years and ended in 1995.
During this period, the E.T.A.A. (European Tattoo Artists
Association) run by Jeff Baker ... was looking for new
custodians. Jeff had done his bit and wanted to give it
up ... and the Tattoo Inkorporated Partners took it over.
All 70+ members at that time!
E.T.A.A. was taken on as a separate project. It was a
separate 'entity' to the conventions. It had its own bank
account, and we decided that it should be self financing
- but if it hit financial problems, we as the partners
could
'bail it out' if necessary.
NO ONE was paid for E.T.A.A. work ... we considered that
the tattoo trade had been good to us as individuals
- so we could operate E.T.A.A. as a members' club and try
to keep members informed of what was going on in
the trade, at the same time trying to educate our fellows
in hygiene etc. ... to help the trade in any way we
could!
We never intended to be a 'Tattoo Police' ... and in a
trade where it is not unknown for knives to be aimed at
competitor's backs ... we decided that eligibility for
membership should be proof that people were
'professionals'
(like a copy of a Health Licence where possible), and not
references from other tattoo artists!
Numbers grew ... 'European' was a bit parochial, so it
became A.P.T.A. ...
The Tattoo Ink. Partnership ended in 1995 ... Brent was
travelling abroad more, Ian had other business ideas to
pursue. Ian dropped out of A.P.T.A. (he was the editor),
and so we are left with Lal and John!
Magazines are put together in our spare time, we do not
take payments from the club. We have had token
'honorariums' towards phone bills etc.
We have asked for help regularly ... and we are getting
members' contributions now, but not many of them! This
'animal' has grown dramatically ... December 1997
magazine went out to 641 members world-wide, as of 16/2
1998 we have had 561 renewals (and will get more over the
next few weeks and months ...), so we expect 1998
membership to approach 700!
IF any member wants to help more ... we are open to any
ideas! We hope that we are putting a bit back into a
trade which has been good to us ... we hope to continue
to do so ... but please remember ... we do it as a hobby
... in our own time (as well as running our studios etc.)
... and we WELCOME constructive criticism ... but get
fed up with being slagged off from time to time!
Along the way ... Needle Industries were going to cease
needle production for 'tattoo' - we went and saw them,
and agreed to buy needles in hundreds of thousands if
they continued production. We also agreed to sell them at
normal retail prices (no extra mark-up). This ensured
needle availability! The supply company was born! This is
a
limited liability company, Lal and John are the
shareholders now. It does make a profit, it is NOT part
of
A.P.T.A. Stock levels are currently over £40,000 ... and
that is John and Lal's money. We try and provide top
quality merchandise ... sane prices (ethical profits ...
fair but not excessive) ... the profit is our 'return' on
the
£40,000+ we have invested in it! And we try and sell
only to professionals ... which is why we don't advertise
in
periodicals! We don't sell rubbish! Our customer base
increases by recommendation, based on fair trading and
good, fast service! Amen!
source; John Williams and Lal Hardy (founder members of
the A.P.T.A.)
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