Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan “X”.
Jordan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Started tattooing in 07 in New Jersey. Moved to Miami to pursue a professional tattoo career. Worked in a number of shops starting off building my portfolio and honing my skills. Had the dream of opening a tattoo shop and making a name for myself. In 2011 opened Exclusive Ink, few years later was changed to X ink, and now operating under Oxygen Ink. The name change was necessary as I grew and left my old ways, I rebranded myself as I grew smarter and more knowledgeable. In Sept 2014 Tattoo Nightmares Miami aired on Spike Tv and the show was filmed at our location. We have been featured on Channel 7 news and had many interviews and video footage of the shop form all around the world. My goal in opening Oxygen Ink was to come with a different perspective coming from New Jersey. I wanted to come with a different feel and really express who I am. The outcome is a relaxed, comfortable environment where customers feel at home and have the ability to walk around freely, play pool, ping pong or just chill and watch tv or wait for their friends or family to get the tattoo or piercing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I had many struggles. Being that I was not from here, I had to stand strong and hold my ground. Being the youngest business owner with a tattoo shop on South Beach was hard enough. I didn’t realize how hard running a business would be by hiring, operating, paying bills, advertising the shop, keeping up with the artists and just earning respect from my older employees. There were many instances in which the artists would steal behind my back or drink or deal with drugs on the job, act a fool in front of customers, get into fights and so on. As I grew in the business I started killing the negative energy and really started changing the whole look of the shop and professionalism, this is why I changed the name 2 times. Staying afloat for the first few years was the hardest. Many instances when money was just so short I didn’t know if I’ll be able to make another month, or the next. Somehow, I managed to get through the pain and establish myself as one of the best go-to tattoo shops in Miami.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Oxygen Ink Tattoo Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
We are the biggest, brightest tattoo shop in South Beach offering fully custom tattoos, temporary tattoos, and body piercings. We specialize in black and grey realism work, portraits, fine line designs, full color tattoos, traditional, new school, coverups, and just about any style a customer might want. Every artist is different and has their strengths in one or more of the categories. We have great reviews from our customers in which we value deeply. Customers do their research and look at our portfolios and know were here to produce quality work at affordable rates with the highest quality supplies used in the tattoo industry. The vibe of the shop is like none other, when you walk in its a feeling you can’t explain. We play good music, we laugh, we get serious when it’s time, and we enjoy what we do and the customer feels that. I think the biggest different in the way we operate is we stay in our lane. We don’t go searching for what the other shops are doing, we do us and we do it well. We respect the other businesses and wish them the best but we are here to stay, and by maintaining great customer service and producing quality tattoo work is how it will stay that way.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think luck played a great part in my life and business. I’ve had what some would call bad luck, but I would call it making bad decisions. Nothing can always be smooth and easy and you have to be prepared when bad luck happens to override the good. As far as good luck, I can definitely say something or someone was on my side, I’ve been through the worst and hit rock bottom but somehow got it together and got back up.
Pricing:
- Tattoos are priced according to size, detail, color, black and grey, etc. Our tattoo minimum is $80
Contact Info:
- Address: 1521 Washington Ave.,
Miami Beach, FL 33139 - Website: www.oxygenink.com
- Phone: 3053978151
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @oxygenink
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oxygenink/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oxygen-ink-miami-miami-beach
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