Launching The Artist Amplifier!
As we discussed in our July “Good Supplier” blog, the rise in popularity and awareness of tattoo has the consequence of attracting larger interest in commercial and investment groups, as well as the eye of various global government regulators.
This rising commercial interest creates risk, or pressure, on how equipment innovation and quality is fostered, two areas where suppliers are directly involved. How suppliers act will have consequences to either thrive or stifle innovation and quality.
This blog article continues our focus on the role and responsibilities of tattoo equipment suppliers, and as the final instalment, we are happy to announce the launch of our Artist Amplifier grant program, with $30,000 available each year to support artist innovation and ownership.
We hope you find it useful.
Where innovation happens
Innovation is critical to the growth and development of any trade, and the tattoo industry is no exception. Two major areas for innovation we can think of over the past few years has been the availability of wireless and hands-free technologies, and the breadth of biodegradable and recycling options replacing plastics.
Harvard Business Review reported on the “Science” of innovation, that innovation is the work of knowing rather than doing. Once you’ve identified an attractive opportunity, you still need a leap of imagination to arrive at the right response—call it “functional inspiration.”.
Read more here: https://hbr.org/2002/08/the-discipline-of-innovation
The reported noted that “Most innovations, however, especially the successful ones, result from a conscious, purposeful search for innovation opportunities”.
Innovation is not plucked out of the air, it comes from hard work and knowledge of a space for improvement, combined with the support to bring that improvement to life.
We consider it part of our role as a supplier to be a source of support for innovation.
Fostering Innovation and Craft
Tattoo artists today have an incredible variety of choices to how they access and purchase their equipment. The range of brands, type and design of machines and quantities readily available via internet shopping mean that historic barriers and limitations to what equipment an artist can purchase no longer exist (check our blog on supply history for more on that).
An equipment supplier is often the main avenue artists access their equipment from, especially in Australia, where importing from the overseas brand direct can be costly as well as the insurance implications we have already mentioned in our blog on the “good” supplier here.
Supplier buying decisions, which brands they support in their store, do impact what a large proportion of artists are able to make equipment choices from.
Suppliers fill their store with the larger and most popular brands, ones that are established, understood and often ones that provides an easy ordering, delivery and warranty process. Artists know them and buy them. It’s a reasonable decision for a business to survive.
Where does that leave the innovators, the independent and small brands, new artist start-ups? If we don’t pursue innovation and improvement, then we never progress. As Albert Einstein put it, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”.
It is crucial that supplier stores include room for new, innovative products that are artist owned and developed brands.
With a supplier supporting those innovators to get their products out in front of people, to advertise and promote them and tell their story, it is infinitely easier for that artist owned and led new business to emerge and thrive.
So, a “good” supplier has the responsibility to preserve that path for artists and innovation. A “good” supplier will always be looking for new products and developments outside of their normal brands that not only improve the equipment available, but also support artists themselves in creating those independent businesses.
The Artist Amplifier Program
Industry Tattoo Supply is backing Australian Artist innovation.
We now commit over $30,000 minimum each year towards artist own new product developments. Individual payments of up to $10,000 are paid to Australian tattoo innovators to be used to find the production of new, innovative artist tools and equipment for commercial sale.
Eligibility for the Artist Amplifier Program is:
- You have been working from an Australian Tattoo shop for at least three years
- Tattoo tools or equipment that is something new, or provides a unique improvement
- A completed, working model is ready
Also note that
- Physical tools and equipment is preferred over software and apps
- Australian made is be preferred over manufacture outside Australia
- The program includes cosmetic PMU and SMP tattoo
In addition to the payment, we will also provide each person if needed:
- $1,000 towards marketing advice and consultancy
- $1,000 legal assistance for copyright and patent legal advice
- Business plan advice and support for launch of your new brand and equipment
- Marketing and promotion of your brand and product through our store, offering it to 1,000’s of artists that trust us for their supplies
You will still 100% own and control your idea, our payment is for the pre-purchase of inventory to sell in our store and provide you with the initial order capital to start manufacturing at a decent scale.
The Artist Amplifier program launches from 1st September 2024 for applications for the 2024 year, just reach out to us on our socials or email at shop@industrytattoosupply.com.au and be sure to mention “Artist Amplifier” in your contact submission.