Will the artists stay if I buy a tattoo shop?
You cannot know until you ask them. Clients in a tattoo shop usually follow the artist, so talk to each artist before closing, learn how much of the bookings are theirs, and use the purchase agreement and a seller transition period to give them reasons to stay. Treat the artists’ intentions as part of your checking.
In a tattoo shop the artists are the product. A client who loves one artist’s style will follow that artist to another shop, and the buyer who forgets this can pay for a business whose main assets walk out after closing. You cannot control that fully, but you can find out where each artist stands and structure the sale to make staying easier.
Gauge each artist’s following
Ask the seller which artists carry the most bookings and how far ahead their calendars are filled. Look at who has a strong personal following on social media, and whether clients book the shop or the person. An artist with a loyal following has choices. A shop that depends on one such artist is exposed in a way a balanced team is not.
Talk to the artists before closing
Ask the seller to arrange a conversation with each artist, and agree in advance what will be said. Listen for what they like about working there, what they would change and whether they see a future under new ownership. Do not promise terms you have not decided on. Some artists will be glad of a clear plan, and some will already be thinking of leaving.
Use the deal to support a smooth handover
The seller’s help during the first weeks can calm the team and bring clients along. The BDC’s guidance on what to do after buying and on purchase agreements points to transition support and clear terms. Ask your lawyer how to write a transition period, and any limits on the seller opening a competing shop, into the agreement.
- Which artists hold the largest share of bookings
- Whether any artist has given notice or hinted at leaving
- What each artist expects to change, and what must stay the same
- How long the seller will stay on to introduce you
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentUnderstanding post-merger operational integration
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentMajor pitfalls to avoid when negotiating a purchase agreement
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
- 04Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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