What It Takes To Be Successful In An Industry You Love

East Coast Electric Tattooing is celebrating 17 years in business. Owner Sylvane Boudreau credits their success with hard work and finding the right team.

There are currently four artists working at the tattoo shop in Beresford, and they bring a wealth of experience.

Adam Gray has been tattooing for over 21 years, while Brian Carr and Angie Difran have been at it for over 12 years. 

Sylvane says she knew it was going to be a great thing, but didn’t realize just how amazing it would be to do something that she loves as her life’s work.

Now, she’s booked a full year in advance at all times, but it wasn’t always like that. It takes time and patience to build up a loyal clientele.

“In the beginning we worked weekends, holidays, and snow storms because that was when people are off,” says Sylvane. “After a while I decided to just work through the week because it’s busy enough. I have a regular clientele who understands”

Although you’ll need to have some patience to book in with Sylvane, she says that the other artists always have availability within a couple of weeks.

When asked what brought about the decision to open up a shop in the Chaleur Region, she says that “It’s home and there’s a sense of pride to be in your local town.”

“Us four artists don’t just get clients from Bathurst or Belle-Baie. We serve clients all over northern New Brunswick. We also get people that come from Moncton and Fredericton. On a regular basis, we get people from Edmundston all the way to Miscou. We’re bringing people to our town.”

When businesses are bringing people from all over the province, it provides an economic boost to the region. Because they aren’t just going for a tattoo and leaving, many will take a look at other shops around town and get introduced to the other amazing businesses we have, and that’s very special. 

We also asked Sylvane, as a successful business owner, if she could provide any advice to those who are looking to go out on their own, but are still a little hesitant about making that giant leap into the entrepreneurial world.

“Do something you’re passionate about,” says Sylvane. “It’s a lot of work, and you don’t always get it back very fast. There were times when I couldn’t pay my rent in the beginning. But if you’re passionate about it, then putting in all that work won’t feel like work.”

If you want to learn more about the great team at East Coast Electric, and see some of their amazing work, you can visit them here: https://www.facebook.com/EastCoastElectricTattooing

We want to thank Sylvane for joining us for this edition of the Northern Heat Report. The place you come to listen to the stories that have not yet been discovered.