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Name: Body Branding Tattoo Emporium
Telephone: (239) 732-8868

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Body Branding Tattoo Emporium

"Naples Oldest & Most Established Tattoo & Piercing Salon"

About Us

Welcome to Body Branding Tattoo Emporium, your premier destination for exceptional tattoo and piercing services in Naples, FL, and the surrounding areas. Since our establishment, we have been dedicated to providing top-notch artistry and personalized experiences for our clients. Our skilled artists specialize in a wide range of tattoo styles and techniques to bring your vision to life. Additionally, we offer professional and safe piercing services for those looking to express themselves in unique ways. Visit us at Body Branding Tattoo Emporium and let us help you make your body a masterpiece.

Areas Served

Naples, FL

Languages Spoken

English
Spanish

What We Offer

Our Services include:

Tattoo
Piercing
Tattoo Removal
Body Jewelry Changes

Our Brands include:

H2Ocean Aftercare

Our Products include:

Body Jewelrty
Tattoo Aftercare
At Home Henna Kits

Testimonials

On 9/1/2024 Mackenzie Marquardt had this to say:
I have had William two times now and every time I have had a fantastic experience. This place always makes you feel comfortable and you leave with exactly what you want.

On 8/31/2024 Andrew Hassell had this to say:
William was the absolute tattoo artist ive worked with. Will was so nice and professional. His work is great. Highly recommend!!

On 6/14/2024 Rachel Gonzalez had this to say:
Jimbo is an exceptional tattoo artist! From the moment I walked into his studio, I felt welcomed and at ease. His creativity and attention to detail are truly impressive. He took my vague ideas and transformed them into a stunning piece of art that exceeded my expectations. Jimbo's professionalism and commitment to hygiene were evident throughout the entire process. The atmosphere in his studio is relaxed and comfortable, making the experience even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a talented and reliable tattoo artist, I highly recommend Jimbo. I couldn't be happier with my new tattoo!

On 5/15/2024 pete flinn had this to say:
I had a tattoo covered up and was very satisfied with the entire experience. The owner of the Shop "Jimbo" is knowledgeable, experienced, and a true professional. It was a pleasure to have him lay down some fresh ink on top a bad decision 35 yrs ago.

On 5/15/2024 Jeramie Cravens had this to say:
Chano finished the outline on my full arm tribal, the shading and color will be done in 1 week, I HIGHLY recommend body branding tattoo emporium,chano did an amazing job,super straight,clean lines and he's very very professional he went above and beyond.

Contact Us

Body Branding Tattoo Emporium
1650 Airport Rd S Suite 2 Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 732-8868
Email: jimbobbte@gmail.com

Where To Find Us

Payment Types Accepted

Discover, American Express, Debit Cards, Cash, MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, Apple Pay, Android Pay

Our Hours

Holiday Hours May Vary. Please Call For Details.

Monday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

News

Hi! I’m the owner of Body Branding Tattoo Emporium in Naples, Florida. Established in 1994, I have been affiliated with the National Tattoo Association since 1997 and am also a member of the Association of Professional Piercers since 1999.

I would say my interest in tattoos all began in 1976. It was in Stamford, CT. where I was friends with Tony Esposito, who was just getting started with tattooing. I decided to volunteer my arm and so wound up with my first tattoo. I watched him tattoo lots of people, well into the 80's, paying close attention the whole time. In 1977 I also wandered into Big Joe’s Tattoo Parlor in Mount Vernon, NY. Although I had no real thoughts of being a tattoo artist then, “The Experience” I had there had always made me say to myself, “I’d like to have a place like this someday. Chicks, Tats, bikes, and everything I liked, what can I say?

In the late 70's to the early 80's, I was collecting tats and paying attention to the artist. In those years, I studied several people's tattoo. “Shorty” from Port Chester, NY., a woman known as Lee Kutamsh in Bedford, NY., and of course, my friend Tony Esposito in Stamford, CT.

As the years went on, I had gotten lost in life. I had been riding with a club back then. I got married in the mid-80's and had two kids. At that point,I realized my kids would be in school soon, and the schools were not very good in that area. I was also working for the city of Stamford as an Incinerator Operator breathing in dust every day. I wanted something different as far as a job. So, in 87, we loaded up and moved to Naples, FL., sunshine, and palm trees.

Soon after arriving here, I started a bike shop called “Jimbos Hog Parts.”Little did I know the divorce was right around the corner, which had forced me to close my bike shop. However, sometimes a bad thing is really a good thing in disguise. I had to move out of the beautiful house I just had bought a year and a half earlier. The ex got it. Meanwhile,I met a girl who I became good friends with, Suzy, who was a person you could just talk to. Well,one day Suzy said, “Jimbo, you’ve talked about the experience you had with tattooing in the past, do you think you could teach me what you know about it if I buy the proper equipment?” So naturally,I said sure. She went out and bought the Spaulding & Rogers deluxe set-up with tattooing A-Z, Sterilizer, and all, we even got the Revolution Machine. Thank God we had an orange tree in the backyard. We tattooed 500 times more oranges than we actually ate off the tree.

As time went on, friends that seen the oranges all over the house started asking for us to ink them up. We followed Hucks Spaulding’s Book (Tattooing A-Z) like it was a bible. Local artists we studied like A.J. Johnson, now the owner of Looking Glass Tattoo in Bonita Springs, FL. And Ed “Cash” Coventry would come to Naples and do tats at Mickey’s Place. It was always a treat to watch him tat. He was definitely one of my inspirations, to aspire, to truly commit myself to this trade. Along the way, I also met Deano. At this point, Suzy wasn’t keeping up or being serious about tattooing, so I palled around with Deano for a while. I had set up a studio in my house and got a few machines from Big Joe. While Deano did the party scene, I didn’t like to move around as my set up was all in my house studio and sterilization in one of my biggest concerns.

During the day, I had a pressure cleaning business, and nights were spent in the studio tattooing. We were doing lots of work, but one night, out at the bar Deano said to me, “I bet you a dollar you couldn’t open up a legitimate tattoo parlor in Naples.” It was widely believed tattooing was illegal in Naples, butI took the bet. It took me almost two years of researching State tattoo laws as well as a local ordinance on tattoos and fighting the county commission, but eventually, I got the call saying my license had been issued and I could open the first Tattoo parlor in Naples. That was in 1994.

Then the ball really got rolling, and I was open for business legally and still operating the pressure cleaning business. After four months, I realized I couldn’t be out all morning doing the cleaning thing and then coming to the parlor. I sold the cleaning business in 95 and strictly did tattoos from then on. A year or two later, I met Todd Vargas. He needed to work a little while he was visiting a relative in Naples. So I gave him a chair to work in. We got talking about National one day. I wanted to become a member, so he put the call in for me while he was here. One of the other challenges I was up against was the growing demand for body piercing. So as fate would have it, Nemesis, a piercing shop owner from Seattle, WA. wandered into my shop and wanted a place to start out. So we made a deal. I would learn piercing from him while he got established in the area. After a year or so,I felt comfortable with the body piercing, and a shop came open in Ft. Myers Beach, so Nemises moved on.

Shortly thereafter, I heard about the Association of Professional Piercers and the strict criteria they have. I always like to be atthe forefront of the field, especially when it has to do with sanitary issues of this trade. I forgot to mention we got the name for the shop because I was doing a little research on Branding. It wasn’t really popular in the early 90’s so I thought what a great name of the shop as I suspected the trendiness might catch on the East Coast. I have done quite a bit of it, but to this day, it is not a mainstay of our operation. And by the way, Deano finally ended up back in Florida and paid me the dollar bet made in 1992 in 2015 and now has a chair in the shop that came about all on a dollar bet.

In the realm of artistic expression, I found my sanctuary in 2018 at Body Branding Tattoo Emporium starting as an apprentice. With an unwavering dedication to the craft, countless hours and a lot of hard work, I am a certified tattoo artist and piercer. I am now able to shape my passion into a genuine skill set. Hailing from the captivating city of Naples, Florida, I proudly call this vibrant coastal town my home.

I stand tall as a testament to the power of perseverance and determination. Devoting myself relentlessly to my craft, I can be found diligently working at Body Branding six days a week, honing my skills and creating art that speaks to the souls of my clients.

My journey began during the formative years of my life, as a student at Barron Collier High School. It was during this time that my infatuation with tattoos was born, an unquenchable desire to adorn my body with meaningful art. However, the prospect of funding this artistic dream seemed elusive until I discovered my true calling.

Today, I proudly embark on a path where my passion intertwines with my livelihood, etching unique stories onto the canvas of human skin. Through each stroke of the inked needle, I strive to create masterpieces that transcend the physical realm and touch the depths of the human spirit.

As part of my journey, I was awarded the opportunity to apprentice and learn from Master Piercer Jimbo the art of safe body piercing and have finished that apprenticeship. I have been doing piercing as well as tattooing and have found that I am just as diligent with this craft as well.

Join me on this captivating journey, as we explore the boundless possibilities of self-expression through the art of tattooing and piercing. Together, let us redefine the boundaries of creativity and leave an indelible mark on the world, one intricate design at a time.

Hi my name is Eric Von Dar, I grew up in Allentown Pennsylvania and started my apprenticeship for Tattooing in 1980 with a well-known tattoo artist peter eagle. I had a full extensive apprenticeship for two years, from 1982 to 1984 I worked with Peter eagle in Allentown Pennsylvania. In September 1984 I moved to Chambersburg Pennsylvania where I opened up my own tattoo studio, Elite Tattoo LLC. I owned and operated that establishment until 2017.

My experience starting my apprenticeship WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TATTOO ARTISTS, over 40 years of experience. when I first started my apprenticeship in 1981 learning or getting into tattooing was a secret society. Getting a tattoo by a good artist was a shot in the dark in that time. I just happen to go to the right place at the right time in Allentown PA,the artist name was Peter Eagle (God rest his soul). After receiving a couple tattoos from him he saw some talent in me and asked if I could help out on the weekends in the shop. He then proceeded to tell me if I wanted to learn this trade I would have to devote all my time and be in the studio all the hours he is open. So we came to an agreement I would work in the studio 12pm-6pm and bartend from 6:30pm-3am Monday through Saturday. Apprenticeships back in that time you did not get paid while you were in the process of learning. You paid him to learn.

The first year duties were signing people up cleaning the studio making errands talking to customers. Six months into this process you would start to learn how to check needles with an eye loop we used number 12 sewing needles (later on we found and used stainless steel bug pins) and we had to make sure there were no burs or hooks on them before we would solder them in groups of ones,threes, fives, and six flat for shading. That was the art and skill of making and soldering needle group and soldering them on needle bars. Then you would clean them packed them and then autoclave them (sterilize). After about nine months you would learn how to cut stencils with a pin vice scribe onto acetate (plastic) there was no paper stencils back in that time, we would rub graphite on the grooves on the stencil to apply to the skin (cutting stencils was I high skill job). You would also learn how to color flash and shade on flash like you would on skin (flash back then had no color). Next I would learn how to mix color tattoo dye it was all in powder form except black, back then you mixed it with Listerine and a little bit of glycerin (except violet you used rubbing alcohol ). At about the year point you would learn how to take apart tattoo machines (they are not called tattoo guns) put them back together wrap coils, cut front and back springs, solder on capacitors, and then finally fine tune your machine. It would be over a year before you would pick up the machine and actually start tattooing and the first person that you tattoo is yourself.

My total apprenticeship was 2 years and the total price that I paid to learn how to tattoo was four times more than what an apprenticeship goes for today. But today it's saturated with all types of people tattooing, some good and a lot bad. Remember today anybody can buy a tattoo kit everything is all pre made but most don't put the time in or the skill of learning how to really make a good tattoo. If you are price shopping you are going to get the value of your price...For your tattoo, you have to wear that forever.

My name is Chano AKA Epi Age 44 I was Raised in Collier County since the age of 3. I began my art journey at the early age of 6 watching my older brother drawing comics and painting, and from that point I had a fascination with comics and how they were made. All throughout school I took art classes very seriously and during my free time I also took art courses in fine arts, graphic design, and animation.

In my early teens I was introduced to the world of tattoos and by the age of 18 I began my tattoo career, which opened up a whole new area in the art industry. I began learning black and gray, traditional and a host of other styles working at the different street shops. My passion for Art and Tattoos has grown over the years and I've come to love and appreciate the centuries old trade. In my mid 20's I discovered the Art of "Tebori irezumi" or Japanese Tattooing and from then till now, I have been studying in the Japanese style of tattooing.

One thing that I can take away from my journey in tattooing is patience, hard work, working as a team, and that Art is in everything as long as you take time and look with an open heart.