Tattoo artist Boots Brandon agrees that there is not a single formula to success.
He proudly looks at his new tattoo shop at Crossroads in Banilad, Cebu City, with the support of friends and family who have followed his journey into becoming one of the city’s known tattoo artists.
Boots has definitely come a long way since his earlier days as a jeepney barker in Cebu.
“Setting up shop in Crossroads is a dream for me. Crossroads has excellent parking—it’s the best place for a tattoo shop,” he said.
And what a dream he is living. At 36, Boots has gone through thick and thin to where he is at present. From the early days of struggling on finding his path and purpose in life, he now owns and manages a tattoo studio located in the lifestyle arcade. He named his shop “Redeemed Tattoo,” a reminder of the numerous times when he thought of giving up, and all the personal struggles he had to endure before getting to where he is today.
“I first started out as a skateboarder until my friend recommended me to work in a tattoo shop,” he shared of his humble beginnings. First, he did henna tattoos before learning the ropes of tattooing. Boots practiced more until he eventually fell in love with the art. He ventured and hung out in various tattoo shops in the city while honing his tattoo skills.
“My whole life, I was surrounded by art,” Boots shared.
Today, Boots now has a team of over five tattoo artists, and Boots shared that he plans to expand his brand.
“I want the brand to become even bigger,” he said, adding that Redeemed Tattoo will be releasing their own clothing line shortly after its grand opening.
Being in the business for over eight years, Boots has learned how he wants to present his shop as well as improve their customers’ experience before and after entering the store.
In spite of his achievements, Boots never forgets to give back. Another factor which contributed to the success of Redeemed Tattoo was the number of people that Boots helped through the years, and the friends he has bonded with through their passions for tattooing.
Forward to the future, his goal remains the same: Help those who mean the most to him.
Redeemed Tattoo is located in Crossroads, Banilad and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.