Tired of rising shipping costs eating into your profits? At Maverick Tattoo Mercantile, we understand every dollar counts. That's why we're proud to offer free shipping on all orders, giving tattooers a real savings on the high-quality gear they need. As a tattooer-owned business, we're built from the chair out to deliver top-notch supplies without the surprise fees.
📍 Naugatuck, CT
@rightinthetrash
Get ready to meet Michelle Stecker, an artist whose journey into tattooing began with a twist of fate! Unlike many who "fall into" the industry, Michelle's path started with a school personality test that suggested she become an accountant. Thankfully, her sister had a much better idea, and from that moment on, tattooing was the only thing Michelle ever wanted to do. Now, a talented artist in Naugatuck, CT, Michelle has turned her childhood dream into a rewarding career. One of her most meaningful experiences was tattooing her very first pet portrait—a memorial piece for a client's beloved dog. This pivotal moment set her on a new path, leading her to become the shop's go-to artist for pet portraits, a specialization she absolutely loves. Her immense love and devotion to her craft shine through in every piece, making her journey from a childhood dream to a fulfilling career an inspiring one.
What made you realize you wanted to be a tattoo artist?
When I was 11 or 12 I had to take a personality test in school where you find out your "ideal career" at the end (mine was like accounting or something haha so don’t trust those tests). I hated the idea of having a normal job and I’ve been into art as long as I can remember, so my sister was helping me brainstorm some better options and suggested tattooing. It’s been the only thing I’ve wanted to do ever since then!
That’s such a hard question! If I had to pick just one it would probably be the first pet portrait I ever did. I was about 5 months into tattooing at the time, and my client knew it was going to be a first but still decided to trust me with a memorial portrait of her dog. I was so nervous, I remember massively over preparing for the appointment (even made a color coded version of the line drawing where each color was a different line weight - luckily I don’t do it like that anymore!). It came out alright all things considered, and my client was really happy with it which felt rewarding because I knew it meant a lot to her. I didn’t know it at the time but that tattoo was a big step for me, I never set out to have a "thing" but I’m the pet portrait person at the shop now, and I’m a huge animal lover so I’m pretty happy about that!
One challenge you've had to overcome in the industry and how it has impacted you?
I’m an introvert, so it’s always been sort of hard for me to put myself out there and talk to people or post on social media. I wouldn’t say it’s something that I’ve overcome but it’s definitely gotten easier over time. I’m more used to talking to people since tattooing is such a one on one thing, I have some clients who feel more like friends at this point. And I feel very at home at the shop where I work so that helps a lot too!
Hey Maverick fam, we know your grind is real. Between client consultations, designing, social media fatigue, and the hours on your feet, every minute counts. At Maverick Supply Co., we're all about making your hustle a little easier—and a lot more rewarding. That’s why we’ve launched Maverick Rewards, the only loyalty program built specifically for tattooers.
Ready to turn your regular supply runs into a profit-stacking game? Grab your coffee, water, or tea and let’s talk about how to get rewarded for doing what you already do.
What is Maverick Rewards? Tattoo Smarter, Earn More. Think of it as your secret weapon for your tattoo business. Every time you shop with us, engage with us, or just celebrate your birthday, you’re earning Penguin Points. These aren't just any points—they’re your ticket to future discounts, free merch, and exclusive perks. It's our way of saying thanks for choosing a tattooer-owned business.
How to Earn Penguin Points (The Fun Part!)
Earning points is ridiculously easy. You can start stacking points right now, today, just by doing a few simple things.
The Welcome Wagon! Just for joining Maverick Rewards, we drop a cool 50 points into your account. Consider it our welcome gift.
Shop 'til You Drop! This is the biggest one. You earn 1 Penguin Point for every $1 you spend. Your cart is literally filling up with future savings. Stocking up on needles? Boom, points. Grabbing some new ink? Double boom, points!
The Shout-out Time! Your voice is a valuable tool.
Product Review Power: Love a product? Tell us! Write a valuable review on Judge.me and snag 10 points for each one. Your feedback helps other artists make smarter choices, and you get rewarded.
Social Butterfly Perks: Connect with us on social! Following our Instagram gets you 25 points, while a quick "Like" or "Share" on Facebook earns you even more.
The Birthday Bash! We love to celebrate your special day. Make sure your birthday is in your profile, and we'll gift you a massive 125 points every year. 🎉
The Friend Frenzy! Got a buddy who’s just getting their setup dialed in? When you refer them to our store and they make a purchase, you both get $5 off! It's a win-win for everyone.
Redeeming Your Points: It's a Breeze! Once you’ve stacked up those Penguin Points, turning them into rewards is simple. When you get to checkout, you'll see your available rewards balance. You can easily apply your points for instant savings on your order. It's that easy.
Your Questions, Answered.
Do my points expire? Yes, so don’t let them sit for too long! Your valuable Penguin Points are good for 6 months from the date you earned them. We want you to use them and get rewarded!
Can I refer someone who isn’t a tattooer? Absolutely, YES! Our community is for everyone. If you have a friend who's a fan of unique merch or just wants to check us out, you can still refer them and both get that sweet $5 discount.
How do I level up? The more you earn, the higher your loyalty status soars! Keep stacking points from shopping, reviewing, and engaging with us, and you'll unlock even bigger benefits and exclusive perks.
Ready to Start Earning? Your loyalty means the world to our small, tattooer-owned business. We're proud to give back to the artists who make this industry what it is. Head over to our site, sign up for Maverick Rewards, and start your journey to earning awesome perks today.
Running a clean, safe tattoo shop doesn’t have to be wasteful. From compostable wheat-based ink cups to eco-friendly rinse cups and smart ordering tips, here are 7 easy ways to keep your station green without losing performance or style.
📍 Downington, PA
@evjonestattoos
Get ready to meet Evan Jones, an artist whose journey into tattooing was as unexpected as it was ultimately fulfilling! Unlike many who dream of tattooing from day one, Evan "sort of fell into it" - but what a fortunate fall it was.
After graduating art school and struggling with unfulfilling graphic and product design jobs (and even recovering from an emergency appendectomy!), a friend's timely call changed everything. Offered an apprenticeship in New Jersey, Evan, who hadn't even considered tattooing before, decided to take a leap of faith. It was "seriously the best decision I've ever made."
From the moment he started, Evan knew he'd found his calling. The technical side came naturally, and he discovered a deep passion for the daily creative challenges, connecting with clients, and the profound privilege of creating deeply personal art. Despite feeling a touch of "imposter syndrome" due to his accidental entry into the industry, Evan's immense "love, devotion, and passion" for his craft shines through in every piece.
Make sure to read below to learn more about Evan!
What made you realize you wanted to be a tattoo artist?
To be honest, I sort of fell into it. Before getting my apprenticeship I was living back at home with my mom after graduating art school (because student loans + art degree = zero income). I found work doing graphic design and product design for a large camping and vacation supply distributor and HATED it. Not only because I was underpaid for the work I was doing, but it was not at all what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be. All I ever wanted in life was to make a living doing art, but I struggled for years trying to figure out where my passion was. I was always drawing from a young age and had tried all varieties of freelance work ranging from commissioned paintings and murals, to t-shirt design, gig posters, coloring comics, and working every other type of job you could think of that was related to art in some way (screen printing, photo editing, art framing, etc etc.) But nothing ever stuck or felt like it filled that creative hole. Then one day, I was chilling in a hospital room recovering from an emergency appendectomy (just to add another layer to how awesome and not at all depressing my life was at the time), when a friend I’d graduated art school with called me up and asked if I wanted to move to New Jersey and learn to tattoo. Turned out she had fallen into it herself after making friends with a tattoo shop owner and, due to being insanely talented herself, was able to progress very quickly through her apprenticeship. Her mentor asked if she knew anybody else like her, showed him my work online, and they reached out to offer me an apprenticeship as long as I could get my ass from upstate NY to NJ.
Even though I’d been tattooed before, I for some reason never even considered tattooing as an option. Probably because I either felt I wasn’t cool enough and/or tattooed enough at the time to fit the image, or didn’t feel confident enough in myself to do the actual work. But I hated where I was living and hated what I was doing, so it was hard to really see a downside. So I said “Fuck it!’ I put all my eggs in that basket and moved to New Jersey, and it was seriously the best decision Ive ever made.
As soon as I started learning to tattoo, it was clear that this was the thing that I had been searching for. Not only did the technical side of it seem to come easily, but I loved that every day brought a new fun and interesting design challenge. I loved connecting with clients and hearing their stories and being given their trust and the privilege to provide a service that is so deeply personal and meaningful for them. It just checked so many boxes I didn't even know I had, and my passion for it grew fast.
Although this all happened by accident, I could never imagine myself doing anything else. I think I’ll probably always feel a little bit like an imposter or like I somehow cheated my way into this career. I know there are so many artists that pay out the ass or fight tooth and nail just to have an opportunity at an apprenticeship because tattooing is their goal and focus from the very beginning. What happened for me is incredibly rare and I am acutely aware of just how lucky I am. But even if this all happened by accident, I think my output proves just how much love, devotion, and passion I have for this craft and shows just how hard I work to continuously learn and improve on my craft. Not only to provide the best for my clients, but to honor the incredible life that this career has gifted me.
I’m sure there are much more meaningful tattoos and moments I’ve helped create for people over the years, but the first that always come to mind is one day during my first year tattooing: We got a call at the shop and were asked what the age limit was for someone’s first tattoo. We explained that any client must be 18 or older, or at least 16 with parental permission. To which they answered “No, I mean what’s the OLDEST age you can tattoo”. Their grandmother had just turned 90, and when visiting her at her retirement home on her birthday, they asked her if there was anything she’d never done that she had always wanted to do as a way to help her celebrate such a huge milestone. Next thing you know, she’s shuffling through the front door of the shop and, to this day, was the sweetest, toughest, and most sharp witted 90 year old I’ve ever met. I had just tattooed her great granddaughter a week before, so the idea was fresh in her mind. She said she remembered when she was a little girl and saw a woman with a shamrock tattoo and always thought it was so cute, and if she’d ever had the opportunity, she’d get the same tattoo in the same spot on her ankle. She figured she probably wouldn’t have many other chances after turning 90, so that’s what we did! But as many reading this will know, tattooing any skin over the age of about 60 can get a bit dicey in terms of the quality. So is it an amazing tattoo? Not at all. But she couldn’t have been a better client and couldn’t have been happier or more grateful for the experience. It was one of the simplest tattoos I’ve ever done, but it was so rewarding to be able to help someone fulfill that lifelong wish at such an old age. And that’s sort of the point of all this, right? I know we’re all artists who have such an intense desire to express ourselves and just want to do sick tattoos all day every day. But it means so much more to the people that wear them and it can be so easy to lose sight of that when you’re in it every day and you’re grinding so hard just to make cool shit and keep up with your schedule. We all should work hard and be proud of the work we produce, but its creating moments like giving that 90 year old woman her firs that are the real reward.
One challenge you've had to overcome in the industry and how it has impacted you?
It might not sound like much, but one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was simply learning to say “no.” I spent a decade grinding at a busy street shop, where the mentality was: take everything that walks in or you’re letting money walk out. My mentor was incredibly supportive and I’m forever grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to build this life for myself, but proving your value to the business was definitely a numbers game, and the pressure to constantly produce made it hard to set boundaries. I felt indebted—not just to him, but to tattooing itself and the incredible life and purpose it had given me. But it also inflamed my imposter syndrome. I had convinced myself that if I didn’t bend over backwards to please every client, I’d risk losing it all.
In many ways, I’m thankful for getting pushed into that mindset early on. Fear is a powerful motivator, and it helped me grow very fast. I worked hard, built a loyal following, and got great at adapting. But it also burned me out. HARD. I was just a tattoo factory, taking any request that came my way, and churning it out in any style requested. Jack of all trades and a master of none. Even when I tried to inject my own voice, I just couldn’t see me in my work. I sacrificed too much of myself. So after years of anxiety, burnouts, and two herniated discs from busting my ass for others, I finally put up stronger boundaries and learned to say no.
I wish I’d done it much sooner. I think I probably missed a lot of great opportunities that I would have benefited from much earlier in my career. But I got trapped in my little bubble and had no influence outside of my environment to guide me or convince me to do otherwise. I was tattooing and I was busy, so I was grateful just for that. It didn’t make sense to rock the boat and put that at risk.
Now, I’m more selective with the work I take on. I focus on tattoos that align with my interests and allow me room to learn, grow, and challenge myself as an artist. Ive been tattooing for 13 years now but it’s only in the last three that I feel I’ve finally started to see myself in my work. And for the first time, I’m genuinely excited about where things are heading.
