Conversations with Michael Klein

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Klein. 

Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ink and Iron was started in 2014 by owner Michael Klein aka Panda. The shop has undergone many different transitions but has always remained true to the idea that art should come first. Having a concentration on the art allows for the shop to truly do what is best for the client. We currently have 10 tattooers who vary in styles dramatically. It is remarkable how art can bring together such a diverse group of people. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anything worth having is going to have some sort of struggle along the way. I feel like we have had the lion’s share as far as the struggles we have dealt with throughout the years. With the inception of the shop the idea was to be able to pull from my high school friends (Maumee) to float my business. That would then give me the opportunity to grow the business organically from that point. The problem was it was crickets. So, in order to keep the lights on I had to throw boxes at FedEx on their sunrise shift. So, I worked from 12-10 pm at the shop 7 days a week. Then I would work from 2 am-6 am 5 days a week at FedEx. Everyone talks about the sexy side of owning a business but rarely talks about how you have to sacrifice to get to that point. As success grew so did our problems. We have seen floods, protests, quarantines, and taken it all in stride. We have been able to grow with a finesse because we all work together through the drama. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Ink and Iron’s entire secret sauce is predicated around the idea that we want to design something for you. We have a myriad of artists whose talent has no limits. So, when you come to us with the idea that you want our talent truly helps to elevate your idea to a space that you previously hadn’t thought of. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck is defined by the cross-section of talent and timing. Patience to wait for the right time to expand and the talent to see what the trends are has really offered us the opportunity to build a business that will be around for the next 20 years. 

Pricing:

• Our artists charge between $100-$150 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inkandirontattoo.com
• Instagram: inkandirontat
• Facebook: inkandirontat

Image Credits
@Pandatat
@theechowitch