Photo by Debbie Smartt
When David Hoffman and Alli Wilcox opened for business in the former Mercy Children’s Clinic in October 2011, they wanted to dispel the stereotypes traditionally associated with tattoo parlors. The plan was to merge their passion as traditional artists with a combined 17 years in the industry to create a fresh experience in Downtown Franklin. That project unfolded into a dual storefront business—Chrome Halo Tattoo and Esteem Permanent Cosmetics—connected by an art gallery filled with dozens of pieces by local artists.
And the vision is working. The pair says the feedback they are receiving from a growing customer base is just the reaction they wanted to achieve.
“The artist-client relation creates a connection that is a large part of why we do this,” Hoffman said. “We consider it the highest honor for a person to keep our art with them forever.”
Chrome Halo Tattoo & Piercing offers more than 3,000 pieces of tattoo art that visitors can flip through in its lobby, or access via two touch-screen kiosks. Hoffman, Wilcox, and apprentice Jesse Fine—a graphic designer who has worked for the likes of Dolly Parton and Dierks Bentley—also design custom tattoos for their patrons.
Though many are familiar with the tattoo business, “permanent cosmetics” is a relatively new procedure that’s grown exponentially since its introduction. According to the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP), the number of trained permanent make-up technicians has increased ten times over the past three years.
Esteem offers paramedical cosmetic procedures, such as eyeliner, lip color, and eyebrow color. But the two entrepreneurs also provide post-operative micro-pigmentation services for women to replace what chemotherapy or mastectomy has taken away, with procedures such as areola pigmentation for breast cancer
Chrome Halo Tattoo and Esteem Permanent Cosmetics
patients.
“David and I are humbled to be able to increase people’s quality of life and help women in all walks of life with their self-esteem,” Wilcox said.
The duo says they chose the 9th Avenue South address because of its prime location in Downtown Franklin and the dozen-plus procedure rooms already in place to provide the clean, clinical setting required by law. Hoffman and Wilcox are trained, licensed and insured in both tattoo and paramedical procedures.
Hoffman’s most recent gig was lead artist at a Nashville tattoo shop, where he helped guide the business to Concrete Magazine’s 2010 “Tattoo Parlor of the Year” Award. Wilcox met Hoffman through an apprenticeship at the business.
There, Hoffman says the two discovered a shared vision for “a place that is built by artists, made for artists, and operated by artists. We aspire to someday fill this entire space with like-minded artists of all kinds.”
The couple says the people of Downtown Franklin have opened their arms to Chrome Halo and Esteem, and that they couldn’t have chosen a better location.
“The streets are always buzzing with energy, and the area is filled with historic charm,” Wilcox said. “And let’s not forget it has the best sweet tea in Middle Tennessee!”
To learn more about Chrome Halo Tattoo & Piercing, visit www.chromehalotattoo.com. To learn more about Esteem Permanent Cosmetics, www.esteemcosmetics.com .
This is part of a series on merchants in Downtown Franklin.
Photo by Debbie Smartt