How a local tattoo business has been affected by tariffs

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - As prices continue to rise, products have become a price burden on most small businesses; the tattoo industry has not been safe from these increases.

“We have been seeing an exponential increase since 2020, and it hasn’t gone down. The tariffs have not necessarily made it gone up or made anything go up,” explains 31 Ink Tattoo Parlor owner Garrett Morrell. “It has added to it for sure, but there’s been exponential price increases nonstop since 2020.”

Morrell says products used during daily operation such as gloves, ink and needles are bought from American companies and they have also faced a steady incline.

Higher priced products, such as tattoo machines that are purchased from overseas retailers, have seen the biggest hit from tariffs within the industry.