Sacred Tattoo turns customer appreciation day into fundraising for UPAWS

It takes a special kind of business to turn their customer appreciation day into a fund-raising event for an animal shelter. In Marquette, that business is Sacred Tattoo.

Dan Pemble, owner of the increasingly-popular studio, says the idea of a customer appreciation day came about after he and his other two full-time artists realized they never had an official grand opening to the shop.

"We just want to give people an opportunity to see the shop, meet the artists and get an overall feel for what we are about," says Pemble. "We also want to celebrate the overwhelming response we have already received from the community, as well as welcome new and, possibly, future clients."

Pemble will be selling tickets for the customer appreciation day for $5. Those tickets will be used in a raffle for two two-hour tattoo sessions, some original art prints done by the artists at Sacred--all three of whom have a college degree in arts--as well as some t-shirts and other prizes. The real winner will be UPAWS, the local animal shelter in Marquette County.

"We are always looking for ways to give back to the community that has given us so much," says Pemble, who has given away gift certificates for community events in the past. "We are all animal lovers and are excited to be able to do anything for such a great organization."

The client appreciation day also serves the purpose of inviting the public into the studio--one that feels less like a tattoo parlor than some might expect.

"We understand that, in the past, tattoo shops could be intimidating places to visit," says Pemble. "We are constantly trying to break any kind of negative stigma attached to the industry by offering a friendly, welcoming environment as well as top-notch art."

The event will begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets are available for purchase now at Sacred Tattoo, located on West Washington Street across from the Citgo, or at UPAWS.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dan Pemble, Sacred Tattoo