Meet Jeff Ockinga | Tattoo shop owner and artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Ockinga and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I used to work for a tattoo shop in mesa. The owner told me he was closing the location that I was at and the other location was even a further drive away from my house and the clientele I had . The owner told me I am
More then welcome to come to work at the new shop but he suggested that I open my own shop in Phoenix closer to my home and clients . I discussed this with my wife . It was super scary but we could own a shop and create a place fun and profitable for the artist and us . Where client snd artist have fun

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I got into tattooing and Piercing in 1999 in lincoln nebraska at a shop called big O tattoo. I started off as a counter person, then moved to Piercer . Then the owner of the business took a lie into me. And offered me an apprenticeship to tattoo. I actually stopped the apprenticeship because my mentor was kinda mean lol and I pierced for awhile . Apprenticeship back those days were a bit different then now you could say. You needed thick skin. I ended up moving to Omaha and the drive was to far. So started working at lil bros in council bluffs , Iowa . The biggest thing I had to over come out side of my apprenticeship was moving to Arizona. I had to rebuild my clientele. Luckily through hard work, a great attitude, and solid tattoo skills I built a pretty large clientele that still 14 years later since moving to Arizona has stayed with me and even become larger. When I opened my shop I wanted a no BS shop . Just good clean tattoos and piercings. We all worked hard together side by side . Treating the clients like they are good . Make your clients feel like one of the shop. I may own the shop but tattoo side by side with the artist that work at snooty fox tattoo. So far we have done that. Our clientele is a huge mix of all community’s . I tattoo such a wide variety from doctors and nurses to servers at restaurants . People with no budget limits to people that save up the little extra money they have to get that tattoo . Everyone is treated the same . That is my goal. I wanted a positive vibe shop.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in central phoenix. Depends on weather but a lot of my friends like to go check out the mountains and relax by pool. But night life is always the most fun option. Bars I love neighborhood bars . bar1 is one of my favorites, we sldo like RIPS , if I want a good cocktail and food AZ88 is the number one spot in Scottsdale for me . The casino is a hit spot too. I live close to casino Arizona .we travel downtown to favorite places like Hanneys,copper blues

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off Big O tattoo in Lincoln Nebraska. This was the shop that took the time to teach me how to tattoo and pierce. Also lil bros in council bluffs Iowa . The owner Vinnie helped me grow even more . Then Michael Ruthem from diamond body art . Last shop I worked at before starting my own shop . He help push me to go out on my own . Finally my wife Naomi she was the one who financially helped the shop get started and put her faith me we would succeed . Now as of August 17th of 2024 we have been open for 7 years

Website: https://Www.snootyfoxtattoo.com

Instagram: Www.instagram/snootyfoxtattoo