 What does a tattoo shop have in common with a mental health practice? More than you might think. Meet Adrien Clark, owner of Axe of Kindness Tattoo! Adrien built AOK around three things: connection, giving, and kindness. It is not just a tattoo shop - it is a space where people feel genuinely welcomed and honored for whatever story brought them there. Adrien's commitment to community and his acknowledgment of human challenges attracts thoughtful artists and customers who are seeking meaning through body art. Kara's takeaway: Adrien founded Axe of Kindness with a public declaration - combining community kindness, personal meaning and purpose, and human connection. That intentionality is what makes AOK different from other local shops, and it is exactly why this connection with Tree of Hope Counseling just makes sense. If you have ever wondered about the healing power of meaningful body art and community, Adrien and the AOK team are living proof. Read the full conversation below! When was your business founded and what inspired its development? I have been tattooing for 22 years now, and opened Axe of Kindness in April of 2022, so we are four years old now officially. It was kind of inspired by Covid. I've kind of always seen the inequity in the world, and just kind of felt powerless, because I'm not one of the billionaires out there who very easily could do things to help. Covid shifted my focus a little bit from worrying about what others have, who are more capable, and what I seemingly lack. I stopped focusing on that versus what I do have, because I do have excess, even if it's not grand - it's more than I need. So I figured out how to spread that out, tie it into the work that I already love to do, and cross my fingers that other people are into it as well. Was Axe of Kindness always the name you had in mind? I had a lot of names that I was kind of toying around with and when the idea of opening my own shop kind of hit me, and then the thought that I wanted to give back, I thought I should put kindness in the name. I wanted to make people aware that there are acts of kindness tied to the work. And I enjoy word play, and puns and such - so then I was just thinking - what about Axe of Kindness? Because an axe is a weapon - a weapon against cruelties of the world - we want to fight for the kindness that we have to give. And also tattooing kind of hurts so, you know, it also makes sense to have that edge in the name. And then, kind of what really sealed it, was just the thought that all the tattoos that I do are “AOK”. And I ask my clients all the time, “How you holding up? Still AOK?” And so I was like, oh yeah, that's the name! How does your business support mental health and wellness in our local community? One of the organizations that we donate to regularly is NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness). That's one of the ways which I feel is kind of more overt, if you will. And then I do feel like the space that we have created, not just the physical building itself or the space, but also the personalities of the people that we have at the shop helps to foster a warm, welcoming, comfortable vibe for anyone who comes in. And we do have people who are getting tattooed as sort of a means of therapy - some of the stories that we get from our clients are so heartbreaking. Some of them you really do feel for what people are going through, and it's kind of nice to be that safe space, if you will, for those people who are kind of using it as a bit of therapy. What makes your business different from others that may offer similar service? I think it’s just the focus on the kindness side of things. I have plenty of experience in other shops where, you know, that's not really a focus, and there's nothing wrong with that. But I just feel for me, that's got to be kind of the central part. There are five [tattoo artists], including myself currently. And then we have guests that come in every once in a while as well. Each of them have kind of joined this mission and everything that it's about. They're very much all talented enough to do the art side of the work at any shop, but chose to work with my shop because of the mission How does your own journey or life experience shape how you show up in your work? I would say, my childhood wasn't the worst, but it wasn't the greatest and so I definitely have scars that I wear. I think just being cognizant of that and knowing that other people also wear scars that we can't necessarily see, kind of helps to guide where I would like to go with everything. Business ownership can be stressful - how do you take care of your own mental health and wellness? As a business owner, I find it very important to get out of the shop and stay active physically. So basketball is a big part of my life, and I try to, as much as I can, try to play at least once a week. It's sometimes a little bit difficult, because I have a son who is playing basketball as well, and right now, it's AAU season - a lot of tournaments, oftentimes games on Sunday, which is the day I typically like to play, but watching him can be just as fun and good for me mentally. Beyond that, I do try to find just quiet time for myself… put down the phone and slow down. If people were to take away a feeling or message after experiencing your business, what would you want that to be? Hopefully they can take a little bit of kindness with them and spread it on their way. I just feel like even a simple hello to somebody you're passing by on the street sometimes is enough to change somebody's day. *Adrien added that walk ins are welcome, and if they cannot accommodate an appointment at that time, they will schedule a time to have the person come back, and welcome anyone to stop by and check out the shop any time. Learn more at: axeofkindnessroc.com Comments are closed.
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