Meet Mario Padilla | Owner/Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Mario, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
I was raised in a family business; my father owned an auto body shop, and my sister, mother, and I all had our share of responsibilities there. As a parent, I’ve encouraged my oldest daughter, who is now nearly 22, to pursue a career in tattooing after she graduated high school. I provided her with an apprenticeship and encouraged her to gain experience at other shops to build her clientele. This exposure was essential, as our shop operates on an appointment-only basis and caters to artists who have already developed their skills and client bases. I wanted to ensure she didn’t pick up any bad habits.

Now back at our shop, my daughter is extremely determined and motivated. Currently, my oldest son is also apprenticing. I believe it’s important to keep the family close; my wife completed a piercing apprenticeship and is now piercing full-time in our business. It’s a wonderful feeling to have my kids working alongside their mother.

Recently, we expanded our shop, and now we each have our own private rooms. I thought this was a great addition, allowing us some space while still being close. Working with family can be challenging; seeing each other at work and then at home can take a toll on our mental well-being. However, since we operate on an appointment-only basis, we have the flexibility to create our own hours.

My youngest son, who is 12, is already expressing interest in being part of the business. He has a few chores to help out when he visits. I think it’s crucial to teach entrepreneurship, just as my father prepared me to be a business owner from a young age. I’m striving to do the same for my children.

What should our readers know about your business?
Opening my studio came with numerous challenges, and I believe one of the toughest for many tattoo artists and entrepreneurs is securing investment capital, particularly personal investment capital. While many people are eager to invest, they often aren’t willing to put in the necessary work. I received plenty of offers, but I knew that my talent and hard work were what would truly pay the bills. Some investors wanted to contribute and simply collect profits, but I understood that tattooing involves much more than just sitting back and reaping the rewards.

After years of building my brand, sharing it with an investor was not something I was willing to do. I didn’t want to take out loans or work for anyone else. Having a partner who wasn’t in the industry felt like working for that person, and I was determined not to go that route. Initially, I considered bringing in a partner, but ultimately decided to keep the business within my family—my wife and kids.

One significant challenge was downsizing to save money. We had to make sacrifices, including cutting back on vacations and reducing our spending on non-essentials like dining out and drinking. Surprisingly, this helped us save a considerable amount. While we weren’t heavy drinkers, we realized that a lot of our personal income was going towards living beyond our means. Making these sacrifices was crucial to our success; every decision we made revolved around our business, ensuring every penny spent was an investment in our future.

It wasn’t easy, but the rewards were worth it in the end. I read numerous self-help books, particularly those focused on small business, which I revisited multiple times. I also hired a good accountant and built a strong team. Surrounding myself with fellow entrepreneurs allowed me to gain valuable knowledge and insights. I had to cut ties with negative influences—what I call “frenemies”—to stay focused and determined.

When I think of my brand, I don’t see just another tattoo shop; I envision a personalized experience provided by dedicated artists who value our customers’ time and emotions. We want our clients to feel safe in our shop, free from drugs and alcohol, where they can meditate, watch a movie, and enjoy their ink therapy.

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?
When it comes to dining out and enjoying myself, I prefer to keep it local. Roanoke is known as the unique dining capital of Texas, and a great way to explore our little city is by visiting downtown. Some of my favorite spots include Hard eight bbq and Babe’s Chicken. I particularly love Bayou Jack’s; you can never go wrong there.

In the mornings, I enjoy getting Menudo from Molcajetes it’s one of my go-to places. If we venture a bit further, we might head to Grapevine or the Stockyards. While I’m not a big fan of walking around everywhere, I like to keep things simple. Grapevine and Southlake have some fantastic little spots that we enjoy visiting for a nice meal.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife Cecilia Vasquez.

Website: https://saintceciliasartstudio.square.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintceciliasartstudio?igsh=NzhkaWsyaWNvN2t6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A35HL4yt4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/saint-cecilias-art-studio-roanoke

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@saintceciliasartstudio?si=JTPPvjWDW_FWwvNW

Other: https://linktr.ee/Saintceci

Image Credits
Mario Padilla
Richard Noah