Offering a variety of clothing at affordable prices is the goal of K & P Fashion and Tattoos, 257 S. Washington Street.
Owners Kendrick Sims and Paul Green said they had been selling a collection of men and women's fashions, handbags, perfume and jewelry at area flea markets, including Fremont and Amherst. After realizing there was not a store like them in the Tiffin area, they said they decided to open the store.
The duo says their market demographic ranges from teens to individuals in their 50s and beyond.
Sims said the store stocks a nice selection of casual clothing that would appeal to anyone.
"We'll try something for about a month, we'll try different brands," Sims said. "We can also order it as well, we are going to buy what people ask us for, what they want us to buy."
They said they are to begin stocking shoes soon. Brands to be offered are to include Vlado's, Nike, Five Elementz, Buttonups, Polo Shoes, Enyce, DC, Baby Phat and Dresses.
Fact Box
Hours for the store are 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and 11:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Theobald and Blake are to offer tattoo services noon-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call (419) 208-2156.
Sims said the aim also is to make items affordable. He said the highest cost on a pair of jeans is $28.
"Everyone should be able to buy something," Sims said. "And we want to turn over our inventory, so we'll have a sale every month."
The store also is to offer a larger selection of watches, jewelry and perfume.
Beginning in May, two tattoo artists are to operate in the store's location; William Theobald of Fremont and Randy Blake of Cleveland.
Both artists say they have been tattooing for more than 10 years. Blake said he previously worked in Las Vegas and is a second-generation tattoo artist, learning from his father.
Blake said he is known for his portrait work, as he has the ability to tattoo a realistic picture of someone from a photograph. He said an individual usually chooses to have a portrait done of a loved one, sometimes deceased.
Because of the personal nature of the tattoo and the feelings involved, Blake said he prides himself on producing an accurate portrayal.
"I like doing portraits," he said. "Making a realistic look inside the skin is not an easy task. And the reaction you get afterwards, the reaction out of the customer when they are pleased with the work. It might be a family member that's passed on who was dear to them. If you can nail (the image) dead on, it gives them something. And it helps me to bask in their story."
The average tattoo portrait takes two hours to do if done in black and gray, said Blake. A color portrait may take three or four hours.
Black light work, piercings, including microdermal and facial piercings, and other forms of body modification are to be offered.
"One thing that let's us stand out is that we will be 100 percent disposable," Theobald said. "Rather than using metal tubes that are sterilized but reused, they will be using a plastic disposable tube. We will be a little bit safer than other companies doing tattoos."
Blake said he and Theobald have the ability to free draw a custom tattoo, working off a picture or simply an idea and walk-ins are welcome.
