Tattoo artist opens studio in downtown Norwich, body sculpting business coming next door

A group of friends opening businesses together means they "have a big support system" already, Victoria Barber said.

On March 1, JDRAZAINK, a tattoo studio, opened. Owner Josie Pedraza said her friends Kimberley Perez and Barber will also open their own businesses nearby this year.

The tattoo studio's name has its own story. Pedraza doesn't like her last name, so she put her first initial and part of her last name together for JDRAZA, which was also her nickname with her siblings. JDRAZAINK is also the name Pedraza uses on social media, she said.

"I didn't know what else to name it, so that works," Pedraza said.

The logo is Pedraza's self-portrait, which she made for a now ex-boyfriend, she said.

"I got cold feet because I didn't want to tattoo it on him forever, and so I kept the design for myself and we broke up," Pedraza said.

'Art you get to carry everywhere with you'

Pedraza has been an artist her whole life with painting and calligraphy, using a variety of media. She grew up in Norwich and went to Norwich Free Academy, and got a tattooing apprenticeship at 19 in Miami. When her mentor moved to Tennessee, Pedraza returned to Connecticut and worked at a tattoo studio in Willimantic, and then one in Storrs.

She also has a background working in hospitality, so she wanted to create an inviting atmosphere. Before the pandemic, Pedraza was waitressing and bartending. When everything shut down, she focused on tattooing again, and worked her way to her current shop, she said.

JDRAZAINK is in a storefront in the downtown Norwich roundabout, across the street from another tattoo shop. Pedraza said the two shops offer different artistic styles. Pedraza also wants an open and calm atmosphere in her shop, painted pink with a large mirror, with decorations ranging from movie posters to figurines and prints of traditional art.

“There’s room for everybody here,” she said.

Pedraza’s style includes using her own art instead of someone else’s, full-color tattoos, portraits, and cover-up tattoos, she said.

Pedraza also wants the perception of tattoos to change, as they’re as much about self-expression as hair and nails, she said.

“It’s just art you get to carry everywhere with you,” she said.

Opening her own studio is a dream come true

Business is good so far for Pedraza, with clients from when she had a private studio still visiting. Pedraza said it’s been a dream to open her tattoo studio in her hometown.

“I’m excited, and I’m thrilled,” she said.

Sculptique opening soon

The roundabout will soon be home to another new business. Perez’s business, Sculptique, which will feature body sculpting and other treatments, is opening next door sometime in the spring. Perez had been operating her business in Olde Lyme.

Sculptique focuses on non-invasive procedures to help sculpt the body. Treatments include ultrasonic cavitation, a non-surgical fat reduction treatment, radio soundwaves to tighten the skin, and more, Perez said.

Perez was drawn to body sculpting to get her figure back after having children, as some areas are hard to target with exercise. She went to a facility in Manchester and got small but immediate results. Perez took classes in Boston on body sculpting, alongside her ongoing nursing school education, and she started her business two years ago.

Perez helped Pedraza with getting the tattoo studio set up, and Pedraza told her to look into the neighboring space. While the two will get to see each other more often, there is synergistic potential in their businesses, Perez said.

“The women that will come to see me would at some point like to get a tattoo, or vice versa,” she said. “That will mutually help each other with clientele and word of mouth.”

Though Pedraza isn’t related to Perez, she’ll often refer to Perez as her sister.

Cream and Collagen

Pedraza is one of Barber's friends, but also a client of Barber's business, Cream and Collagen Skin Spa. Like Pedraza, Barber started her business as a home-based operation, and Pedraza let her know about the opportunity she got. Barber plans to get a location near the other two businesses, but does not yet have a site. Barber expects to open in the next few months, she said.

Cream and Collagen provides treatments for acne and other skin conditions, along with facials and full body waxing, Barber said.

"I want to make skin treatments more affordable in the community," she said. "I want to make women and men feel beautiful in their skin."

Barber can see how her business and Perez's business can collaborate. People will be drawn to all three of the businesses because they are woman-owned, she said.

What's next?

With the tattoo studio, Pedraza wants to grow her business to have something to leave to her kids, and eventually leave and take up painting in retirement, she said.

“I want to have something established for the future,” Pedraza said.

Perez also hopes all the businesses grow and expand, she said.

Barber wants to meet people and be more involved in the community, she said.

"It's hard to do that being home-based," Barber said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich tattoo studio opens downtown, body sculpting, skin spa next