Twenty-five years ago, Clay Montgomery opened a tattoo shop with a mission to build something the industry had never really seen before. Today, Atomic Tattoos spans 17 locations across Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Milwaukee and provides a supportive, stable, and educational work environment for artists and employees.
We sat down with Clay to hear how he built a tattoo company that works at scale, and how Mangomint helps him keep it all together.
Building something different
Clay got into tattooing for the love of the craft, but when he decided to open Atomic, he wanted it to be a place where artists want to work, and clients want to get tattooed.
Using his deep connections in the industry, Clay did just that. And then he did it 16 more times.
“We have a 401(k). We offer health insurance. We do things differently than other tattoo shops,” he says. “And that’s kind of cool.”
Growing with Mangomint
Managing one tattoo shop is a full-time job. Managing 17 is a different challenge entirely. When Clay started evaluating software, most platforms fell short the moment he mentioned multiple locations.
Until Mangomint.
The biggest thing that made us choose Mangomint was its ability to support multi-location business. That has been a problem with other software we've looked at, and Mangomint does it very elegantly and very well.
Detailed Reports: Visibility across the entire business
For a business Clay’s size, visibility is everything. With Mangomint he can easily adjust service menus and pricing, manage staff, and track client activity for each of his locations. Unified reporting lets him compare any two stores side by side or monitor a single location over time.
“It makes my life a lot easier.”
That kind of consolidated insight would be nearly impossible to replicate manually across 17 locations. But with Mangomint, it’s quick and easy.
Customer Support: Humans that show up
Clay is quick to credit one thing above almost everything else: real human support.
The support that Mangomint offers is better than any other support for any other thing I’ve used. Mangomint has real live people that can answer my question or solve my problem in real time.
Available to answer questions 7 days a week, 365 days per year, Mangomint’s customer support has literally won awards (5 star rating!). And for a 17-location business, reliable and efficient tech support is crucial to success.
When his shop staff have any questions or something comes up, Clay’s answer is simple: use the chat bubble. In just a few minutes, they get their answer.
“The people that operate the software in the store are very well supported by Mangomint. That’s tremendous for me.”
Software built for where you're going
When Clay opened the first Atomic Tattoos location, his mission—which still holds true today—was to always do right by the artists and clients. Mangomint helps him protect that. The software is reliable, easy to manage across every location, and backed by real humans who understand the day-to-day realities of running a shop. His business has grown because he never stopped paying attention to what good looks like, and found the tool that helps him deliver it—seventeen times over.
“If you’re using any software to operate your business, Mangomint probably does it better.”
Want to see what Mangomint can do for your business? Book a free demo with one of our humans, or watch the video tutorial here.
Clara Winter is the Copywriter at Mangomint. She uses her Psychology degree, UX design training, and digital marketing expertise to craft thoughtful, human-centered content that helps salon and spa owners grow their businesses. Fun fact: Clara knows her esthetician’s coffee order by heart and brings it to every appointment.
