In the mid-1990s, the tattoo industry looked very different to what it does today. Shops filled with tattoo flash, steel tips/tubes being scrubbed, and artists making their own needles. This tedious and time-consuming process is where Kingpin Tattoo Supply began its journey.
Founded in1996 by tattooer Don Kabowski at Tattoo Emporium in St. Petersburg FL, Don saw a service that the tattoo industry needed at the time. His mission was simple – to provide tattooers with quality/reliable pre-made needles to alleviate the stress of producing their own. He enlisted and trained his friend Dave Mayer in the process of making tattoo needles, and the service quickly grew. The demand brought on another team member, Brian Stover – the addition of Brian saw individual production soar to an average of 200+ needles an hour. But these needles were far from today’s standards – no blister packs, rubber-banded packs of 50, and shrink-wrapped.
At this time, there were only a handful of tattoo suppliers: National, Huck/Spaulding, Superior, to name a few – and this gave Kingpin the opportunity to grow into the supplier you see today. By 2003, Kingpin expanded its reach by partnering with Bill Smith of Smitty’s Tattoo Supply, combining manufacturing and medical supplies under one roof. Looking to grow this partnership, Kingpin utilized marketing campaigns like shop cold-calls, ads in tattoo publications such as Tattoo Artist Magazine, Skin & Ink, Prick, etc., and attending/sponsoring tattoo expos. This grassroots approach built loyalty and trust with the tattoo community. The early 2000’s saw a rise in tattooing with reality tv shows such as Miami Ink & LA Ink, which featured many of Kingpin’s products. This led to Kingpin becoming a nationally recognized supplier.
Kingpin Tattoo Supply didn’t stop there. In 2009, Kingpin opened their West Coast facility and became the first supply company to operate coast-to-coast. In 2020, Kingpin opened the Austin, TX facility and further increased their reach into the tattoo industry. Along the way, introducing industry innovations such as the 3pc steel tip/tube/grip combos, the widely popular Bold Traditional needle configurations, and the ever dependable disposable “blue tubes” in 2006. Further advancing on the success of the “blue tubes”, in 2013 Kingpin became the first company to introduce the clear Lexan tips to their disposable tubes. A true “one stop shop”, Kingpin still boasts one of the largest selections of tattoo products that includes artist-owned products, flash & reference books, and medical supplies.
Today, Kingpin Tattoo Supply stands as one of the largest tattoo suppliers in the world known for their quality, innovations, and exceptional customer service. Kingpin has and will continue to abide by its mantra, “Where quality meets customer service”. From its humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the tattoo industry, Kingpin’s commitment to the tattoo community drives their passion for more innovations, deeper relationships, and perseverance to support the artists and the craft.