Rotten Peach Studios commemorated its second year of business with an event that contained live music, local vendors and food trucks Sept. 13, 2025.
Rotten Peach is a local female-owned small business created by tattoo artists Erin Haines and Allyson Blessing and is located in the University Plaza.
“Well, me and Allyson, the owners of the shop, were working at a tattoo studio previously and kind of had a different way that we felt like running it, so we just went into business together and took some of those ideas we had to life,” Haines said.
Haines also explained that she was motivated to venture into entrepreneurship due to her technical background in tattoo art and organizational skills, in addition to having faith that she would be able to handle the responsibility that comes with owning their own business.
She further discussed that both she and Blessing believed so strongly in their vision that they took the leap of faith to make it happen.
“We just kind of had these ideas that we wanted to bring to life, and really it kind of felt that the only way to do it was to do it ourselves,” she said.
Haines described Rotten Peach as having a large focus on client satisfaction. The goal at the studio is to create a comfortable and safe environment for customers.
She also said Rotten Peach is an extremely detail-oriented studio, and they make sure the space is both cute and welcoming. Haines explained how Rotten Peach prioritizes distinguishing itself as an artistic space while supporting the local art community.
“We want to have a place where we could help bring other people’s art to life, so I think it’s a lot less space just around the tattoo artist and tattooing, but really just the art community as a whole,” Haines said.
While starting Rotten Peach, Haines said her biggest struggle was the amount of work it took to bring the studio to life, but with Blessing by her side, they were able to accomplish their vision.
Since opening, Rotten Peach has changed significantly in growth, from hiring new artists to expanding in terms of space.
“I think you always end up having anxiety that people won’t show up or people you know won’t really see your vision, but it’s not been like that at all. I’m just blown away by the support of the community every single time,” Haines said.
Rotten Peach requires potential clients to schedule appointments, which can be done through a booking form located on the studio’s website. Booking requests are taken every three months for the season ahead. Additionally, the studio’s booking only stays open for 48 hours or until it reaches a specific capacity, so it is best to schedule early.
Haines believes young, aspiring entrepreneurs should take everything one day at a time and that with confidence in their vision, they can achieve making their dreams a reality.
“You just have to contrast the process and make sure that you feel comfortable leaning on others — the people that you love,” she said. “I think that community really comes together when you need it to. I think just try your hardest and put your love into things, and things really kind of fall into place.”
Ava Dunn is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].