Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: Kassandra "Kasii" Morales
Kasii Morales’ advice to other women looking to start a business is simple: Start small and take your time. “There isn’t an expiration date on growing and becoming your own entity,” said the owner of A Tattoo Shop, located at 25 2nd St NE.
Morales, who celebrates one year of being open on October 31st, worked for and learned from other people for eight years before opening her own studio.
“… I was learning and growing as an individual and building up my support system, who have helped me accomplish so much more than what I could have imagined,” she said.
That support and inspiration have come from her family, her partner, her business neighbors (Bare Sugar Spa and 3 On Tree Coffee & Café), and even the woman who inspected her business, Lindsey Pike.
“I wanted to be able to provide my family and me a secure future with all the opportunities that I’ve had, thanks to my mom and all the hard work she has done,” Morales said. “My mom was always one to work extremely hard to provide the best opportunities for us, and I wanted to be able to do the same.
“… My partner, Evan Campbell, was a daily inspiration to make the most of the present and future. I lucked out with many faces of strong inspiration through friends and family.” Morales’ goal with A Tattoo Shop is to provide a place where clients can be as comfortable as possible during their visits. She takes pride in having a clean, calm environment where individuals can come and modify their bodies with permanent decorations.
She works with many people getting their first tattoo, so it’s important that everyone has a positive experience, whether it is their first or 50th tattoo.
“My values lie with being honest, open, clean, and having a safe environment in which my client can experience a positive session,” she said. “The art of tattooing is already invasive enough that I do everything I can to make the session as comfortable for both the client and me.”
Sometimes, that means her client brings their own support system to chat with during the session. Other times, it means Morales is the support system. “Or it can look as simple as just sharing our energy while we both sit and listen to some music while my client gets tattooed. It changes from day to day and from client to client, but one thing that stays the same is the love and energy I put into my work.”
Success, she said, is not only about having returning clients. “Being referred by the people you’ve worked on is always a huge success in my books,” she said. “Knowing that you created a positive experience in what can be an uncomfortable experience. Getting stabbed repeatedly isn’t always the most inviting thing, so when I finish a session, and my client is in awe of their new decoration, I’ve had a successful day.”
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Here in Mason City, we are proud to celebrate the women at the heart of the Main Street Mason City district, whose businesses not only add vitality to our downtown but also serve as cornerstones for growth, creativity, and connection. Follow along as we shine a spotlight on our community's innovative, resilient, and inspiring women entrepreneurs.
