Posts by Kimberly Zapata

Point #69: Marketing and Sales Through Display

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IMG_5598By the Maya Jewelry team

Gone are the days of horn spirals being our only alternative jewelry option! As our industry continues to embrace an educated stance on high-quality jewelry, owners—and their employees—are raising the bar not only for the overall aesthetic of their studios, but the industry as a whole.

But there are many aspects at play when embarking on the marketing and sales of these products, and it all starts with your display cases—and your marketing strategies. Every year Maya Jewelry puts thought and intention into how it’s collection will be presented at the annual Association of Professional Piercers Conference. Although it may take many months of planning and preparation, it only takes one day to set up. From planning to execution it is a well thought out portrait of how we want Maya portrayed.

Maya Jewelry display at the APP Conference
Maya Jewelry display at the APP Conference

This planning and execution should include rotating your displays often. This keeps them fresh, keeps your clients interested, and offers them the opportunity to see a piece that they may have missed on their last visit. (If you don’t do this already, consider refreshing cases seasonally; it is a great way to allow separate pieces to shine.)

While Kristin of Metamorphosis (Indianapolis, IN) separates her cases by jewelry company, Nick of Dorje Adornments (Rochester, NY) organizes his cases by the cohesiveness of the collection. Being able to determine how your particular clientele prefers to shop will make all the difference in your sales. Try new placements to determine what works and what doesn’t. Get creative with materials and stands, using them to not only build and tie into your studios brand but also to accentuate the product without it being overbearing. Keep everything above waist level, polished, and well-lit. The more pieces you can hang to create different levels within your display and showcase the various dimensions within the actual design, the more distinctively each piece will be represented. Keep it creative but comfortable.

Industrial Tattoo Maya jewelry display
Industrial Tattoo Maya jewelry display

Another important element of product placement, one which lands on you as the representative, the face, and the spokesperson for what you carry. Wearing jewelry you sell displays it in a natural yet subtle way. It showcases the piece as  it is intended and shows how it looks and translates on an actual person. It also allows you and your client to build a connected sense of trust; if you don’t wear it, why would they want to? Mike of Iron Clad Tattoo (Troy, MI) even offers preferred rates to high profile clients, such as those who work within the service industry of his area. Bartenders, hair stylists, and many other customer-facing clients are one of the best forms of representation, as they will be asked about their jewelry often.

Kristin and Nick both offer various jewelry incentives to their staff, which is something more of us could join in on. Noah of Evolution Body Piercing (Albuquerque, NM) uses reward systems to encourage staff to really get involved with their sales. Have your employees exceeded sales goals for the month? That pair they have been coveting makes for the perfect token of appreciation.

You should also be sure to take time to educate your staff on the products they sell. Set up a meeting that focuses on product knowledge and sales. Kristin makes sure her staff studies catalogs and any available information through manufacturer websites. Mike likes to educate his staff and clients on where the products are coming from, and the care that is put into each piece’s creation. It is also imperative to understand the differences between the materials you offer, and how to properly care for them in order to ensure the life-long integrity of the pieces that walk out your door. This applies to all jewelry, be it a steel nostril screw or a pair of Maya Jewelry’s Kavadi’s.

A powerful and effective way of approaching a sale is being able to read and understand your client in a short amount of time. Having a relatable demeanor is everything and within minutes you can easily have a lifelong client or an extremely bad review, so knowing how to shop with them is key. Lysa of Industrial Tattoo (Berkeley, CA) loves jewelry sales because she loves what she is selling and loves pleasing people even more so. Lysa and Nick both recognize just how important personal shopping can be, and how vital it is to get involved. Ask questions to decipher what they are looking for: a gift for someone else, that particular piece a special occasion, something to help make a bad day a little better, or just something, just because. Mike and Noah both also noted how important it is to educate your client of the designer—and their products high-quality, hand-crafted nature. Nick does it right by taking on the roll of a stylist, offering his honest opinion in an appropriate manner if something looks great on them or not and being able to pull other styles that they may not have even considered. You want to see your client confident and excited by the end of your interaction and knowing what role to take on in order to do so will be your most potent tool.

Dorje Adornments Maya jewelry display
Dorje Adornments Maya jewelry display

It is no secret that social media plays a crucial role in the direction of advertising now. It is necessary for every company and studio owner to jump on this bandwagon if you do not wish to be left behind. You can use these platforms to your advantage to build your studio’s brand and your clientele and besides, who doesn’t love free advertising?

Much like your displaying techniques, it is best to keep your pages current and inviting. Using high-quality, cohesive photos to enable your viewer a poignant impression of exactly what you are offering. If you post a photo of beautiful jewelry sitting next to a large inanimate object, your point is lost. At Maya, we offer usage of all of our product and editorial photography to our clients which enables them to remain consistent in their branding of our collection. Keep the content of your specific post in context as you only get one shot. Posting often, using appropriate hashtags, and following through with comment response will allow your posts to be more interactive and encourages your followers to get involved and feel like they are a part your studio and our community.

Marketing and sales are a fraction (albeit an important fraction) of the display tactics which make up your company. Just remember to decipher your target market then come up with an approach to grow it using the 3 C’s: creative, comfortable, comprehensive. Your impression can last a lifetime.

Point #69: From the Editor

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Kim Zapata headshot_2014By Kimberly Zapata

It is with a mix of emotions that I write this From the Editor column, as it will be my last. After months of struggling to maintain that precious life/work balance we all seek, I found it to be too great after some very personal, and unexpected, circumstances arose. Something had to give; unfortunately, that something proved to be this publication.

I began my work with The Point in late 2009, just after I started working at Infinite Body Piercing, Inc. I sat down to edit articles for issue #49, my first, and felt totally and completely intimidated. I felt secure in my knowledge of language and grammar rules, but the content was mostly foreign. (I was modified, yes, and loved body modification but I had no industry experience. I was an outsider looking in.) I edited those articles as timidly as one could have, changing punctuation and fixing spelling mistakes. And edited in this manner for many issues, until James Weber encouraged me to be more aggressive — reminding me it was our publication and our industry, reminding me I was a part of that industry. I still felt an outsider as I wasn’t, and would never be, a piercer, but my confidence grew.

I continued serving  as a contributing editor for several years. but when James stepped down in 2012—and The Point switched from a print publication to an online one—I took the reigns, with issue #61.

The entire time I have worked with the APP and this publication,  as both editor and a contributing editor, has been nothing short of amazing. I hope to continue on as part of the “Point posse,” I just no longer have the time to dedicate to spearheading the publication that it (and you all) deserve.

What’s next for The Point? Whatever you want! That is the beauty of this publication, and our organization. The Point will become whatever you want it to, whatever you make of it. While it is with a touch of sadness that I must do this, I also know it will be exciting for The Point to get some “fresh blood” in, and take the publication to another level.

I want to thank my amazing Point team: Kendra Jane, Elayne Angel, and Jim Ward. It has been an honor and pleasure working with each of you. Even with all of the initial (and technical) hiccups, you made my transition smooth and seamless. You always made me feel part of a family I, for so long, convinced myself I wasn’t worthy of, and you have each touched my life, and my work, in a way I can never truly verbalize. I am eternally grateful for everything the three of you have given me.

And to James Weber, my predecessor and current boss: Thanks for seeing something special in the little girl with the overly wordy resume and “anime” hair. You took a chance on me and, looking back I cannot say I know why, but that chance has forever changed me, personally and professionally. I am blessed and honored to not only call you my boss but my friend.

I want to thank the Board, old and new, and the entire APP family: Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this incredible organization and for trusting me with such an integral role. It has been a wonderful ride.

 

 

Point #68: Board Welcome – Miro Hernandez

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10492398_10152335387978381_1891433728793584835_nMiro Hernandez

I’d like to thank the outgoing Board members,  as well as those continuing on in service, for their hard work and dedication. I’d also like to congratulate the incoming Board members on being elected and choosing to embark on this path. A very big thank you goes out to the membership who voted and saw something or believed enough in me to allow me the chance to serve as one of your representatives, and your voices.

When I first started piercing, I had little knowledge about the APP. Like many at that time, I was just focusing on getting a piercing straight. I had no interest in joining an organization that I had been told was “nothing but a political group for a bunch of elitist snobs.” But eventually I became determined to become a member, and I did. Years later,  and here we are, and I am in a position I thought I would never be in, when I first received my membership certificate.

You are supposed to have a laundry list of goals you’d like to achieve, and something you’d like to see changed when elected. The reality of the situation is as the industry changes, so does my list. As the APP continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the demands of the Board will evolve and grow with our fast-changing industry. I am fully aware that I have big shoes to fill, but I am confident in the memberships decision to have me as a representative for their future.

I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a “what were you thinking and getting yourself into” moment after the first board meeting I attended. I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about what’s to come. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as a Board member at a time when the industry seems to be on an upswing, as evidenced by the amount of customers we are dealing with and the sheer volume of jewelry our vendors are now creating. I am beyond elated to have the opportunity to serve alongside a Board who share a lot of the same ideas and passions for the industry and the future of the organization. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

 

Point #68: 2014 Conference and Exposition Review

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Kim Zapata headshot_2014Kimberly Zapata

On June 7, 2014 I prepared for the 19th Annual Association of Professional Piercers’ Conference as I have for every other conference: with frantic, late-night packing (and unpacking) while watching “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” I grabbed my laptop, checked in for my flight, and waited with nervous anticipation. (I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing my friends and colleagues but anxious to be leaving my 11-month-old daughter for the very first time.) However, as soon as I walked through the glass doors and into the organized chaos that is the Bally’s Hotel and Casino, I felt at home. I saw some faces I knew, and many I didn’t, but we were all smiling and greeting each other, and it was exactly what I needed (personally and professionally).

The Facts

_MG_6523The 19th Annual Conference and Exposition was held in the heart of the Las Vegas strip, at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, from June 8 through 13, 2014. With 1014 registrants and 282 first timers, the Conference was bigger and better than ever! (Pardon the cliche, but it truly was.) There were:

  • 46 instructors
  • 68 volunteers
  • 52 vendors
  • 67 courses offered
  • 99.5 instructional hours

The “Fun”

While we all have our own reasons for attending Conference each year, be it to better (or re-) educate ourselves, shop for the best body jewelry in our industry, or simply connect with piercers and piercees from around the country—and world—the 19th Annual Conference had all that, and more. The opening party, poolside, Monday evening did not disappoint. With perfect “Vegas” weather, a full spread of self-service tacos, and friends—both old and new—the party started at 8:00pm but lasted well into the night, spilling into the lobby bar and hotel rooms throughout the resort. It was the perfect icebreaker for our fairly new crowd—and way cooler than the crap they pull at formal retreats, like trust falls. (Ugh, trust falls.) By time the Expo floor opened the next day, the energy was palpable. (It’s not that people were standoffish the first day, it’s just that, after the opening party, something was a little different.)

Photo by Kimberly Zapata
Photo by Kimberly Zapata

As always, the range of courses, workshops, and roundtables offered was varied, and their curriculums were stellar. Offerings included Gold Jewelry: Sales and Marketing, with Nate Janke and Noah Babcock; Initial Jewelry: The Rules (and When to Break Them), taught by Jef Saunders and Cody Vaughn; and a very open and personal dialogue regarding disorders in our industry, facilitated by Courtney Jane Maxwell and Ashley Misako. Returning favorites were also scattered throughout the schedule, like Working Clean Within Your Studio, Body Anatomy for Safe and Successful Piercings (as well as several other anatomy-based courses), Studio Documentation, and the Aftercare “series.” The newly formed International Suspension Alliance also held one of their meetings during Conference, which is truly exciting for everyone.

Unfortunately, personal and professional schedules do not always align, and I found myself on a flight out of McCarran a few hours before the banquet dinner. So check out Kendra Jane’s article for full coverage of the banquet dinner.

The Unexpected

One of the undisputed highlights of the week was not a class at all but a roundtable, a Q&A chat with the “father” of modern piercing, Jim Ward. Like everyone, I was beyond excited when I saw A Fireside Chat with Jim Ward on the agenda. I work with Jim on The Point, and I have read his book “Running the Gauntlet,” but there is still so very much about this man—and his life—I did not know. So I waited anxiously in line alongside hundreds of others who, no doubt, felt the same.

Jim gives an amazing harp performance during "A Fireside Chat with Jim Ward." Photo by Kimberly Zapata.
Jim gives an amazing harp performance during “A Fireside Chat with Jim Ward.” Photo by Kimberly Zapata.

Jim opened his roundtable not with a question but with a harp performance, his first of four pieces to “shake the nerves.” The room fell silent. Hundreds of piercers, apprentices, healthcare workers, and other piercing professionals waited in awe as Jim sat down. His performance was beautiful, heartfelt, and personal.

When asked what advice Jim would offer the current generation of piercers (specifically in regards to egos and industry “personalities”), he shared perhaps the most humbling lesson I have ever heard: “Once a year go out into a cemetery and ask yourself one question, how many of these people are still remembered?” Suddenly everything was put into perspective.

The “class” ended with a final harp performance, and with a standing ovation. Thank you Bethra for convincing Jim to give this amazing performance! And thank you Jim for sharing this with all of us.

For me, this was the first Conference where I truly felt like I’d found my footing. Fears and trepidations were left on the tarmac, and I found confidence I don’t think I have had since fifth grade. I reunited with some amazing colleagues and friends, and made many new ones.

We all leave conference with a laundry list of “changes,” things we hope to do in our studios or with our peers. Some get done, many fall to the wayside—trumped by things like keeping up with your clients, or life. That’s okay. Conference is a great way to reenergize, to remotivate, and to inspire, and—if for no other reason—is the reason it is a must for any piercer (or industry professional). The event not only puts into perspective the necessity of safety in all aspects of the industry but also reminds us to push our boundaries, personally and professionally, to ask questions, and to try something new—or at least consider that there are alternative approaches and techniques.

Next year we will be moving over to the Flamingo for our big 2-0 celebration. It is sure to be an event to remember, so register early. See you next year!

Point #68: From the Editor

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Kim Zapata headshot_2014Kimberly Zapata

Ah, the after Conference crash—more commonly referred to as post-Vegas depression, or PVD. For me, it set in the second I stepped through the doors at McCarran International Airport. Sure, I was thrilled to go home and see—and hug—my 11 month old daughter (and husband), but there was so much more I wanted to do. So many friends I wanted to see, so many conversations left unheld.

Even so, it was an exciting week. We welcomed new Board members Cody Vaughn, Jef Saunders, Chris Glunt, and Miro Hernandez. We welcomed Brian Skellie to his new position, as President of the APP, and said goodbye to our outgoing Board: John Johnson, Sarvas Berry, and Elayne Angel. At our annual Members meeting we had quorum; something I cannot tell you how many years it has been! (Quorum is the minimum number of members of an assembly or society needs be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.) And we educated, re-educated, and revitalized over 1,000 piercers and piercing professionals from across the country, and world.

This year’s Conference was a testament to just how far we have come. With over 1,000 attendees (think about that for a moment, 1,000!), next year stands to be even more exciting as we will celebrate our 20th Annual Conference. (The Conference Committee will be meeting in the next couple of months. If you have any class proposals—or other ideas—for our 2015 event please send them to info@safepiercing.org as soon as possible.)

What better way to highlight our progress then with this full-Conference feature issue. From the opening party to the banquet dinner, and from our volunteers to our Expo and innovations winners, each digital page is covered with the moments and memories, so sit back and enjoy the memories—or check out just a few of the moments you missed out on.

Welcome to issue #68 of The Point!

 

Point #67: Is Triclosan Safe?

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IMG_3716Kim Zapata headshotBy Kimberly Zapata

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent found in various consumer products, from hand soap to shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and clothing and kitchenware. As piercers, we encounter triclosan on a daily basis; it is the active ingredient in the soaps we use—and recommend. However, in April 2014 Scientific American: 60 Second Health reporter Christopher Intagliata posted a podcast about the potential dangers of triclosan. Intagliata explained that the researchers for mBio (the journal which conducted the study)found various levels of triclosan “in blood, urine, breast milk and mucus.” But with such prevalent usage, that was no surprise; that was to be expected. What was a surprise was that the residues from this antimicrobial which, by definition, are added to consumer products “to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination”may actually “boost bacterial growth in our bodies.”

Intagliata explained  that when “[r]esearchers swabbed inside the noses of 90 adults, 37 of the 90 tested triclosanpositive for triclosan—and those who did were twice as likely to have the bug Staphylococcus aureus living in their noses.” But why? According to Blaise Boles, study author from the University of Michigan, “when bacteria are exposed to sublethal levels of antibiotics, they get stressed, and ‘they attach to surfaces and hunker down, in things we call biofilms.’” In short, the more antibacterials a bacteria is exposed to—in small doses of course—the more defensive, aggressive, and resistant it becomes.

This is not the first such study of its kind. Triclosan safety has been questioned since the late 1970s—in fact, the FDA first proposed removing triclosan from certain products in 1978—but this debate truly took center stage late last year (2013) when the FDA agreed to review its safety. In November 2013 the FDA stated that, in light of “several scientific studies [that] have come out since the last time [the] FDA reviewed this ingredient [triclosan, it does]…merit further review.” However the FDA is also quick topointout that, at this time, “triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans.”

But what does this mean for piercers, piercees, and the entire body modification community? Yes, as many of us know, triclosan is an active ingredient in the antimicrobial soaps we use daily, but this study was small in scope, and the findings are not definitive for or against the use of triclosan. According to mBio, what this data does do is “demonstrate the unintended consequences of unregulated triclosan use and contribute to the growing body of research demonstrating inadvertent effects of triclosan on the environment and human health.” As such, the FDA will continue to review the effectiveness—and potential hazards—of triclosan usage, with the hopes of determining whether these products are “generally recognized as safe and effective” by September 2016. Therefore, since this is an ingredient that could have the potential to affect how we go about our jobs on a daily basis, we urge you to keep yourself abreast of the information available on the topic.

 

Point #67: From the Editor

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IMG_3716Kim Zapata headshotBy Kimberly Zapata

I resolved myself to make a video for this issue’s “From the Editor.” (I love watching online webcasts—industry-related and not—but I was not in love with the idea of watching myself.) Regardless, I picked a date, made plans for my husband to take our 10-month-old daughter out, and made sure my webcam was functioning. Check, check, check. What I didn’t plan for was a week-long cold—not just me but my entire family—the same week we were moving. So now I find myself writing instead….

I am extremely excited to introduce one of our feature articles this issue, “Cultural Appropriation,” by Kendra Jane and Alicia Cardenas. As many of you have already seen, cultural appropriation and white privilege have become quite hot topics as of late. (It is not a new topic, but a recent Tumblr post by Alan Vedge sparked an industry-wide conversation.) While the article is, in and of itself, an excellent read, it is not the content that excites me as much as what the article stands for, as this article is the first of—what we hope to be—a series of discussions in The Point. (Not attacks, not arguments, but open and ongoing dialogues.) These features will highlight industry hot-button issues with the hopes of encouraging our readership to offer their insights and opinions in future issues.

That said, keep in mind conversations are not one-sided. What one may say, you may not agree with (in fact, you may dislike it and blatantly disagree). That is okay! The intention of this series is not to foster anger, flame-wars, or hatred; it is to allow everyone to participate in a discussion that pertains to each and every one of us—even if we haven’t considered it yet. It is an opportunity for us to grow—personally and professionally—and to open our eyes to other perspectives and points-of-view.

I look forward to seeing where this series takes us. If you have an idea for a future feature or would like to engage in this issue’s discussion, submit here. (You can also feel free to stop me at Conference—in classes, walking the Expo, waiting in the halls, at the bar, wherever, whenever!)

I look forward to seeing old faces and meeting new ones this June, and welcome to issue #67 of The Point.

Point #66: From the Editor

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 IMG_3716Kim Zapata headshotBy Kimberly Zapata

A mix of curiosity, boredom, and contempt for being confined indoors during yet another Northeast snowstorm this season led me to Google (the boredom killer since the ’90s). Instead of searching for cute cat pics, the closest Buffalo Wild Wings, or what to do when your baby is teething—all, I hate to admit, are in my recent history—I simply searched “piercing.” Why not, right?  The results were interesting, to say the least.

Hits came back for Wikipedia, tips on how to obtain safe piercings, and links to local spots. Then I hit the “News” filter: “Student allegedly ran piercing operation at Chesterfield middle school,” “Oral Piercing – Is it worth the risk?,” 8 Celebrities and their Crazy Piercings,” “Tattoos, body piercings potential risks for Hepatitis C, HIV,” and the now infamous woman who “almost died” from a botched pair of cheek piercings. (More information on this story can be found here.) While I could write about each and everyone of these topics, it was the headlines themselves that struck me. Notice anything in particular? Risks? Survived? Crazy? Almost died?

These words cut through me. After spending the last five years of my life working in the industry I have loved for the last decade I thought things were different. (I had convinced myself public perception of piercing had shifted and things were getting better, especially better than “crazy.”) But what these words, and these headlines, did was serve as a reminder that while we—as an industry—have in fact come a long way, we still have a long way to go.

So what can we do to change public perception and make our industry safer for ourselves and our clients:

  • Continue to do what we do best, i.e. perform clean and safe piercing procedures using the highest-quality tools and jewelry.

  • Continue educating ourselves and others. The Association’s annual Conference is not only a great place to take classes and brush up on techniques, it is a great way to network and swap stories, ideas, and industry tips and tricks. (And the more we know, they more we can share with our clients!)

  • Share our positive experiences online. It has been said over and over again, but it warrants repeating: We—as an industry—are responsible for how others perceive us, and how others remember us. As James Weber stated in issue #57, “we define ourselves by what we write about ourselves,” and I feel the same is true of what we record and share. Post pictures of properly placed piercings and high-quality jewelry, share videos of piercing procedures, and counteract the “scare” stories with the positive ones—in The Point, your Facebook feed, on your blog, or in another industry publication.

Change takes time, and it comes from within. Sure, we can ignore these headlines—pass them off as rare exceptions and chalk them up to ignorance—but, to quote Ghandi, “if we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” And with continued dedication and persistence to be the best body piercers we can be, we can shift this dynamic.

For more information about sharing piercing photos and videos online, and tips on precisely how to “make safe piercing viral,” check out our Social Media page.

Point #65: From the Editor

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IMG_3716Kim Zapata headshotBy Kimberly Zapata
The Point Editor

As 2013 draws to close, I—like most—have been reflecting on the year as a whole. When I consider 2013 in piercing, I am in awe at what we as a piercing community have accomplished. The Point, our very own industry publication, saw its first year fully online—reaching a wider audience than we could have imagined. Legislation was passed in numerous states that promotes safe piercing (like New York’s bill requiring parental consent for the piercing of underage individuals) and protects the rights of modified individuals (see Arkansas’s fierce fight to defend scarification). Other countries made equally impressive strides: South Australia is working to ban piercing guns, and just last month the newly formed LBP (Lationoamericana Body Piercing A.C.) hosted their first annual Conference, the first Congreso Internacional de Perforadores Profesionales, in Mexico. While the Conference consisted of a wide array of events and classes, there was also a fantastic announcement: Mexico is officially banning piercing guns!

While some U.S. states and several European countries have already banned piercing guns for use on cartilage, including ears and nostrils, and other areas of the body, Mexico is the first country to ban its use entirely. This is huge, though I don’t need to tell those of you in the piercing community why piercing guns are so dangerous. (Many of you have seen the work of a gun piercing gone bad.)

I have my own piercing gun horror story: the first time my ears were pierced, at nine years old—andPoint65-piercing gun with a gun—the piercing became infected within two weeks. Whether the infection was the result of contaminated equipment, poor quality jewelry, a terrible aftercare regimen, user error, or “twisting” the posts I will never know. I reluctantly removed the studs and waited another four years before having them repierced, again with a gun. (It was the ’90s; my mother and I didn’t know any better and actually assumed it was preferable to the “ice cube and sewing needle” method she knew.) My second experience was worse than the first; while the stud did pierce my lobe, one of the guns mechanisms failed and the jewelry was never ejected. This means my ear was pierced but the gun was still attached. Imagine sitting nervously on one of those cold stools—in front of a floor-to-ceiling window—feeling the jewelry pass through your skin and then hearing the phrase, “Uh oh.” After a few painful minutes of poking and pulling the piercing “tech”—i.e. counter girl—was able to wiggle the jewelry free and I walked away with a pair of pierced ears that miraculously healed.

The APP has taken the following stance against piercing guns:

It is the position of the Association of Professional Piercers that only sterile disposable equipment is suitable for body piercing, and that only materials which are certified as safe for internal implant should be placed in inside a fresh or unhealed piercing. We consider unsafe any procedure that places vulnerable tissue in contact with either non-sterile equipment or jewelry that is not considered medically safe for long-term internal wear…[f]or this reason, APP members may not use reusable ear piercing guns for any type of piercing procedure. While piercing guns may seem to be a quick, easy and convenient way of creating holes, they have major drawbacks in terms of sterility, tissue damage and inappropriate jewelry design.”

However many states and communities have not. (Keep in mind these decisions and regulations are passed at a local, not national, level in America, hence we cannot push for a nationwide ban.) That said, as we start the new year, I have a challenge for all piercers (and piercing enthusiasts): Join together and work to ban piercing guns in your state, city, or municipality. How? Education, education, education. Continue to educate piercees, public health officials, legislators, and anyone who will listen about the dangers of piercing guns, the jewelry they use, and the untrained individuals who operate them. Petition those who have the power to write, present and vote on these regulations. And do what you do best: perform safe and healthy piercings in sterile conditions all day, everyday.

There is power in numbers, so let’s pull our voices together and work to make 2014 an even better year for safe and professional piercing. And, as always, enjoy this issue of The Point.

 

Point #64: From the Editor

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IMG_3716Kim Zapata headshotBy Kimberly Zapata

This is a strange issue for me as it is the first post-Conference recap I am covering as Editor, and I’m doing it from the confines of my fourth-floor walkup in Brooklyn, New York. You see this event, the 18th Annual Conference of the Association of Professional Piercers, is the first Conference I have missed in years. My reasons were good—I was nine months pregnant with my first child (who I am happy to say was born on July 14, 2013)—but that did not make the week any easier, especially when I logged onto Facebook and saw my feed full of posts by colleagues and friends about their APP adventures. I lived vicariously through check-ins, status updates, and photos, and while I am certain I did not miss the temperatures this year (dry heat or not, it seems as though it was just damn hot), I did miss the camaraderie, the classes, and the parties, handshakes and hugs. So as you can imagine when the content for this issue came tumbling in—an issue dedicated to post-Conference coverage—I was both excited and at a loss.

I worked through the week backwards. I began with the events of the banquet dinner: the President’s Award, the Josh A. Prentice Award, the Innovator’s Award for Creativity, and the Award for Technical Innovation. As the pictures poured in, I saw the fashion show everyone was talking about (seriously, all of my social media pages were abuzz about it) and the opening party. I also saw pictures of piercers and other industry professionals learning and conversing. Some were taken in the classrooms but others captured the moments that took place in hallways, restaurants, and at the Bally’s main casino bar (an unofficial meeting ground for many). Even though I will never know what was said as these shots were taken, I know—from my prior experiences—the dialogue exchanged was unlike any other. (Sure there were jokes and the annual idle chatter, but there was also advice—given and received—stories shared, and memories made.) It is a conversation neither you nor I can replicate, one that articles fail to fully capture, and one that is exclusive to the Conference experience.

In addition to the thank-yous and award announcements, we are fortunate enough to have two “full-Conference” coverage articles this year: one from Courtney Jane Maxwell and the other, “Confessions from a Conference First-Timer,” by Amanda Badger. While Amanda’s article reminded me of my own first Conference experience—so much so I could feel the nervous, anxious excitement well in my chest (even amidst the breastmilk!)—Courtney’s article pointed out just how far we have come. We also have recaps from Dianna Brown, Parker Webb and Jacob Spjut, a few of our ever-amazing Al D. scholars

So as I sit here, typing with one hand while my newborn babe—propped in the other—pulls and sucks on my breast, I hope you find this issue as nostalgic as I did. Relive your annual pilgrimage in these posts, photos, and pages, and let them serve as a reminder as to why you do what you do (and keep doing it with pride). And if you weren’t at Conference this year, like me, read on to see what you missed, and what you have to look forward to next year!

Welcome to issue #64 of The Point: The Journal of the Association of Professional Piercers.