FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #99 How A Marine Built A High-End Tattoo Brand For Professionals
A luxury tattoo studio in Fredericksburg sounds bold—until you hear how Gary McCord built Battlefield Ink with precision, purpose, and a clear mission to serve professionals who expect more from the tattoo experience. We bring you Gary’s story from the Marine Corps to MBA to entrepreneur, and the moment he decided to trade a stable nonprofit career for a craft that demands both artistic excellence and surgical-level hygiene.
We dive into the shift that’s redefining tattoo culture: more people with tattoos, more professionals seeking them, and higher expectations around cleanliness, privacy, and service. Gary opens up about the stereotypes he still faces—from landlords to passersby—and how he counters them with a code of conduct, meticulous sanitation, and a client-first process. He walks through what “luxury” means in practical terms: thoughtful consultations, a calm studio environment, dress standards, and a respect-forward approach where every piece, big or small, gets the same care.
If you’re dreaming about starting a business, Gary’s playbook is blunt and valuable. Bring capital to the table, understand the true cost of a premium buildout, avoid the debt spiral, and be ready to work far beyond a nine-to-five. We reflect on the responsibility of permanent art, the technical decisions that shape longevity and healing, and the meaning clients carry out the door. Gary also shares what keeps him grounded—Harley rides through the lower 48, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, family time, and faith—and why Battlefield Ink. invites anyone curious to stop by for a tour, no ink required.
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Gary McCord
Battlefield Ink
540 - 903 - 1380
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker:Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. We've got Gary McCord joining us with Battlefield Ink. Gary, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker:Well, I am excited for this, and I'm excited to learn more about you and about your business. So let's start there. Share with us a little bit about Battlefield Ink.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so um Battlefield Ink is Fredericksburg's first and only luxury tattoo studio. Um and our mission is pretty simple. It's deliver is to deliver exceptional and luxurious tattoo experience tailored to a professional clientele. We blend artistic excellence with unwavering professionalism, prioritizing comfort, care, and a client-first approach in each and every session. Our commitment is to create meaningful, high-end dark in a space where clients feel respected, understood, and inspired.
Speaker:Amazing. I love the concept so much. Congratulations on your opening. It's really exciting to have a business like this in the staff or community.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're blessed to be here for sure.
Speaker:Yeah. So I want to dive into your background. Share with us your journey. How did you get into us? Explain to us the backstory.
Speaker 2:Um, it's like to get into opening a luxury tattoo studio to the industry, something like that.
Speaker:Yes, yeah. I want to hear what led up to you opening.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, it's it's a long story, but I'll keep it as short as I can. Um, so I served 10 years in the United States Marine Corps. Um, I served all around the globe. Um, I never once thought that I would ever be a tattoo artist, to be honest with you. Um, I got into the industry late at life. Um after 10 years, I was medically retired. I spent about two years at Walter Reed as a patient, so in the hospital up in Bethesda, Maryland. Um, and then from there I got out. Uh, I pursued my master's in business and I graduated uh with my master's in business administration. Um from there, I was I had a very lucrative job working with Wounded Warrior Project, helping veterans each and every day. That's one of the nation's leading nonprofits in regards to veteran affairs. Um, it was a super fulfilling career. And one day, you know, I just kind of told my wife and my family that I was gonna go be a tattoo artist, and that's what I did. Um, we're going on five years now in this industry, and I'm super blessed to be where I am. And I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur. And um I did a lot a lot of research, you know. I talked to a lot of my mentors in business and life and the industry, and you know, decided that hey, you know, 20% of the US population has at least one tattoo. Um, and 15 years before now, it was only three percent. Um, tattoos are are more and more um welcoming in today's society, and professionals need a professional place to go to get tattooed by other professionals. So here we are, um, Battlefield Ink's up and running, and um me and my family and my team, I you know, I think it's um we're chasing our dreams each and every day.
Speaker:Amazing. I love your story, and thank you for your service.
Speaker 2:It was an honor to serve.
Speaker:I love what you're doing, and so tell me, are you finding that there are any myths or misconceptions about your business?
Speaker 2:Um, I think with the tattoo industry, uh there is. I mean, I and I think some is so I I think when we think of a tattoo shop, we think of, you know, a bunch of, you know, um riff raff is is what I've heard from landlords that wouldn't lease to me. Um we think of you know, dirty, we think of um grimy, we I mean, we think of just really out there, you know, not professionals, you know, just people, you know, you come in, you get a tattoo. Um, it's bold lines, and you know, whatever the case may be. And I and I think our industry kind of gets, you know, some of that's deserved, you know. Um, I think for a long time, you know, criminals and veterans were the only ones that were really getting tattooed. And um now, you know, uh now we're seeing veterans still get tattooed a lot, and they still get tattooed a lot, and and and and here and especially in the northern Virginia area. Um, but I think like I said, the the demographics of who's getting tattoos is and what the tattoos look like um are is changing rapidly and at a rapid pace. Um, our industry, you know, went from a two and a half billion dollar industry to a five billion dollar industry over the last decade, and it continues to grow every day. Um, so I think that yeah, the miss there are misconceptions out there about the tattoo industry and people that do tattoos and and get tattoos. And I can assure you, you know, I can't speak for everyone, but here at Battlefield Ink, you know, we we bring a professional approach and a professional demeanor um to work every single day. We have a code of conduct here. Um, you know, we dress to impress. Um, we're we're not corporate, right? So there is no HR or whatever the case may be in this industry or here at Battlefield Ink, but um we do respect everyone that walks through the door, um, and we make sure that everybody's in a safe environment and that our environment is clean. Um, we are working with uh bloodborne pathogens, so we want to make sure that each and every experience is is not only sanitary, but is is respectful, is inspiring, and and we, you know, and is professional. We want you to come back for sure.
Speaker:Well, I really love that so much, and I love that you uh are are showing your integrity and you're setting the bar high and you're setting a very high standard for yourselves. And and I imagine that your clients very much appreciate that. And um and and it's um you know a safe environment and they feel comfortable there, and I really love what you're doing. And so I wonder if there is someone listening right now and they are thinking that they want to chase their dreams and want to start a business as you know, uh as someone who has a master's degree in in business administration, what advice would you give someone thinking about starting a business?
Speaker 2:Uh yeah, I would say one is um make sure you bring you know capital to the table. Um, don't get caught in the debt, the debt trap, you know. Um I building a business out, you know, we spent over six figures building out, you know, 1600 square feet. Um, because we're building it to the luxury level that that we believe that our consumers deserve and that you know our team deserves here at Battlefield Ink. So I would say don't get caught in the debt trap, you know, um understand your finances. Um I saved a lot, a lot of money over uh a lot of professional working years to do something like this. So I would recommend that you do that. Um, I would also just say, you know, be ready to work. Um, you know, I traded my nine to five in to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Um, and I and I believe that I'm built for it, you know. Um what I think three percent of the United States population are entrepreneurs, and only one percent are successful. Um, so you're risking it all, and you've got to go all in. Um, but if it is your dream, I would tell you to chase your dream, um, be prepared, um, be proactive rather than reactive and begin with the end in mind. So that would be my advice.
Speaker:Yeah, that's really, really good advice. And clearly you have worked very hard. And so my next question is when you're not working, if you have time, what are you doing for fun?
Speaker 2:Oh, what do I do for fun? Um yeah, I'm I'm a biker. I like to I have two Harley Davidson motorcycles, so um I ride as much as I can. Um, I've been I've I've ridden my motorcycle through all 48 states in the continental US. So um that's one of my big hobbies. Absolutely. Um, I'm in I'm into fitness, so I you know, I'll shout out 10th planet here in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I roll Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Um, I like to work out at Fredericksburg Iron, another locally owned gym. Um, so really fitness, spending time with my wife and my two wonderful children. My son's 13 and my daughter is five and a half, and she reminds me, not just five. Um so I absolutely love uh to spend time with my family, focused on fitness. Um, I'm a man of faith, um, so I tend to stay in circles that are that are Christian-based circles. Um and I like to worship and and serve my community.
Speaker:Nice, nice. You are busy. You're very busy. What do you love most about what you do?
Speaker 2:Oh man, um the arts. Uh, I get to create every single day. Um, and there's a lot of you know, there's a lot of pressure with that. Um, you know, me and the team here, like we we don't take any tattoo lightly, whether it be a tattoo that takes an hour or whether it be a tattoo um that takes 10 days of tattooing. Like we we take each and every tattoo very, very seriously. Um, because we're marketing individuals permanently, they're gonna wear that tattoo for the rest of their life. Um, so it's it's super rewarding to be able to create and to be able to to learn every day, to get better every day, and um and just really be able to create art on on median like skin, you know. Um, so I think I think that would answer your question is the art. That's what I love the most about it.
Speaker:Nice. I love that. What is something that you wish the listeners knew about Battlefield Ink.
Speaker 2:Oh man, what is something? Well, I like I said, we're we're the first and only luxury tattoo studio in um Fredericksburg, Virginia. So we're exclusive. Um this place isn't, you know, it's not for everybody. Um so but it can be for you, you know. Uh we tend to um we tend to target a a professional and luxury crowd. Um so there wants professional luxury tattoo. And it's we're not just about the art here, the art is important, but this the experience is just as important. Um, so and if you don't believe me, just stop by. We'll give you a tour. You don't have to get tattooed, just come see us. You know, we'd love to shake your hand and and introduce ourselves. Um, and we're here to be a positive staple in the Fredericksburg community.
Speaker:Nice. I love that. So if the listeners want to stop by, if they want to connect with you, learn from you, where can they find you?
Speaker 2:Um, we're at 282 Deacon Road, um, suite 111. So that's Woodlawn Village. So we're you can find us in the same uh complex as the Weiss. Um, yeah, just come in and see us. You can't miss our signage. It's big Battlefield Ink, um bold and luxurious. So we're here just about every day, um, 10 to 6, Thursday through Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. Somebody will be here, but it'll be by appointment on amazing.
Speaker:Gary, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing Battlefield Ink with us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was really a pleasure and definitely an honor. Thank you so much for doing what you do.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.