Plush Tattoo Chills Out With Acuity’s Custom Scheduling Software
In Portland, Oregon, there’s one tattoo studio that stands out from the crowd: Plush Tattoo. Known for its laid-back, no-pressure environment, this 100% vegan mom-and-pop shop offers a unique combination of traditional tattoos, tarot readings, and permanent makeup services. Founded by married tattoo artists, Amber and Toni Brennan, Plush prides itself on being a safe space where every client receives the most chill and relaxing tattoo experience ever.
Finding a scheduler that’s flexible enough for creatives
Both Amber and Toni are neurodivergent, with ADHD, and they recognized the importance of getting organized to build and grow their business. To cultivate the welcoming atmosphere they wanted at Plush and work efficiently together as artists, they knew they needed to go beyond the paper, ink, and cash of the past.
They wanted a digital system that could streamline their operations, from scheduling to communication and ultimately payments. But it had to align with their values, too, by being accessible and inclusive for clients, eco-friendly, and dynamic. “Because we work in a creative field, we needed a scheduling app that would be as flexible as our work can be,” Amber says.
Acuity Scheduling checked all the boxes. “I was considering other software,” Amber says. “Then I came across Acuity and I was like, wait, this is so much better! You can do so much more with it and it’s more flexible.”
Booking any kind of appointment with Acuity
Amber and Toni now use Acuity to book and manage all of their appointments, relying on the scheduling software’s robust features to improve their and their clients’ experiences. With a calendar for each artist, clients can easily check their availability on the website and book time with them. “There's no confusion for the clients about who they're booking with,” Amber says.
Acuity not only supports their variety of services—Toni specializes in American traditional, Japanese, botanical, fine line, and nostalgic styles, while Amber excels in natural-looking brows and hyper-realistic freckles—but also their combination of online and in-person appointments.
Clients who are unsure about what they want can schedule a virtual consultation. After that consultation, they’ll receive a personalized booking link that’s designed just for them. “Not everybody has the same tattoo ideas, so we’ll have to have different ranges of time to do it,” says Toni, “and I'm so thankful for Acuity because we can do an endless amount of options for appointments.”
For those who already know what they want, clients can book directly through Plush’s booking page, fill out the intake form, and submit a deposit to secure their spot. “People are booking way in advance,” Toni says. “Other times I would’ve been scrambling, looking to see—did I forget somebody? Did I forget Nancy, did I forget Timmy, who wanted to get tattooed? Now Nancy and Timmy are already locked in where they want to be.”
Plush also benefits from new revenue opportunities with Acuity, including gift certificates and packages. For Mother’s Day, any client who purchased a gift certificate received a discount on their next personal appointment, which increased spending while incentivizing future bookings. “Acuity’s a beautiful net that catches all the clients, all the business, to where it makes time for us to do the more important things,” Toni says.
Mastering the art of automated scheduling
On the backend, both Amber and Toni appreciate the consolidation of client details, as well as Acuity’s advanced scheduling options that keep their days running smoothly. “I love the time blocking,” Amber says. “When we come in, we look at the color coding. We’re like, oh, we see a lot of purple! That means we have a lot of tarot tattoos. It's kind of fun. Being visual people ourselves, we like to see that…I have the calendar up basically all the time at the shop.”
Acuity’s integration with their preferred payment processor simplifies collecting deposits as well as charging clients the final balance when service is complete. “Before Acuity, if I didn't get a deposit right away, I'd have to play ‘the three-day game,’ I call it, where I check in every three days,” Toni says. “Are you still interested? Are you still interested? Are you still interested? Now I'm confident. I just say hey, this is my work, this is what I stand for, here's my Acuity link when you're ready to book, and they like that. They’re like wow, this guy’s cool.”
When a client does book, Acuity’s automated email reminders build excitement and ensure they’re well-prepared for their appointments. These reminders include important details such as directions to the shop and door codes for entry. “I just can't go back to the old way,” Amber says. “For clients, being able to see our availability, to self-book…it eliminates so much back and forth. It's just worth it.”
A permanent solution to past pressures
Since choosing Acuity, Plush significantly improved their business operations with a tool that works on their behalf. The scheduling software brings all of their information and workflows together in one place, allowing them to stay organized from flash to finish. “Acuity streamlines the process to make it easier to do the day,” Toni says. “It's literally an assistant. Once you set it all up the way you want it, it's just magic.” Plus, he no longer finds himself digging through emails, direct messages, and texts. “Everything's where I need it to be. I don't need to run around looking for things.”
As a result of this increased efficiency and accessibility, Plush has more space to focus on other aspects of the business—and take well-deserved breaks.
“Time is money, and if you’re saving that time with scheduling, that’s more time you can put into other things that you want to do. Other work if you’re a workaholic. Or, if you actually want to take time off, Acuity gives you the option to live. It gives you options.”
But the best part is that Acuity takes the pressure off what they use most every day at Plush: their wrists. “Our wrists are saved,” Amber says. “We use our wrists so much. Tattooing really hurts your hands and your arms, and we’re able to conserve that energy for actually tattooing.”
They’ve even begun to take Plush on the road to other tattoo shops, like a recent guest spot in Hawaii. Acuity’s ability to move seamlessly with them and their clients proved it was the perfect choice for their mobile needs. “All we have to do is show up,” Amber says.
Legitimately good booking for tattoos and so much more
Plush Tattoo’s experience with Acuity Scheduling has been so positive, they believe it should be everyone's go-to scheduling software. “Acuity should be the official tool for tattooers,” Amber says. Toni adds, “Anybody, not just tattooers, anybody who has a job that’s scheduling people. It helps out a lot.”
Acuity has proven to be indispensable for them as creatives, helping them achieve their goal of providing unique, custom tattoos with calm and positive energy wherever they go. “Every business is trying to grow and evolve and I think Acuity has helped us evolve,” Toni says.
For other business owners looking to do the same, they suggest seeing where the scheduling software can take you. “Acuity is a thousand percent worth it,” Amber says. “The clients are always really impressed with it. We want to be professional and comfortable and inclusive, and Acuity helps us to set that tone right away with our clients. They know we mean business, we've reduced our no-shows dramatically, it’s just so good in every way.”
Toni agrees, “For someone who wants to be legitimate, I really love Acuity.”
