Keith and Iliana Kennedy have worked hard to make a good name for themselves in the body art industry and continue to grow the company today.
Keith Kennedy the owner of Tribal Expression opened up the shop after he became passionate in the jewelry and piercing industry. Over 30 years ago Keith was working to become a business owner because he felt as though he would be better in a self-employed work environment. He decided to go to San Francisco and get training to become a piercer and moved forward from there. Keith now owns Tribal Expression a shop in Calgary and has already made plans to open up more around the city. He hopes that Tribal will grow and have more of his family join him with the big changes in his business.
“I've always been working towards trying to figure out how to set it up for the family. For them to be actively involved in it. Yeah, I'm super happy.” Keith stated.
Iliana Kennedy never really saw herself going in the direction she is now, growing up she had always been around the industry because of her dad opening up Tribal Expression, due to her being around the industry so often she started to love the idea of being part of her family’s business. She went to school for six months in hopes that she could bring more to the company and see if the piercing industry was something she wanted to pursue. Iliana loved being part of all this and continued to get towards her career.
Keith and Iliana soon started working hand in hand as the father and daughter team. Keith made it his goal to help Iliana get into piercing through an apprenticeship with him and taught her everything that she does now for the company. Iliana soon became a piercer and is now following in her father’s footsteps.
“I just enjoy working with my daughter, it’s like when you have someone who understands what you're talking about but also understands you,” said Keith.
The father and daughter duo have come to notice that they have things in common because of the workplace making their bond closer due to the understanding they have with one another.
Iliana and Keith both share the same values when it comes to working as piercers, they love having the chance to speak with customers and make them feel good about adding jewelry to their bodies. Not only do they share the love of getting to know the people who come into the shop, but they also share the liking of their favourite piercings. Iliana and Keith both shared that they enjoy doing flat piercings because of the placement and the ease of doing them.
“Getting pierced can add confidence to people can make them feel a little better about just different things about themselves,” Iliana mentioned.
These two will continue to grow as a team and hope that people will come into their shop more often because of the loving environment they have created and the hopes that they have for adding more confidence to anyone who wants to add a bit of bling to their body.
