More Than Tattoos: Building a Profitable Expo Strategy
How to Turn One Weekend at a Tattoo Expo Into Months of Business
A free live online seminar for tattoo artists and vendors
Tuesday 1st September 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST
Online | Free Registration
[Reserve Your Spot]
Most exhibitors judge an expo by one thing.
“How many tattoos did I do?”
The best exhibitors judge it differently.
How many future clients did I meet?
How many bookings did I lock in?
How many people followed me because they genuinely connected with my work?
How much content did I create?
How many partnerships did I build?
How much business did this weekend generate over the next 12 months?
That’s the difference.
Whether you’re exhibiting at Inked Expo, another convention, or considering your first event, this session will help you think beyond the booth.
The most successful studios don’t see expos as an expense. They see them as part of their annual marketing budget.
If your bookings are quiet, your calendar isn’t full, or you’re looking to grow into a new market, the answer isn’t always to spend less. Sometimes it’s about investing in the right opportunities and knowing how to maximise the return.
What You’ll Learn
Before the Expo
- How to decide which expos deserve a place in your annual marketing budget
- Setting realistic revenue and booking goals.
- How to market yourself before the doors even open.
- Creating a booth that stops people walking past.
- Understanding the difference between an expense and a business investment
During the Expo
- How to attract more conversations.
- Turning enquiries into future bookings.
- Simple ways to collect leads instead of relying on memory.
- Creating content while you’re already doing the work.
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Building relationships with brands, suppliers and other artists.
After the Expo
- The follow-up strategy most exhibitors never do.
- Turning one weekend into months of bookings.
- Using your content long after the event ends.
- Measuring the real return on your investment.
Who Is This For?
- Tattoo artists.
- Apprentices preparing for their first expo.
- Studio owners.
- Merchandise vendors.
- Suppliers.
- Anyone wanting to get more value from exhibiting.
Hosted by Chris Jensen and Melissa Yu
Melissa Yu is the Founder of MCO Events and Event Producer of Inked Expo, bringing over a decade of experience producing large-scale exhibitions, conferences and live events across Australia.
Joining her is Chris Jensen, Founder of Inked Expo, Owner of Melbourne Tattoo Supplies and a respected tattoo artist with over 20 years of hands-on experience exhibiting, judging and building tattoo events. Chris understands the industry from the artist's perspective and will share practical insights into what works on the expo floor, from preparing your booth to building lasting relationships with clients and the tattoo community.
Together, Melissa and Chris bring both the business and industry perspective, giving you practical strategies to help you get more from every expo you attend.
Free Live Q&A
Bring your questions.
We’ll spend the final part of the session answering real business questions from artists and vendors.
Your booth is an investment.
Let’s make sure it pays you back.