New tattoo shop, Backwoods Ink, opens on Main Street in Gainesville

After months of renovations and preparation, local resident Kyla Hicks has opened the doors to her long-awaited dream, bringing a professional tattoo studio to Gainesville.

Backwoods Ink is now open at 452 Main Street, directly across from Town & Country Supermarket. Kyla said the new shop is the result of nearly a year-long renovation project that has transformed the building into a space she loves and hopes others feel comfortable in. 

Kyla is no stranger to the tattoo industry. Before moving to Missouri, she owned and operated the tattoo shop Walking Arts in Wisconsin, and she has worked professionally as a tattoo artist for several years. Opening Backwoods Ink, she said, allowed her to bring that experience home to Gainesville.

“Tattooing has been a passion of mine for a long time,” Kyla told the Times. “I wanted to open a shop here that focuses on quality work and makes people feel comfortable, whether it’s their first tattoo or their tenth.”

While the outside of the building is simple in design, Kyla says a lot of thought and love went into designing the interior of the space, which she wanted to feel more like a home than a traditional studio. She says her goal is always for clients to feel relaxed and confident from the moment they walk through the door.

“Backwoods Ink is about quality work, respect for the craft and making sure people feel comfortable walking through the door,” she said.

Kyla works in a wide range of tattoo styles, including fine-detail designs, florals, classic tattoo imagery and designs with darker themes. She said she also enjoys working closely with clients to create custom designs that are meaningful and personal to them. 

In addition to traditional tattoos, Kyla also offers piercing services and permanent makeup. 

The shop held a soft opening last week, and Kyla invites everyone to stop in when they’re in town - even if they’re not in the market for a tattoo or piercing service right now.

She says she’ll be at the shop for consultations, to give tours of the new space and to meet and visit with community members while the final setup details are completed. She’s currently waiting on wifi internet to be installed and operational in order to begin taking clients, as she relies on that connectivity to print stencils needed to tattoo.

Regular hours at Backwoods Ink are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop is usually closed on Sundays and Mondays, but Kyla says she’s happy to book appointments on those days or after hours if it works better for a client.

Looking ahead, Kyla said she hopes Backwoods Ink becomes a place people feel comfortable recommending to friends and family.

“I want to build long-term relationships with my clients so that Backwoods Ink can be a shop people feel good about recommending to friends and family,” she said. “I want people to know that Backwoods Ink is a welcoming and professional space. If it’s your first tattoo or if you already have a lot, my goal is to make each client feel comfortable, heard and confident in the process from start to finish.”

Find out more by calling Kyla at 417-543-9616 or following along on the “Backwoods Ink” Facebook page.