INK Vancouver — Looking Back Through the Archives
While reviewing the company archives recently, an interesting conversation from 2019 resurfaced.
At the time, a local entertainment company reached out looking for support for larger-scale events. Their questions included multiple tattoo stations, glow-in-the-dark options, larger setup requirements, and higher guest volumes.
The reality was simple: INK Vancouver was not ready.
At the time, the company operated with a single artist, a limited number of stencils, and a much smaller operational capacity. Rather than overpromising, the opportunity was referred to another vendor better equipped for the project.
Looking back, what is interesting is not the missed opportunity.
What is interesting is what happened afterward.
Years later, the same contact resurfaced and reached out again.
The archive became a reminder that business growth is not only measured by revenue. Sometimes growth is measured by capabilities.
One of the most important decisions in the history of INK Vancouver occurred in 2023.
The company made a conscious choice to prioritize investment over short-term profit.
At the time, this was not the easiest decision.
Every dollar invested into equipment, inventory, systems, and infrastructure was a dollar that could not be taken as profit.
The business could have remained smaller, simpler, and more immediately profitable.
Instead, the decision was made to build.
Additional airbrushes were purchased.
Equipment inventory expanded.
Operational systems improved.
The company invested in its ability to handle larger crowds, support multiple artists, operate multiple stations, and deliver a more professional activation experience.
From a financial perspective, these investments reduced profitability in the short term.
From an operational perspective, they changed the future of the company.
The goal was never simply to earn more from the next event.
The goal was to become capable of serving opportunities that previously had to be declined.
That distinction is important.
Many small businesses focus on maximizing today’s profit.
In 2023, INK Vancouver chose instead to increase tomorrow’s capacity.
Looking back through the archives, it is possible to see the result of that decision.
The type of activation that exceeded the company’s capabilities in 2019 now falls comfortably within its operating range.
What once required another vendor can now be delivered internally.
Not every investment produces an immediate return.
Some investments create options.
Some create the ability to say “yes” to opportunities that would have been impossible only a few years earlier.
The archive serves as a reminder that growth is not always visible in the moment.
Sometimes the most important progress happens long before the opportunity arrives.
More information → www.inkvancouver.com
