Meet Amy Leavell Bransford | Esthetician & Salon, Spa and Tattoo Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Leavell Bransford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for SparrowHawk Studio was sparked by a female tattooer in town, Cori James, and ignited by my desire to expand my other business, Aviary Beauty + Wellness, where we provide hair and skin care services in a boutique setting. In 2017 I was feeling the itch to grow as a business owner. One day Cori was in the shop and expressing her frustration at the tattoo industry and how she didn’t feel like there was a shop that fit her personality. Standing in the Aviary she said, “I don’t understand why I can’t tattoo in a place like this!” It was a really good point…at the time there really wasn’t anything that supported a tattooer who felt like they didn’t fit the mold of traditional shops. So I recreated the idea of what a tattoo studio could look and feel like and SparrowHawk Studio was born.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am proud that I opened two “tiny” businesses that have inspired others to do the same. At SparrowHawk Studio, when we opened there was really nothing like it in town. I was a bit nervous about that and felt like the industry might push back toward a non-tattooer opening a tattoo studio. After a while, it became very clear that there are a lot of artists who also desire a different kind of work environment for their craft. We are home to 6 full time artists and have hosted dozens of guest artists who are looking for a place to work while they are in town. Owning businesses is never easy but you learn to appreciate the great moments and lean into the difficult ones. The struggle helps you grow. I currently have the best talent and most supportive staff at both Aviary and SparrowHawk Studio. Having everyone on the same page creatively and to support each other, especially after re-opening during Covid 19. We are all a great big family and I couldn’t be more proud of that. There are 18 of us between the two spaces!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh gosh, this is a challenging question in a Covid era! I would definitely show off the Beltline – not just the eastside trails but the other areas that are developing. Arabia Mountain, Sweetwater Creek and Dolls Head Trail are all favorite outdoor spots. A tour of Atlanta boutiques – a couple of my favorite shopping destinations are owned by business friends: Modern Mystic at PCM, Megan Huntz and WISH Gallery in L5P. And in a non-Covid world I think the soccer scene at Atlanta United is pretty great and definitely winding down the evening at Southern Comfort.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been inspired by my parents from a young age. Both have always been self employed and never held traditional jobs. My dad is a professional musician and my mom owned a boutique clothing store in my hometown Macon, Georgia for most of my formative years. Her shop, Cornucopia, was the “it” fashion boutique in town for anyone who didn’t want to shop at the mall department store. I spent most of my afternoons after school there and started working in the shop when I was in middle school. As an adult I somehow always managed to work for small to medium sized businesses and never had a corporate job. I honestly don’t think I could handle working for anyone else at this point. I would be a terrible employee!

Website: www.sparrowhawkatl.com
Instagram: @sparrowhawkatl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparrowhawkatl/

Image Credits
Heidi Geldhauser Our Labor of Love