The Black Pearl

Brother and sister Mike and Julie Storey wear the love of their tattoo and piercing business, The Black Pearl, on their sleeve. Literally. When asked about their favourite tattoos, Julie points to the image of Angelina Jolie on her right forearm. “Angelina has a cool look, and I love this photo,” she says. Mike’s favourite is an abstract tattoo on his neck, done in Germany. “I was following this artist for many years, and told him to do whatever he likes,” he says.

The two siblings bring complementary skills to the business they launched in 2014. Julie’s degree in business management positions her for office administration. “I do all the scheduling, quoting and answering emails,” she explains, adding, “I’m really organized, so I love doing this.” Mike is the tattoo artist. He apprenticed with well-known tattoo artist Bill Reid and then worked at a tattoo parlour downtown for almost a decade, building a loyal clientele. For them, opening their own store was an easy choice. “This way we can do it our own way,” says Mike.