You may know Craig Entrekin as Etool from the forum, but do you know where that name comes from? Entrekin’s business, Etool’s Temporary Airbrush Tattoos, has been in business for the past year, but the military’s entrenching tool, or e-tool, has been around for much longer. The e-tool is a shovel used in the military to dig fox holes and trenches. At Fort Campbell in Kentucky, members of Entrekin’s unit dubbed him “Etool” after the First Sergeant could not pronounce his last name, and the nickname stuck. Now Etool’s Tats is a business which Entrekin takes to fairs and festivals and has even received requests for private parties.

Entrekin started tatting with his parents three years ago when his mom acquired a Spectrum and TatStore stencils. He says he got involved with tats because he enjoys the creativity that tats offer, the freedom to own his own business, and the involvement with people. He says, “There is nothing like the light in a kid’s eye when he/she sees a finished TAT; it’s magical.”

Entrekin uses his creativity to go above and beyond the customers’ expectations, even if their expectations didn’t even include a tat. While working at the Kentucky Apple Festival, he overheard two teens joking about getting lower back tattoos that actually said, “Tramp Stamp.” He said, “Hey! I can do that,” and gave them both the ideal impulse tattoo: a temporary one.

Entrekin’s favorite piece of advice comes from his parents: “Don’t get discouraged when you’re having a slow or bad day. Your customers can sense the negative mood, and it will hurt your business. Just smile and act like you’re having a good time and it will happen.”

To learn more about Entrekin, visit his website at www.EtoolsTats.com.

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