EIKON TEAM | PUBLISHED APR 09, 2025

As a Canadian tattoo artist, you may be wondering how the 'trade war' may impact you. We’ve been monitoring the ever-changing developments and want to help connect a couple of dots on how this situation may affect tattoo supplies and tattooing in Canada.

Tariffs? What the F*$# Is Actually Going On?

Before We Begin: Look, we get it. No one REALLY wants to talk about tariffs—including us. But here we are. And since this mess affects tattooing in Canada, we might as well break it down in a way that actually matters to you.

Why would you spend your valuable time reading this? As Canada's Tattoo Supply Store, we've navigated economic storms and supply chain chaos before. We've learned how to keep supplies flowing from coast-to-coast-to-coast, even when the headlines get messy. It’s with those lenses that we’re looking at the situation and doing our best to share only relevant information about what we know at this time. So, with that out of the way, let’s get into the stuff that really counts—how this impacts your shop, and what you can do about it.

Tariffs & Their Impact: Will Tattooing Experience Supply Shortages And Price Increases?

Tattoo supply prices will be affected by the combination of a weaker Canadian dollar and the new tariffs being thrown around. While the situation is evolving, here’s what we know right now:

The Canadian Dollar & Economic Instability

Tattoo supplies are almost always priced in US dollars, no matter where they’re sourced from. That means the exchange rate (FX) has a huge impact on costs. When things are unstable, the Canadian dollar tends to dip in value – which in turn makes buying American more expensive.

• If the Canadian dollar weakens, your supplies get more expensive—even if the price set by the manufacturer stays the same.
• Since tariffs were first announced, the CAD dollar has been more stable than expected (at the time of this writing). But it remains one of THE things to watch because of its potential to increase supply costs.
• Canadian & International tariffs may increase costs on certain products, particularly those sourced from the US.

💡 Insider Tip: We’re introducing a new badge that will appear on products impacted by tariffs (more on that below). Also, we do our best to absorb short-term currency swings, but we may have to adjust prices more frequently than we'd like if these economic pressures pile up.

Will Tattooing Experience Supply Shortages And Price Increases?

Unlike the toilet paper shortage of 2020, we don’t anticipate major supply disruptions. Manufacturers may adjust their processes to reduce the impact of tariffs, which could delay some products in production, shipping, or distribution. We’re also working on bringing in more alternatives from different suppliers to minimize disruptions.

A Glimpse Into What We Do

(Not nearly as fun as tattooing, we know, but still important...)
Our inventory management system is designed to keep Canadian artists working, and we react quickly to industry shifts to maintain stock availability.

• Real-time inventory monitoring to prevent stock issues.
• Strong relationships with manufacturers to secure the best pricing.
• Direct sourcing strategies to reduce tariff impact.
  Check out these new alternatives directly sourced in Canada.

💡 Insider Tip: We've spent 30 years building direct supply chains that work for Canadian artists. Eikon Essentials & Gloves, Eikon Cartridges, Hydra Needles, Griffin Tubes, Eikon Power and accessories, are either made by us or sourced directly—no middleman involved.

Artists Asked: How Can Tattoo Artists “Support Canadian”?

We've all been seeing a lot of ‘Support Canadian’ conversations lately, and we also want to play our part in it. So, let’s have an open conversation about what this means in the Canadian tattoo industry.

First, a little bit about us for those that are new around here – we started in Canada in ‘94 – and are still here, and locally owned and operated. We’re proud of the fact we’ve been supporting Canadian tattoo artists for 30+ years. So much so, we’re now doubling down on our identity—Eikon is Canada’s Tattoo Supply Store. It’s been true for a long time, and it’s now more important than ever.

Now, here's the reality: While supporting Canadian-made products is important, the tattoo supply chain is inherently global – which means sourcing essential supplies like needles, gloves, and drapes internationally is how we maintain the quality, and cost standards, that Canadian artists are accustomed to.

Ways Tattoo Artists Can Support Canadian Tattooing:

• Choosing to buy from Canadian-owned businesses that invest in our community, ensuring more of your spending stays within the local tattoo industry (Avoid Amazon whenever possible, for example)
• Look for companies that maintain Canadian quality standards
• For example, being licensed to manufacture and sell medical products (we are 😉)
• Remember: "Canadian-owned" doesn't always mean "Canadian-made" – but it does mean supporting local jobs, reinvesting in the industry, and investing in long-term stability for Canadian tattoo artists

We're proud of our Canadian roots and the trust you've placed in us. So, Thank You!

New Badges On eikondevice.com

We’re introducing 3 new badges that will appear right next to product images. They’ll help you quickly identify if a product is either Made in Canada, sourced from a Canadian Company, or if its price has been impacted by tariffs.

Made In Canada

Products with this badge are Made in Canada with domestic and/or imported materials.

Canadian Brand

Products that are sourced, branded and/or managed by Canadian-owned and operated companies. While not made in Canada, choosing these products supports Canadian jobs and/or Canadian tattooing.

Prices Impacted By Tariffs

If a product's price changes due to tariffs, you'll see this badge right next to the product price.

Our Commitment To Canadian Artists

From our shop here in Kingston, Ontario, to tattoo shops across Canada, the backbone of our business is keeping Canadian artists working. While we can't control international politics or exchange rates, here's what we can control:

• Keeping you up to date on pricing and availability changes
• Continued investment in direct supply chains that work for Canadian artists
• Keeping the standards you trust for 30+ years
• A Canadian-based team focused on keeping your shop stocked

Got questions? Our Customer Service team is ready to help.

🇨🇦 We've got your back.