Possible move to Mt. Shasta area :) (Redding, Eureka: sales, purchases, schools)

[Leylaf]

My husband and I & our 4 children are looking into moving to northern California, and the Mt. Shasta area is appealing to us. We own and operate a tattoo shop at the moment, and would like to set up a new shop when we move. We are currently living in the mountains of Kentucky and it is oppressively religious, and judgmental here. (not an ideal setting for a tattoo shop by any stretch of the imagination)
I looked into redding, and it appears that there are already quite a few establishments there, plus, we really enjoy rural mountain life.

Does anyone have any advice where this is concerned? We are really looking for a friendly, welcoming non-judgmental community in which to raise our family, and run a successful business.

Thanks in advance

Leyla x

[Woof]

Mt Shasta City. Better climate, scenery and recreation than Redding, however it's also much smaller.

Yreka (pronounced why ree' kuh)is another possibility.

Avoid Dunsmuir even though it is cheaper and has excellent trout fishing. Same sort of oppressive atmosphere you're trying to escape. Long time residents there will actually follow "strangers" around and glare at them suspiciously.

[notmeofficer]

I think theres a chance you might starve running a tat shop in mt shasta

small population... I would definitely check the stats for the population.. age .. money etc

Of course you might be the only one... I dont think there is any other up there... but I would check that as well..

Many areas are expensive around the mountain.. retirees and more wealthy.. they dont normally go for tats in my experience

Now.. there is the College of the Siskiyous in Yreka,,, they night be a target population...

Do your research carefully

[Leylaf]

Thanks for the input

After spending the last few days researching, I am at at a loss as to where to look
We definitely want to be in Northern Cali. but of course we also need a big enough town to support the business, while keeping the kids safe. If I wasn't 3000 miles away at this point, Id be taking a drive today.

Where would you suggest would be a good place with housing that is somewhat rural or at least has some land to it, but with a bigger town close by that would support our kind of business? Anywhere in Northern CA is good for us.

I really appreciate the help!

Thanks,

Ley x

[Fat Freddy]

Maybe around Eureka.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by notmeofficer

I think theres a chance you might starve running a tat shop in mt shasta

small population... I would definitely check the stats for the population.. age .. money etc

Of course you might be the only one... I dont think there is any other up there... but I would check that as well..

Many areas are expensive around the mountain.. retirees and more wealthy.. they dont normally go for tats in my experience

Now.. there is the College of the Siskiyous in Yreka,,, they night be a target population...

Do your research carefully

People in Siskiyou Country travel anywhere from Mt Shasta to McCloud to Weed to Yreka to do shopping or get entertained, so it's more than the one village. All of them together don't equal Redding in population, but yellowpages.com lists 15 tattoo places in the Redding area (and also one in Yreka). The College of the Siskiyous (2 year school) is mainly in Weed, which is in about the center between Dunsmuir in the south and Yreka in the north. Stiff competition in Redding, I'd say it would be difficult.

Consider Southern Oregon also, like Ashland. It's more expensive but there are more people and businesses in the Ashland/Medford area. Also there's no sales tax there, so people from northern California often travel there for large purchases.

[Inthesierras]

You might be surprised about opening a tat shop in a small town. A few years ago a tat shop opened in my little town (Susanville, CA), population 11,000. Its been VERY successful. Another tat shop just opened a few weeks ago. Look for an area with no shops within an hour's drive.

[Leylaf]

hi again,

somebody mentioned Eureka, which is appealing to us more than anywhere else at this point....does anyone know enough about this area to give me some info?? Basic things from a resident's point of view...best and worst, pros and cons, safety, housing, schools etc

It seems that considering the population, there is more than enough business to go around where the tattoo shop is concerned (only 1 shop in Eureka itself, and a couple in Arcata)

Thanks again,

Ley x

[joshndeb]

you will have a higher "liberal" population in Eureka. Area is know for lots of hippies too. They might like tats as well.

[Leylaf]

thanks for the response

It seems that while researching the Eureka area, I keep running into the "hippy pot culture" stuff....this might be the perfect place for us to be. We prefer a more laid back lifestyle, and as a tattooist & body piercer my hubby and I are somewhat unconventional and definitely drawn to the "artsy" type community. If Haight-Ashbury wasn't so ridiculously overpriced, we'd be moving there Other than the weed growing, what are the other drawbacks in this area?

Thanks,

Ley x