Neo Soul: Tattoo Shop Plus Boutique

Neo Soul started out as a New Wave tattoo shop back in 2006, with artist Aaron Morgan as its head honcho.

Almost six years later, Vita Lipari entered the picture, joining Neo Soul and bringing her vision.

Lipari believes in expression through artistic mediums like graphic design, photography and clothing design.

She knows the potential St. Pete holds to spread the local talent as far as it can reach and uses Neo Soul to convey that message.

Lipari was on hand with Patch recently, to shed some light on her business venture with Neo Soul: where it's been and where it's going.

Q: Who or what is Neo Soul?

A: Neo Soul is a custom tattoo shop and boutique. We offer apparel you won't find anywhere else and local artists sell their work straight from our wall. Our tattoo artists are professionally sound and strive to meet customers' every need and wish.

Q: Whose idea was it to open a shop where there are tattoos and merchandise?

A: The tattoo shop was already in existence through artist Aaron Morgan. We both have a passion for design and decided to open a place where design didn't have to stop at tattooing. We have our own clothing line and pretty much consider ourselves a custom design studio for all mediums.

Q: How long did it take to put the plans into action?

A: Neo Soul has been around for six years, but the relocation and boutique addition went into construction in September of 2010.

Q: What types of retail and/or services do you offer?

A: Tattoos are number one, but we also have jewelry, local art, house wares, body care products, ceramics, stationary and even custom tea blends from the Hooker Tea Company.

Q: Where is your merchandise from?

A: We try to stay true to St. Pete and get most of our merchandise from local artists or free trade businesses. We only sell products that are organic or all natural.

Q: How long has Neo Soul been around for?

A: Aaron Morgan started it in 2006. He has 15+ years in the industry and has spread his art form from Vermont to Florida to New York.

Q: What can customers expect when they do business with Neo Soul?

A: An aesthetically pleasing and peaceful environment. We offer unmatched services where every customer gets the VIP treatment they deserve. We have created a space where everyone can feel comfortable.

Q: What is the overall mission of Neo Soul?

A: We want to continue doing what we love and creating art. We strive to house the best custom tattoos in St. Pete while also giving back to the city and watching it prosper.

Q: How have things changed since the beginning of Neo Soul and what have you learned in the process?

A: Neo Soul started via Aaron Morgan's genius. He wanted to change the stigma surrounding the tattoo industry. In doing so, he has created an environment that people are drawn to. His work speaks for itself and is a staple in the community. From his original passion, he is beginning to branch out and explore graphic design and fine art. Change is progression and this one man show has turned into a full fledge artistic showcase that Neo Soul is proud to host.

Q: What do you look forward to as far as the future of Neo Soul?

A:  We look forward to growing our business as a design firm. There are many, many projects in the works for this team.