Skins & Needles buys Gibson House in Middlesbrough

Skins & Needles has acquired Gibson House in Middlesbrough, giving the tattoo brand a larger base as it expands across the North East and invests in education, digital marketing and customer experience. The move marks a new phase for the business, which began on Linthorpe Road in 2011 and now operates multiple studios and training services.

Why it matters: - The Gibson House acquisition gives Skins & Needles more room to grow after 15 years of expansion from a single studio into a multi-location brand. - The move also adds another investment to Middlesbrough's independent business community. - The brand's growth now extends beyond tattooing into barbering, aesthetics and professional education.

What happened: - Skins & Needles acquired Gibson House in Middlesbrough. - The business was founded by Matthew Salvin in 2011 on Linthorpe Road. - Skins & Needles now operates studios in Middlesbrough, Durham, York and Ingleby Barwick. - The brand says it is preparing to open the doors at Gibson House.

The details: - Skins & Needles has built its reputation around artistry, customer experience and innovation. - The company now serves clients from across the UK. - The Skins & Needles Education Academy supports tattoo and barber training courses. - Myk Baxter Marketing has worked with Skins & Needles for the past 18 months as its digital marketing partner. - The agency first redesigned and redeveloped the company website to improve user experience, increase enquiries and strengthen search visibility. - The partnership expanded into website development, SEO, Meta advertising, email marketing and strategic consultancy. - Myk Baxter Marketing also designed and developed the Skins & Needles Education Academy website. - The academy site was built to support student recruitment through SEO, user experience and conversion-focused design.

Between the lines: - The Gibson House move signals a shift from a single-shop identity to a more scalable brand with multiple revenue streams. - The long-term marketing partnership shows how digital infrastructure has become part of the business's growth strategy, not just a support function. - The company frames the relocation as both an emotional handoff from its original home and a step toward a larger operational footprint. - Myk Baxter Marketing describes the result as an example of what long-term, trust-based partnerships can deliver for ambitious independent businesses.

What's next: - Skins & Needles plans to use Gibson House to support continued growth, team investment and a stronger customer experience. - The business is expected to keep expanding its professional education offer alongside its studio network. - Continued digital marketing support is set to remain part of the brand's growth plan.

The bottom line: - Gibson House is more than a new location for Skins & Needles. It is the clearest sign yet that the Middlesbrough brand is building for a bigger national future.