The Ames piercing industry is about to experience a big change as one of the main piercers in town moves on to greater opportunities. “Churtch” Zimmerman, the piercer at Lasting Impressions, is preparing to move to a different shop out of state. 

Zimmerman has pierced for five years with Lasting Impressions and has made many improvements in recent years. The industry evolves at a quick pace, and safety standards are being set higher with new sanitary and jewelry quality standards. She has worked hard to bring better quality of jewelry to the streets of Campustown as well as improving the experience for her clients.

Zimmerman took the opportunity to work at Wingnut Tattoo and Piercing located in St. Cloud, Minn. The shop provides a wide variety of services from tattoos and piercings to implants and suspensions. The company is widely known for its safety standards as well as the services it provides.

Every tattoo artist at Wingnut is licensed through the state, like most shops. Wingnut also is working on the process to make all piercers members of the Association of Professional Piercers, which holds its members to the highest standards in the industry. 

Zimmerman is not currently a member with the association, but Wingnut pays for its staff to take the classes offered through the organization. This year, the association is holding its 19th annual conference and exposition from June 8 to 13. Classes are offered at the conference, and Zimmerman is looking forward to the opportunity. 

Zimmerman is also very excited about the move because it means she will get to see her daughter more often. Currently, she is not able to see her often because of the distance, but her new location will change that and she could not be happier. 

Zimmerman knows that she will be missed by some of her clients and has situated her schedule so that she will be able to come back every few months to work on her loyal customers. 

“Look for a shop with internally threaded good quality jewelry such as Ananometal, Neometal or Body Vision Los Angeles,” Zimmerman said as advice to those seeking a high quality piercing experience. “Ask about the sterilizing process and make sure they have a good portfolio.” 

Zimmerman plans on leaving most of her jewelry with Lasting Impressions and its apprentice Mark Jolly. She reassures that even though she is leaving town, there will still be a quality shop for existing clients to keep returning to. 

“I know Haley [Steen of Heroic Ink off of Main Street] is working on switching everything over in the shop and getting in better quality of jewelry,” Zimmerman said. She said that Steen provides the same high quality standards she does and trusts that Steen will keep improving with the ever-changing industry standards. 

Zimmerman has lived in Ames for seven years and is sad to move away from the friends she has made here, but she is ready to take a new opportunity that will help her succeed in the industry.