A SHOP has seen its sales boom since offering a 10 per cent discount to tattooed customers.

The initiative by Bee.com follows HMV’s strict new appearance policy banning their employees from having any body art on show.

Jon Bee, manager of the King William Street shop, said: “It’s just a bit of fun really. Our shop is opposite HMV and we get on with the guys over there.

“We know some of them have tattoos so I can’t imagine they’re too happy about it.”

The branch was given the option to offer the discount by their regional manager and chose to accept it.

Mr Bee said: “It’s definitely worked, we’ve had more ‘likes’ on Facebook since doing this than anything we’ve done before.

“I can’t understand it really, they’re selling music and want to be a part of the scene but then they go and do this, especially at a time when they aren’t doing so well, it seems stupid.”

The discount applies to any single part-owned items, such as DVDs or films, which are not part of multipacks.

Mr Bee said: “It’s not an enormous discount but when it adds up it definitely makes a difference.”

Kelly Thomas, sales assistant, said: “We had a big queue yesterday. One woman you just wouldn’t expect to have one was stripping off to show us one on her shoulder.

“I worked for HMV for nine years and it was always a really good environment and I’ve got one or two tattoos.

“It’s part of the music scene. It seems really strange they’re doing this and they’re not having the best of times.”

The Union of Shop Workers (USDAW) said HMV’s employees were not unionised, although they do have a number of its employees in their union.

A spokesperson for USDAW said: “Members concerned about the new policy should contact their local branch and we will represent them.”