Professional Piercers Poland Conference – how pierce Beti builds the piercer community in Poland and why it matters for Sztorm. Sometimes one event shows how much an entire industry has changed. That was the case in September. The 5th edition of the Professional Piercers Poland Conference (PPP) took place in Gdańsk. It is the largest meeting devoted to body piercing in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. Our piercer Beata Kwaśniewska, known in the community as pierce Beti, works at Sztorm every day. What’s more, for five years she has been organising this conference and puts her whole heart into it. That’s why PPPC is more than just an event. It’s a place where awareness, safety and trust are built—values that form the foundation of our studio.

Who Beti is and why she does what she does

Beti is a piercer with more than 14 years of experience, gained both at conferences and in daily work with clients. Importantly, she was the first Polish woman accepted into the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and is the president of Professional Piercers Poland. She works at Sztorm every day, responsible for piercings, client care and education. Her philosophy is simple: a good piercing begins with trust, proper preparation and attentive communication. She carries this same philosophy into the conference.

In 2021 Beata organised the first piercer conference in Poland almost single-handedly. Each year the event grew and gained team support and the status of a unique celebration of piercing in Poland. It’s no surprise, then, that the fifth edition of PPP was special—not only a jubilee, but also full of substantive lectures and internationally renowned guests.

What happened during the 5th PPP Conference

The programme included three intense days of lectures and workshops.

• Friday: Participants learned practical aspects of the piercer’s work. Topics included preparing the client for the procedure, aspects of asepsis and no-touch techniques, more challenging piercings such as septum and tongue, and psychological issues such as the influence of body modification on the psyche.
• Saturday: There were discussions about materials and jewellery standards, nipple piercings, working under challenging conditions and building a piercer’s brand. In the evening the day was rounded off by a historical section about female figures in pornography and their influence on piercing, plus an integration party for participants.
• Sunday: The programme included yoga workshops, lectures on upgrading jewellery and an inspiring “Gauntlet Legacy” presentation by Jim Ward.

Each day also had its own Modern Tribe zone with body suspension shows. In addition, there was a “Piercers for Piercers” discussion zone where practitioners exchanged experiences. This was not a conference “just about holes”. There were talks on hygiene, work methods, material science, client psychology and the history of piercing. In total, more than 200 participants listened to presentations and then joined discussions and workshops.

Key guests and speakers

The highlight was an appearance by Jim Ward, known as the “granddaddy of the modern piercing movement,” who opened the first piercing studio, Gauntlet. At the conference he spoke about the beginnings of the movement and proved that professional piercing is a whole philosophy. Not just a profession.

Besides him, respected specialists came to Gdańsk:

• Paul King – a piercer with more than 30 years of experience, anthropologist and educator.
• Brian Skellie – expert in asepsis and sterilisation.
• Ryan Ouellette – educator and producer of the Piercing Wizard podcast.
• Lola Slider – the first APP member from Scotland and co-host of the podcast with Ryan.
• Ruben Triguero – specialist in septum piercings.
• Numerous Polish piercers who led workshops and discussions.

This line-up of names shows that PPPC brings together international experts and local practitioners. Which translates into knowledge exchange at the highest level.

Why this is important for Sztorm and our clients

Sztorm is not only a tattoo studio; it is also a professional piercing centre. Our strength lies in diversity—we have artists of various styles and piercers with diverse experiences, allowing us to match the client’s character and budget. As the organiser of PPP, Beti constantly raises her qualifications and the standards of the whole industry in Poland. By co-creating the conference, we bring the latest knowledge on safety, material science and client service into Sztorm. This ensures that every piercing is carried out to the highest standards and with full understanding of the client’s needs.

The conference also proves that piercing in Poland is maturing. The event demonstrates that punk rebellion can be combined with responsibility and concern for health. Highlights that contemporary piercing is closer to the beauty industry than to Woodstock-style safety-pin piercings. At Sztorm we believe that education equals safety, which is why we actively support Beti’s initiatives and PPP. It isn’t about prestige. It’s about ensuring that anyone who decides on a piercing or tattoo can feel confident they are in good hands.

What this edition taught us

• Trust and preparation are key—these are the basics that Beti mentions in every presentation. Without conversation, interviewing and fitting jewellery to anatomy, there can be no safe piercing.
• Materials matter—the lectures showed how important jewellery standards, certifications and sterilisation processes are.
• Client psychology—the talks about the role of body modification in emotions. Creating comfortable working conditions made it clear that piercing is work with the human psyche.
• History inspires—meeting Jim Ward reminded us that today’s standards were created thanks to enthusiasts who pursued their passion despite a lack of acceptance.
• Sharing experiences builds the industry—the “Piercers for Piercers” zone showed that there are many piercers in Poland ready to share their knowledge. This is crucial when choosing a professional.

Summary

For Sztorm, the Professional Piercers Poland Conference is more than a trade event. It is a manifesto of our philosophy. In every piercing and tattoo we see a person—with their history, emotions and need for safety. Choosing Sztorm means choosing a studio that learns, grows and co-creates the Polish piercing scene. Beti and the PPP team show that you can combine passion with responsibility and create a place where a piercing becomes a symbol of quality and conscious choice.

Would you like to learn more about our piercer’s work or arrange a piercing? Write to us or visit the studio—we are here for you.