Marci Crop

Fabulous People: Marci Zimmerman-White

Marci Zimmerman-White is the owner of Delete Tattoo Removal & Medical Salon, the first tattoo removal specialist in the Southwest. “From removing an ex’s name to an amateur tattoo inked on a dare, we have helped thousands clean up unwanted ink and developed real relationships along the journey.” Learn about Marci Zimmerman-White…

Hometown: Born in Chicago, raised in a small town an hour outside of St. Louis, and a graduate of the University of Missouri, I am a quintessential Midwesterner!

First job: My first job was at Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips when I turned 16.  My school bus would let me off at a stop sign on the way home so I could walk to work. My goal was to buy a car. I still vividly recall the smell of my uniform after an eight-hour shift…very fishy!

Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Road cycling and gardening. I believe many of the world’s problems can be solved on a bike. It is such a great way to socialize, exercise and see our beautiful city.  When not working or cycling, I can be found in my yard with my hands dirty (I always forget to wear gloves). Roses are the queen in my garden!

Your biggest accomplishment and why: Personally, I am extremely proud of the life-changing work we do at Delete. Tattoo removal is often a personal and sensitive journey. We have seen all sorts of backgrounds and situations with each patient who walks through our doors. Our skin is one of the biggest outward reflections of ourselves – and giving people the opportunity for a fresh start by removing body art that no longer suits them can be life-changing. Over our 11-plus years in business Delete has successfully removed thousands of tattoos and produced countless happy patients.

In 2019, we formed the Delete Foundation to work with established nonprofits to help those who have overcome extreme challenges and are unable to afford tattoo removal on their own. Over the years, our charitable efforts have taken many different forms. Since launching the Delete Foundation, we have piloted this project with Crossroads, the largest substance use disorder treatment organization in the Southwest. It is so rewarding to help people make a change on the outside that reflects the changes they have undergone on the inside.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: There have certainly been ups and downs over Delete’s 11-plus years in business. When COVID shut the business down, we used that time to evaluate the business model, to determine what was working and what was not. This period allowed us the opportunity to reflect and revamp Delete. We invested in technology and processes that streamlined the way we did business and lowered our costs. We were able to pass that cost reduction on to our patients during an extremely difficult year to help make life a little bit easier during this time.

Someone who inspires you and why: My daughter, Lena inspires me. Every day, she gives 150 percent. She is graduating in May with her MBA from ASU while working more than full-time for Delete as we manage to navigate our post-COVID reality. I love her openness to feedback, ability to problem-solve and her growth as a leader.

In 2019, I invited her to move back to Phoenix and work with me in a leadership role at Delete, where she quickly worked her way to her current role of managing director. She had proven her work ethic managing multi-million-dollar restaurants and directly overseeing large teams in LA, growing her business acumen in the hospitality industry. Having her back and being able to work with her is a gift. Some say “beauty” is defined as someone who is strong, flexible and radiant. With this in mind, I would say that Lena is incredibly beautiful inside and out!

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Owning your own business is the American dream, but it is not easy or for the faint of heart. Sometimes it is downright terrifying. My advice to entrepreneurs is “have conviction.” Building a company is a journey, and many will tell you how or why your idea is wrong. There will be highs and lows. Surround yourself with trusted mentors, who will offer advice and support when times are rough. I waited a long time to start a company and was still surprised at how hard it was to be successful. Luckily, entrepreneurship is far more rewarding than challenging. So, hang in there and believe in yourself! 

Favorite quote: One of my favorite mantras is, “You are who you surround yourself with.” I like smart, positive people, who are fearless. Together, we can do anything.

Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: Puppies. I am no professional breeder, but I have bred two of my dogs and delivered a total of 16 puppies. My puppies and their now-owners are like our extended family. Some of our pups have gone on to become champion bird hunters. We now have four American Brittanys in our home, so no more puppies for a while!

What makes someone fabulous: At Delete, our core values focus on kindness, integrity, curiosity and resiliency and are what makes my team fabulous. They work together and focus on the collective win. And like Lena, they are beautiful…strong, flexible and radiant. It’s a blessing to work with the trailblazing team that is Delete.

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