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I've been in this business for 24 years and I'm never ceased to be amazed by the get-rich- quick cloud over it. Perpetual growth and unlimited tanning salon location myths perpetuated by 1) Sunbed Manufactureers/Distributors, 2) Tanning salon franchisers ("we'll all have crown moulding, blown-glass sculptures, and plasma-screen TVs. It'll be like a really classy spa"), 3) Mom's with nothing else to do, 4) Young people with no business sense or experience who have gone tanning and think all they need is a space and sunbeds and everyone will flock in and make them filthy rich. 5) People with more dollars than "cents" who don't research market trends, etc. Example: I have a 24-bed location (18 years)with a long term (10 years)13-bed competant competitor just three blocks away. Now we have another 10-bed salon opening up between us because the "newbie" was sold a bill of goods ("he can make $500,000 with a 40-50% profit margin"). One of us is going to crash and I don't believe it's going to be the two established ones with always-updated equipment.
I've been through all this in the latter 80's. With my multiple locations (all 10 years or longer) I can weather the storm (still not the same though). I feel sorry for the people who have lost savings and retirement funds. Wait till 2007 or 2008. If you still want to enter the fracus then, you can buy good locations and good equipment at bargin prices.
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