Originally Posted by Steve Underhill

Tony not everything is directed at you. Why are you so defensive? Steve I realize that its not all directed at me. Why are so paranoid? I am not one bit defensive. I just simple disagree with your gobbleygook! Are you not use to some one with real experience questioning what you say? We all acknowledge you are so impressive. Oh geez here we go with the child psychology. Its not about how impressive i am Steve its about how unimpressive you are? Once again what are your retail credentials? Have you ever had a salon you owned close? When I give advice I am not directing it to you. DUH! I am directing it to anyone it applies to. You are directing to anyone you can make a buck off of! Many of these people you mention I sold some of their first equipment too.
BIG DEAL! You sold them a commodity. This is no indication of your retail knowledge. Most bed salespeople never worked a minute behind the counter! You have a very extensive background, we are all impressed with your years of experience. There are many of us with that much experience and more. Many of us? I assume you think that includes you? Please do tell us who they are but more importantly what about you? We all have knowledge to share. I am sure it makes you feel good when someone you have worked with becomes successful, I know I have a great sense of pride when my clients do well. I think i judge successful much differently then you do!

Please I ask you to realize that when I post or answer your post it is not directed to you it is only another view or approach. DUH but i DISAGREE with you! And since I know you charge people for your advice I think you and your advice need to both be vetted! What you believe is not being challenged. Our you blind? My opinions get challenged all the time out here. That comment his hilarious! But your belief like mine are not the only views to a subject. Our views are not subjective but rather objective if we have data to support them! One of us is right and one of us is wrong! :)

There are people and companies that are respected for giving advice in this industry that have no experience in the industry. And most of the advice they give if it relates to marketing and pricing strategy is probably bad advice or at the least not the best advice that could be given by someone with experience in our industry! And yet here we are with more than half a century of experience in the industry bumping heads. Steve you just dont get it. Stop being a politician. i dont care how many years you sold tanning beds I still think your wrong! Please stop taking things personal. Please stop judging my motives and accusing me of taking it personal. I dont take your penny ante gobblygook personal. I am a crusader! Again you should be and need to be vetted since you sell your knowledge!

I think you are doing great down in your corner of the country.

Tony I have known you since you got started in this business. Again good job. You do not need assistance. I agree salon operators today do not execute very well but a bigger problem is the lack of a business model that works today. I am sure you will agree that the business model you believe in 10. 20, or 30 years ago would fall flat today. Actually some people still use my old models and they still work. But they could so much better with a more current model! Change to keep up with todays consumer is what is needed. AMEN!

The salons that I restructure don't show small improvements they show huge improvements in maximizing income potential. I never said you couldnt help some of these people. Some are so bad that even better bad advice would be a great improvement and I believe you been around long enough that some good knowledge has stuck to you. I change my EFT model every single year based on living and breathing the front counters! This is critical to tweeking the EFT strategy! This is why we dont have down years! I am sure that with guidance from you, operators can also make changes. I believe in not under valuing tanning and you appear to believe the new age is to sell tanning at low prices requiring huge membership bases. I believe in growing the tanning base. Undervaluing? OMG! Who sets that standard Steve? There is room for any type of business model that works. Until a better model shows up :) I see a few salons selling tanning for $10 a month. I am anxious to see how that model survives. I been doing it for 15 years, get a clue dude lol! I see how it works in a fitness center setting when attached to the gym membership, handled as a secondary service, not convinced that it will work stand alone in all tanning salons. Nothing works in all tanning salons. Why even say that? Great ideas still need great execution! I think tanners want a higher level of customer service than is provided when tanning is a secondary service. Thats obvious!

Tony I started in the tanning business in 1979, it is safe to say that I also live, eat and breath tanning because that is what I have done for 35 years. I love this business and the people in it. I am still having fun. I am listening because I still learn new things every day. I have certainly changed strategies over the years because you have to in order to grow. I am listening to everything you say. Still not exactly sure what you are suggesting operators do.

I know when I take on a salon the price structure is only part of the changes that must be made. I just can't get my head around selling all of your tanning for $9.99 a month. I guess when I see large groups of salons generate substantial income with that business model I will have no choice but get on board. Unfortunately the most successful chains in the country do not use that model. Even those companies that you mentioned mentoring do not use your $9.99 model. Who other than you is doing this?