What should we add to our salon?

[CrystalSS]

I can agree with that. It also helps with the handicapped capacity issue by going to 15 vs 20.

Only problem is if she spent a lot to bring in the 20's up front...but for the future that is also a great solution.

Whatever you do...DON"T have mirrors in your rooms...you want people in and OUT of those rooms and not lingering for 10 minutes to do their makeup.

Good luck with your place and I wish you success!

[sunsally]

Agree with the others - the 20 min level 1 is not a good choice for a small salon like yours - but it is what ETS offers and it now what you have to work with.

I would NOT roll YOUR current 15 min bed into the same price as your Level 1 - then you have a stronger unit for the same price - that takes away profit potential for you.

The way you are presenting the pricing now....you are pitching them on the "unlimited" and they are really buying into a "level" - so of course they are upset when THEIR bed is busy!

A better choice, for a salon as small as yours, would be to really EMPHASIZE the "points" part of your pricing - and shy off the unlimited in any one level. You want to emphasize that their BEST tan will be achieved from alternating equipment. Conveniently - this will also allow you to maximize the number of clients you can see - and hence your profitability!

One option would be to have a month unlimited co-pay option. For example -- if it normally is $50/mo unlimited on level 1 instead make it $9.95/mo co-pay - and then half off the "walk in price" for each level. This could be paid in points or $$ (and as you have it now, as they buy pkgs of points, the price/point goes down).

For example - if the beds are now 4 pts, 6 pts, 8 pts, 10 pts, they would pay $9.95 for the month and then 2, 3, 4 or 5 pts each time, depending which bed they used.

What is your current pricing - that will help explain this

[CrystalSS]

"I would NOT roll YOUR current 15 min bed into the same price as your Level 1 - then you have a stronger unit for the same price - that takes away profit potential for you."


HOO YAA to that Sally! and... given the choice of unlimited in the 20 vs the 15..what do you think all your base tanners will want to use now?

[sunsally]

Found your pricing

If you take off the month unlimited for Level 1 and the upgrades then you would have:

Bronze 4 pts
Silver 5 pts
Gold 6 pts
Diamond 7 pts

which translates to walk-in pricing of $12, 15, 18, 21


If you do the co-pay, they pay $9.95/mo as a "membership" - then pay 2 pts, 2.5 pts, 3 pts and 3.5 pts -- or an additional $6, $7.50, $9, $10.50 each visit. But they do it in POINTS, not $$ -- I'm just pointing that out to you.

The bigger the points pkgs they buy - the less their points cost them, so it is a little cheaper for them -- better value.

At the same time - you get the money up front for the points pkgs - which helps encourage them to stay loyal and keep coming back to you!

If they don't want to do the "membership" -- they just do a straight walk-in visit and/or they buy points packages only --- but don't get the half off (e.g. pay 4 pts for level 1 - not 2).


The whole point of the "membership" is to build loyalty to you, give them a way to pay LESS - but not locking them into one particular "level". The way the points are set up, for the QUALITY of the tan they get - the BEST VALUE is actually the more expensive beds! I would rather pay $10.50 for your 9 min standup than $6 for your 20 min basic bed. The difference is not much for the difference in quality of the results!

And this for YOU will keep people from feeling you did a "bait and switch" by selling them an unlimited pkg when you have limited access because of your size.

Finally - then use the empty room to bring in Versa Spa. 9 pts for the "walk in" -- half off for members. The "additional services" (e.g. anti -aging etc) are 2 pts. each.

Make any sense??

[ekc123]

I think faster than I type, I meant add the extra 15 minute bed (include the 20 min bed), rasie the monthly price (appropriate for 15 min beds) to give incentive for the points package and then dump the 20 min bed ASAP for a better 9-12 minute bed.

everyone has made good points here, but the main thing is to get rid of the 20 minute bed.

[sunsally]

They JUST opened and it is a brand new 20 min bed...don't think that is an realistic option....

Hindsight is 20/20. I would never have a 20 min bed of ANY form in a 5 room salon. But you do - so it is what to do now.

Stop selling level 1 (your 20 min bed) unlimiteds. That is setting you up to have mad customers. Utilize the points system you already have and encourage customers to always rotate between units.

And unless there is already a lot of really good Sunless in town - Versa Spa and/or custom sprays will likely be your most profitable addition because both UV AND non-UV users are potential customers for this unit.

[Saviisneat]

Remember, the base beds won't make you the money. HP beds will. Once you get someone in an HP bed, they will buy a package. If you add another base bed then you will get more bottom feeders.

I would also look into a magic/mystic/versa spray unit. It may not be a good choice or it just might. Study it for a while and see if people would buy into it. We added a spray unit to our location a little over a year ago and saw a HUGE jump. Almost half our revenue is mystic tans. 30 bucks a mystic tan and we have at least 10 people use it a day. One of our other locations doesn't have one and they don't make the numbers that we do. However, it's not for everyone. So like I said, study and ask around.

Otherwise, go with a kick butt HP bed.

[Tannedbutts]

I agree, in time switch the 20 min as i have 8 rooms in my salon but to start my supplier told me to get 3-12 mins, 1-9 min stand up, and of course 1-20 min, the 20 min is the most popular because it's cheaper and i agree with one other comment made on here, bottom feeders....

I find the point system very confusing as well as the other packages they were explaining to you...i found the lest complicated the packages the more people you will have buying in your salon vs the others who use points, etc.

DON'T DO MINUTES...

just my opinion..... :)

[Brian Oshman]

Points are simple, think ride tickets at the fair. The better rides use more tickets. You buy a sheet and can use them on any ride.

Simple.

[forex2409]

Yup, HP or another big VHR. With only five beds you want to get as many people through the door as possible per day. It is tanning time, not nappy time. If they want to nap, the Holiday Inn is down the street.Also my site will be canada site title should be free tv channels