francie

I am looking for stratigies for competing with corporate giants and and the booth franchising guys...They are comming next year

I have done my research and i know what they do. Is it better to set myself apart and focus on my own strengths or compete in the unlimited tannig area and go with a lower monthly rate than they use and do the eft?

dcjjp2

Focus on your strengths and differentiate your salon from theirs by having friendly,knowledgable staff, cutting edge equipment and little extras that make it worth them tanning with you vs. them. People will notice.

sbtan

you will have to wait it out, they will have the new equip when they open and everyone will try it out, if you get new equip the next year you will be the new ones. Or you can wait until they don't maintain their bulbs and get your clients back.

mr belvedere

Do everything you can to upgrade whatever you can and go out and get the customers before they go in. Get all the customers you can in your area to fall head over heels for you! You might notice a traffic hiccup when they start up because they generally do some mass mktg hype, and there are always those customers that will check out the novelty, but most will come back because they love you and hate the inexperience and sometimes arrogance at the new place. Especially if the other guys badmouth you and your equipment. That's a plus! People hate it when a competitor comes out of the gutter to try and impress them. Good luck.

DWhite6872

Upgrrade...your salon ( you can figure out low cost ) simple items to look different! If your Equipment is old buy a couple new pieces. How many Direct Mail pieces have you sent out lately? Talk to your customers...and keep up the Customer Service.

Neon Beach

In other words, beg and plead with current and potential clients to use your salon.

DWhite6872

never beg...just reposition your salon if needed.

Neon Beach

Reposition? You're right, put it in beg and plead, discount mode. Take a pay cut, get a second/third job and stand tough.

DWhite6872

I will not put that in...just because a larger salon is coming in does not mean they will go out of business! What about the great "service" I have heard keeps everyone alive...

dcjjp2

You just need to be strategic. Luckily my biggest issue is PBT in my area with a $24.95 EFT. Upon looking at the numbers and the amount of beds I don't feel EFT is my best avenue. My regular monthly unlimited is $10 cheaper than their Flex plan for that particular level, their "gold" and "platinum" level beds don't even come close to the power of even my Level 2 beds. Plus they aren't even my direct competitor for my area. Another regional chain is and I blow them away with my prcing for the same equipment. ie. Walk in for their Giant Sun & Orbit is $24, where my Sunstorm is $15 and Sungate $18. And their packages expire where as mine don't. It is all about differentiation of your services.