bigdollar

How do you counteract some one that is selling tans in a regular bed for 1.50 - 2.00. this competition is less that non mile from my salon. he has a vedio and dry cleaning and is giving his tanning away to draw customers for the other ammenidies in the store. We have a new store and upgraded beds we have a baes of customers that will only tan with us no matter what the price is. but we need the new customers to. we are the cleanest and the best looking salon in town all new but we are getting a reputation for being the most expensive and and we are below the national average single session is 4.00 package of 10 30.00 anyone have suggestions for something to bring them and keeep them.. ...phillip

Sherin

Offer free video rental with purchase of a tan?

ramcat

Make a deal with another Dry Cleaner and be a drop store? You can't burn him out, so you have to out smart him.

gripmarketing

Fight fire with fire...or with water.

Paul D

Sit down and make yourself a comparison sheet. Put down categories such as cleanliness, professionalism, variety and numbers of tanning equipment, staff education, friendliness, convenience of tanning, parking and tanning results. Go to the competition and tan and get a lot of friends and staff to tan there too. Then get everyone to rate you against them in these categories.

You will blow them away.

Emphasize the top three or four advantages of your store in all your ads and in your presentation to walk-ins. Formulate a Mission Statement based on these advantages.

Offer a first tan free, or a week of free tanning, or bring a friend, tan for free, or anything to get people to come in once. Do flyers, BOLD sign, or some other cheap way to advertise this.

In order of importance, the things that matter to your customers are:
Cleanliness, friendliness, convenience, professionalism, tanning results, variety of equipment and price.

You will beat the dry cleaner on everything but price.

If you have to beat them on price so you don't look expensive, get a cheap 24 lamp bed, or offer a limited, inexpensive tanning package on your most basic bed (one that's probably better than their's is anyway).

But remember, 10% of your customers will always try to use a competitor's price to get a deal from you. The fact is, if they liked your competitor they wouldn't be talking to you! Expain why you're better and if they walk, they walk. If price is their only issue, believe me, you don't want them anyway.

People prefer to tan in a professional "tanning first" salon. Lots of people complain, lots will try the cheap stores, but the customers you want will stay with you for the quality.

TanningEmporium

I say dont ever undersell yourself.

sunshine_tanning

Paul D thanks for the imnfo we are gonna take your advise... thanks ...phil

TANatPATS

Phillip,
Pauls response is just what I needed for my competition problem that is much like yours! They sell their 300 min. package for $20 their 2 beds "ARE A 24 LAMP BASE" beds.
I went & bought 2-30 lamp beds (got a GREAT deal,less than 300 hours on each! paid cash) and am offering a "SPECIAL" for Christmas for only $25 compared to their $20. I knew I needed to do something before the busy season! So I searched & searched for months till I found these beds, saved $$$ all summer so I could add more Tanning rooms during the slow season. New colorful signs, banners, flyers, Christmas mailings(about to go out) & newspaper ads. All was done very inexpensively, just alot of sweat equity. Good luck Phil.

Pat

Edited to say I also added a "Tootsie Tanner" (if it doesn't fly, it was rather inexpensive too)
& a Hydromassage.
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[ This Message was edited by: TANatPATS on 2004-11-27 15:50 ]

galej

what a bummer!
in my town i have an ets distributor who is giving a tan away for less than a dollar!
ya gotta love um?
greg

TANatPATS

Greg,
That is a BUMMER!