Advertising Ideas - tanTALK

tanheather34 · 02-13-2006, 06:49 AM

As I have posted previously, I took over a salon in Nov. that was in partnership w/someone else in. She had a bad rep. in town and I think that cost us business. When she backed out I closed for a few weeks to redecorate, totally redo everything, etc. I have advertised in our local newspaper, posted flyers, sent out mailings, put up a banner (our building has good visibility in town). Problem is, people STILL don't know we are there and open, or they think the former owner is still there and won't come because of her. One of my employees is in high school and I had her post flyers and people told her that they didn't even know we were open! The day that she posted the flyers we got several new customers, but I want more now. When they came in, they were all saying how awesome it looks, how much better it is, etc.

What else can I do!!!??? This is a VERY small town, word of mouth travels fast. How can I lose the bad rep. that my former partner had and let people know that it is totally different now? I have advertised it in our local paper, but most people under 25-30 don't even bother to read it. I have thought about putting those little stick signs (similar to election signs) all over town. What else can I do? Very frustrated.

Neon Beach · 02-13-2006, 07:03 AM

I've been open since Aug '98 and there are still peole that don't know the place exists. Try a more one on one approach perhaps? Referall cards handed out in the local clubs etc.. and get an "Under NEW Managagement" sign.

TheMagicalTouch-UK · 02-13-2006, 07:22 AM

In my primary business, which is unrelated to the tanning industry, we have the same thing.

We've been at our fist location now for 28 years and our secondary location for about 22 years.

They are only small towns and we still, to this day, get people saying this.

Making people aware of you has to be the hardest part of the marketing process. We still don't have a definate answer after all this time.

devastoj · 02-13-2006, 07:55 AM

GRAND RE OPENING PARTY!

Kay · 02-13-2006, 08:07 AM

Contact some of the other local businesses. We had a local pizza shop hand out flyer with their deliveries

JensSunQuest · 02-13-2006, 09:40 AM

Why don't you run a free tan weekend? word it as something along the lines of the new owner wants to welcome everyone with a tan on her...something that incorperates your free tans and you being a new owner. Doing something free will make you seem nice and perhaps erase the bad vibes people had. Make sure you have packages ready to sell and lotion deals.

I have arranged a deal with several local shops one popular girls clothing store,a busy deli, and flower store to give my flyer with every to-go or reciept. The 2 managers at the clothing store tan free. The Florist and the deli I give their flyers in all my beginning tanner packets.......Its a way to get my name out there.

Deb from PA · 02-13-2006, 09:54 AM

It sounds like you are doing what you should be doing & even though you want it now - it is not tanning season yet. Many people may have heard the news or saw the signs, but they just don't tan yet - You have to be patient. If at the end of Feb & beginning of March they aren't coming, then that is a different story - Many people just don't tan until March or April & they never will. I wish I could change their mind & we have gotten many more year rounders, but you will never change the majority.

All of the ideas from eveyrone are good - I also, have been here 5 years & I advertise, but we still get new people who ask if we are new because they've never seen us. We are locate along the main street through the town, (but set back in a strip mall) & we have a huge sign on the front board of the mall, but people never see it! Just drive past it 5 times a day .. Put a vinyl banner up the 1 st of February & we have gotten several new ones from that.

Good Luck.

dudette · 02-13-2006, 10:53 AM

You seem to have th right idea. Keep doing what you are doing but add Under New Management sign to everything you do. Fliers: Burst saying Under New Management. Banner: " "
"Come check out our new and improved salon with 1 free tan!" New Clients Only

tanheather34 · 02-13-2006, 01:58 PM

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I guess I am just impatient. The lady that I run my newspaper ads with said that my comp. is just booming w/business and that I better get on the stick and I should be busier by now. But I didn't really think that the busy season started until late Feb - early March. I have however, put in my ad "Under New Management" and my name as the owner, which my husband thinks is tacky but I did it anyway, just to get the word out, and I think it is working because today my 1st grade son came home and told me that his teacher didn't know that I owned "that tannin' parlor" (as he calls it) and that she would be in after school.

But anyway, thanks for the ideas and I'm glad to know that I am doing some things right.

Neon Beach · 02-13-2006, 02:04 PM

It's not tacky. If the old managment was that bad, it's always good to let clients know the old ones are gone.

02-13-2006, 06:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
tanheather34 Join Date: Jun 20 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 142 Rep Power: 19	Advertising Ideas As I have posted previously, I took over a salon in Nov. that was in partnership w/someone else in. She had a bad rep. in town and I think that cost us business. When she backed out I closed for a few weeks to redecorate, totally redo everything, etc. I have advertised in our local newspaper, posted flyers, sent out mailings, put up a banner (our building has good visibility in town). Problem is, people STILL don't know we are there and open, or they think the former owner is still there and won't come because of her. One of my employees is in high school and I had her post flyers and people told her that they didn't even know we were open! The day that she posted the flyers we got several new customers, but I want more now. When they came in, they were all saying how awesome it looks, how much better it is, etc. What else can I do!!!??? This is a VERY small town, word of mouth travels fast. How can I lose the bad rep. that my former partner had and let people know that it is totally different now? I have advertised it in our local paper, but most people under 25-30 don't even bother to read it. I have thought about putting those little stick signs (similar to election signs) all over town. What else can I do? Very frustrated.

02-13-2006, 07:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	Re: Advertising Ideas I've been open since Aug '98 and there are still peole that don't know the place exists. Try a more one on one approach perhaps? Referall cards handed out in the local clubs etc.. and get an "Under NEW Managagement" sign. __________________ www.talktimmins.com -- http://www.drjawnswebworx.com/

02-13-2006, 07:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
TheMagicalTouch-UK I'm Banned Join Date: Dec 17 2004 Location: Essex, UK Age: 49 Posts: 81 Rep Power: 0	Re: Advertising Ideas In my primary business, which is unrelated to the tanning industry, we have the same thing. We've been at our fist location now for 28 years and our secondary location for about 22 years. They are only small towns and we still, to this day, get people saying this. Making people aware of you has to be the hardest part of the marketing process. We still don't have a definate answer after all this time.

02-13-2006, 07:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
devastoj Join Date: Jan 6 2006 Location: Central Park Ave Posts: 330 Rep Power: 20	Re: Advertising Ideas GRAND RE OPENING PARTY!

02-13-2006, 08:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kay I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 16 2004 Location: NH Posts: 474 Rep Power: 21	Re: Advertising Ideas Contact some of the other local businesses. We had a local pizza shop hand out flyer with their deliveries

02-13-2006, 09:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
JensSunQuest Join Date: Jan 20 2006 Location: Jacksonville, Fla Age: 40 Posts: 775 Rep Power: 21	Re: Advertising Ideas Why don't you run a free tan weekend? word it as something along the lines of the new owner wants to welcome everyone with a tan on her...something that incorperates your free tans and you being a new owner. Doing something free will make you seem nice and perhaps erase the bad vibes people had. Make sure you have packages ready to sell and lotion deals. I have arranged a deal with several local shops one popular girls clothing store,a busy deli, and flower store to give my flyer with every to-go or reciept. The 2 managers at the clothing store tan free. The Florist and the deli I give their flyers in all my beginning tanner packets.......Its a way to get my name out there.

02-13-2006, 09:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deb from PA Join Date: Oct 17 2001 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 59 Posts: 155 Rep Power: 23	Re: Advertising Ideas It sounds like you are doing what you should be doing & even though you want it now - it is not tanning season yet. Many people may have heard the news or saw the signs, but they just don't tan yet - You have to be patient. If at the end of Feb & beginning of March they aren't coming, then that is a different story - Many people just don't tan until March or April & they never will. I wish I could change their mind & we have gotten many more year rounders, but you will never change the majority. All of the ideas from eveyrone are good - I also, have been here 5 years & I advertise, but we still get new people who ask if we are new because they've never seen us. We are locate along the main street through the town, (but set back in a strip mall) & we have a huge sign on the front board of the mall, but people never see it! Just drive past it 5 times a day .. Put a vinyl banner up the 1 st of February & we have gotten several new ones from that. Good Luck.

02-13-2006, 10:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
dudette Join Date: Sep 20 2004 Location: hot one second cold the next Age: 39 Posts: 122 Rep Power: 20	Re: Advertising Ideas You seem to have th right idea. Keep doing what you are doing but add Under New Management sign to everything you do. Fliers: Burst saying Under New Management. Banner: " " "Come check out our new and improved salon with 1 free tan!" New Clients Only

02-13-2006, 01:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
tanheather34 Join Date: Jun 20 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 142 Rep Power: 19	Re: Advertising Ideas Thanks everyone for the great advice. I guess I am just impatient. The lady that I run my newspaper ads with said that my comp. is just booming w/business and that I better get on the stick and I should be busier by now. But I didn't really think that the busy season started until late Feb - early March. I have however, put in my ad "Under New Management" and my name as the owner, which my husband thinks is tacky but I did it anyway, just to get the word out, and I think it is working because today my 1st grade son came home and told me that his teacher didn't know that I owned "that tannin' parlor" (as he calls it) and that she would be in after school. But anyway, thanks for the ideas and I'm glad to know that I am doing some things right.

02-13-2006, 02:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	Re: Advertising Ideas It's not tacky. If the old managment was that bad, it's always good to let clients know the old ones are gone. __________________ www.talktimmins.com -- http://www.drjawnswebworx.com/

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