Do you give the first tan free? - Page 5 - tanTALK

parrot head · 07-20-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunrisetan

thank you for disclosing your experience...i think it also shows desparation on a salon owner, i mean, tanning salon owners attempt at getting people to tan. with todays negative press, it to me, shows desparation!! "look, tanning is so bad, they are giving it away" :(

Come on now, you know that's not the reason. "Business" is so bad, not tanning. Negative press?, I haven't seen much lately

Steve Underhill · 08-07-2012, 04:58 PM

There are so many reasons why free samples are good business. Here is one. If a tanner has already committed their tanning to a competing salon, one of the only ways to get them in your salon is with a free sample. At that point the best tanning experience is likely to win, also you now have contact information of a known tanner. Advertising money and free sample well spent.

parrot head · 08-07-2012, 05:23 PM

You don't have to give "free" samples to anyone, to get them into your salon. Just give the best deal in town, with the best location, the best equipment, and the best service. I still say, absolutely free gets you nothing but bottom feeders. My market is mainly the college crowd, so the free could work better in another demographic area.

kookyguy · 08-07-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunrisetan

thank you for disclosing your experience...i think it also shows desparation on a salon owner, i mean, tanning salon owners attempt at getting people to tan. with todays negative press, it to me, shows desparation!! "look, tanning is so bad, they are giving it away" :(

Or on the flip side, it could show the salon owner has 100% confidence that their salon is the best salon offering the best experience in their area.

I don't do first tan free as I think there are better ways to introduce a new customer to your salon. But free works and if you do it right you will make money from it.

Steve Underhill · 08-07-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot head

You don't have to give "free" samples to anyone, to get them into your salon. Just give the best deal in town, with the best location, the best equipment, and the best service. I still say, absolutely free gets you nothing but bottom feeders. My market is mainly the college crowd, so the free could work better in another demographic area.

A college salon is a different animal. Free tanning will be taken advantage of, however a first dip special is still a great idea even in your market.

jbritt · 01-12-2013, 12:24 PM

I do if they are a new customer and buy a 5 or 10 session package or I give them an extra day on a 30 day unlimited. Otherwise I'll do a BOGO and the freebie expires in 10 days.

Solar Escape · 01-12-2013, 01:24 PM

only if a current member walks them in!!!

House of Tan · 01-16-2013, 12:00 PM

Free tan still works but not as well as it used to.

The better "mouse-trap" is a heavily discounted "tour" of the salon.

theReverend_MC · 01-21-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot head

You don't have to give "free" samples to anyone, to get them into your salon. Just give the best deal in town, with the best location, the best equipment, and the best service. I still say, absolutely free gets you nothing but bottom feeders. My market is mainly the college crowd, so the free could work better in another demographic area.

I live near a college too and have the same experience. Free tans for me only brought it people that used it and never came back. I checked my records out of the hundreds of free tans I gave away only a couple people remained customers - that's horrible customer retention to me. I do better off offering weekly tanning packages starting at $14. It works well for the budget minded customers & college students.

BuyersGroup · 01-21-2013, 09:34 PM

My website always has free tans on it we redeem many. I am not really clear on how such a program can be abused by bottom feeders? Its marketing just like anything else and is perhaps the cheapest marketing in the world.

View Poll Results: Do you give the first tan free?
Yes	24	29.63%
No	57	70.37%
Voters: 81. You may not vote on this poll

08-07-2012, 04:58 PM	#42 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 1,502 Rep Power: 21	Re: Do you give the first tan free? There are so many reasons why free samples are good business. Here is one. If a tanner has already committed their tanning to a competing salon, one of the only ways to get them in your salon is with a free sample. At that point the best tanning experience is likely to win, also you now have contact information of a known tanner. Advertising money and free sample well spent. __________________ Stephen Underhill Consultant steve@smuconsulting.com

08-07-2012, 05:23 PM	#43 (permalink)
parrot head Team TanTalk Join Date: Jul 13 2004 Location: Menomonie, Wi. Age: 82 Posts: 3,145 Rep Power: 22	Re: Do you give the first tan free? You don't have to give "free" samples to anyone, to get them into your salon. Just give the best deal in town, with the best location, the best equipment, and the best service. I still say, absolutely free gets you nothing but bottom feeders. My market is mainly the college crowd, so the free could work better in another demographic area. Last edited by parrot head; 08-07-2012 at 05:38 PM. Reason: add

01-12-2013, 12:24 PM	#46 (permalink)
jbritt Join Date: Aug 10 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: Do you give the first tan free? I do if they are a new customer and buy a 5 or 10 session package or I give them an extra day on a 30 day unlimited. Otherwise I'll do a BOGO and the freebie expires in 10 days. __________________ Brittbby

01-12-2013, 01:24 PM	#47 (permalink)
Solar Escape Join Date: Jan 12 2013 Location: 133 hillside pl, Eastchester, Ny 10709 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Do you give the first tan free? only if a current member walks them in!!!

01-16-2013, 12:00 PM	#48 (permalink)
House of Tan Team TanTalk Join Date: Oct 21 2003 Location: The Fort Posts: 942 Rep Power: 21	Re: Do you give the first tan free? Free tan still works but not as well as it used to. The better "mouse-trap" is a heavily discounted "tour" of the salon. __________________ Startbucks

01-21-2013, 09:34 PM	#50 (permalink)
BuyersGroup Join Date: Mar 6 2012 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 223 Rep Power: 13	Re: Do you give the first tan free? My website always has free tans on it we redeem many. I am not really clear on how such a program can be abused by bottom feeders? Its marketing just like anything else and is perhaps the cheapest marketing in the world.

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