peach

To this date 55% of those responding are at or below their sales for last year. So much for the great economic rebound. Hardly news that makes you want to:

1) Open another salon
2) Buy new equipment
3) Remodel your store
4) Hire another brain dead teenage employee
5) Get up in the morning

Gotta be honest.

tanu01

The last 2 weeks of Aug/Sept have been the worst I've seen in 24 years.
And yesterday we were told a major employer is laying of 3000 due to bama care.

parrot head

I'm an optimist, and believing things would get better for the past 7 years now. Every year, I see less and less tanners come through the doors, so I'm starting to think things will not get better, and even worse. The enrollment numbers, here at Stout, get bigger and bigger every year, but the number of tanners gets less and less. This is not a competition issue, because I have none.

peach

That is why I have been so forceful in opposing the teenage ban on indoor tanning; it is more than just about dollars. It is about the next generations of tanners. The scientific community has done a very good job of convincing people that UV light is truly dangerous. Back in the day, it was more about overdoing it; now, any UV is considered hazardous to your health. We older folks know how much BS this is, but the younger generations do not know what we know. They have no history and they believe what they read in glamour magazines.

What I believe we are seeing is an erosion of the next generations of tanners; there aren't as many future tanners to replace the older ones. In other words, the pie is shrinking, slowly but surely.

tanu01

old ... but a post to believe.

tan3840

I agree- that was a very good post....

suncitypembroke

Restructuring my menu and pricing, seeing a better deal and lower upgrade will get things going again. Keeping all up grade same price, doing 1,2, 3 weeks & 1 month. Only 6 session. Beds that were 15.00 for upgrade are now 9.00. something got to give past year sales down as all across the board, it do or die.

peach2

Thanks for the compliments. Those come few and far between on these sites. Usually, I am banned and cut off every time I get on. But, when that happens, you know you are hitting close to the truth; truth some do not want to admit or want you to know about.

This industry has allowed itself to be bashed for years without any rebuttal in public media. That has had a devastating effect on it in the minds of the public over the past 10 years. Think about it, what if someone made an outrageous accusation against you in public, and you did not immediately rebut that accusation? In the minds of some people, the fact that you did not deny and rebut means that you must be guilty as accused. That is exactly what has happened

Even a lie, if it is repeated enough will become the truth in the minds of many if it is not rebutted quickly and successfully.

I disagree with the idea that we need more science on UV light to help us win the fight against the derm industry. We already have plenty of that. What we need is an Org. with the _alls to present it in a unique and effective way to the public.

I do not see that happening now, or in the near future. A lot of talk, (to get your money) but zero action. Ideas are not expensive, nor is action. Not if it is in the right area, with the right strategy.

peach2

This won't do you any good unless you find a way to get more people in your store. Lower prices + same tanners =lower revenues

parrot head

^^^^^Finally some conclusions that make sense. Now-a-days with less and less young people tanning, my situation, It's impossible to get more in the door. Welcome back Peach.