Start up Questions - tanTALK

stormyout · 10-01-2001, 06:03 AM

Which trade magazines are a must for a new salon owner? Are there any that are based in the northwest? Also what advertising is good to start with for the opening, but also as an ongoing marketing system? Any that didn't work for you. Thanks a million!!!

tangirl · 10-01-2001, 09:44 AM

Hi stormyout! Since I've recently taken over a salon I don't know that I can really answer the question about trade mags. I've seen Island Sun Times - good info. Tanning Trends, well, let's just say I'm not that impressed. I'm not sure about any mags that are area specific. Here's that advertising that I have done since taking over. I have 4 large high schools in my area. I've advertised in all of their newspapers. This hasn't gone over too well. I printed flyers. Gave them to two of my teenage members and asked them to hand them out in exchange for a one month free membership. I gave them to the girls on Thursday. I had 2 new people come in w/ flyers on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. The flyers also cost me a lot less than the newspaper ads.

tangirl · 10-01-2001, 10:52 AM

If you decide to go the high school newspaper route, make sure that you get to pick what section your add is printed in. I think that's what caused my problem. We were not allowed to pick. Therefore, we were put in the sports section.

BooBop · 10-07-2001, 07:09 AM

newspaper has gone very well for me. one thing that our paper has is a info connect telephone line, which you can call and make a selection to find out specific info. they run a daily add in the paper and a contest on the phone line. I get free advertiseing daily and the winners of the contest get 1 free tan. so i get a lot of press for a little expense. (which isn't coming out of my pocket) and in return i get a person in the door and usually they will return for a package.
the school paper does okay but not all that great. i still do it just to get our name around and to help out the school kids.
our paper also has a website which you can advertise on (sorta like the yellowpages) i have a listing there with pictures but is doesn't seem to help much so i am cancelling it after this month.
[b]the main and best advertising is: word of mouth[b]
_________________
Mitzi
God Bless AmericaUnited We Stand

[ This Message was edited by: buntanner on 2001-10-07 06:21 ]

BOBER96 · 10-08-2001, 10:35 AM

Any mags you can get your hands on will be good. Even if you only pick up one interestng thing from a mag, it is something learned.
Today's Image
Tanning Trends
Looking Fit
Island Sun Times
did I miss any??

Tamar · 10-09-2001, 12:07 AM

SunWellness?

Tracie Williams · 10-31-2001, 08:28 PM

I like SunWellness for two reasons...

Not alot of advertising and helpful medical advise or lots of things, not just tanning. Very versitile magazine that we can also share with our customers.

High School ads has never worked for us either. A couple of thoughts... If you have a web site post the coupon on that site. Direct Mail is very good for us. Yellow pages have been a good choice as well as the "Real Talking Ad". The best advertising we have ever had has been our customer referral program. We give our customers referral cards. If someone using their card joins our membership the referring customer receives $20.00 in "bonus bucks" or in house credit. Customers are your best advertisement because they are displaying your service and using your product. Best of all they get paid to do it... The only stipulation is that customers can not use the in house credit towards a service purchase.

Hope this helps a little.

_________________
Tracie Williams
Sandollar Corporation[ This Message was edited by: Tracie Williams on 2001-10-31 20:30 ]

Sandman · 11-01-2001, 05:49 AM

Tracie;
Good advise and I followed you until the end...what do you mean by they can't use it for service purchase? Thanks, Sandman

Tamar · 11-01-2001, 06:40 AM

product = lotion, goggles, jewelry, etc.

service = tanning, manicure, etc.

BOBER96 · 11-01-2001, 09:09 AM

I like Sun Wellness too, but they are really stiffing me on it!!!!
I rarely get it anymore and when I do, they send like 8 copies! What the **** am I supposed to do with 8? Makes it difficult to spread the word.
I went to their booth in Nashville to share this concern with them and was totally ignored while the person in the booth was on her cell phone!!!! Talk about being PO'd!

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10-01-2001, 06:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
stormyout Join Date: Aug 8 2001 Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	Which trade magazines are a must for a new salon owner? Are there any that are based in the northwest? Also what advertising is good to start with for the opening, but also as an ongoing marketing system? Any that didn't work for you. Thanks a million!!!

10-01-2001, 09:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 1,875 Rep Power: 23	Hi stormyout! Since I've recently taken over a salon I don't know that I can really answer the question about trade mags. I've seen Island Sun Times - good info. Tanning Trends, well, let's just say I'm not that impressed. I'm not sure about any mags that are area specific. Here's that advertising that I have done since taking over. I have 4 large high schools in my area. I've advertised in all of their newspapers. This hasn't gone over too well. I printed flyers. Gave them to two of my teenage members and asked them to hand them out in exchange for a one month free membership. I gave them to the girls on Thursday. I had 2 new people come in w/ flyers on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. The flyers also cost me a lot less than the newspaper ads.

10-01-2001, 10:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 1,875 Rep Power: 23	If you decide to go the high school newspaper route, make sure that you get to pick what section your add is printed in. I think that's what caused my problem. We were not allowed to pick. Therefore, we were put in the sports section.

10-07-2001, 07:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Age: 66 Posts: 7,766 Rep Power: 28	newspaper has gone very well for me. one thing that our paper has is a info connect telephone line, which you can call and make a selection to find out specific info. they run a daily add in the paper and a contest on the phone line. I get free advertiseing daily and the winners of the contest get 1 free tan. so i get a lot of press for a little expense. (which isn't coming out of my pocket) and in return i get a person in the door and usually they will return for a package. the school paper does okay but not all that great. i still do it just to get our name around and to help out the school kids. our paper also has a website which you can advertise on (sorta like the yellowpages) i have a listing there with pictures but is doesn't seem to help much so i am cancelling it after this month. [b]the main and best advertising is: word of mouth[b] _________________ Mitzi God Bless AmericaUnited We Stand [ This Message was edited by: buntanner on 2001-10-07 06:21 ]

10-08-2001, 10:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
BOBER96 Join Date: Oct 17 2000 Posts: 905 Rep Power: 24	Any mags you can get your hands on will be good. Even if you only pick up one interestng thing from a mag, it is something learned. Today's Image Tanning Trends Looking Fit Island Sun Times did I miss any??

10-09-2001, 12:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 1,906 Rep Power: 23	SunWellness?

10-31-2001, 08:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tracie Williams Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Oct 23 2000 Posts: 346 Rep Power: 0	I like SunWellness for two reasons... Not alot of advertising and helpful medical advise or lots of things, not just tanning. Very versitile magazine that we can also share with our customers. High School ads has never worked for us either. A couple of thoughts... If you have a web site post the coupon on that site. Direct Mail is very good for us. Yellow pages have been a good choice as well as the "Real Talking Ad". The best advertising we have ever had has been our customer referral program. We give our customers referral cards. If someone using their card joins our membership the referring customer receives $20.00 in "bonus bucks" or in house credit. Customers are your best advertisement because they are displaying your service and using your product. Best of all they get paid to do it... The only stipulation is that customers can not use the in house credit towards a service purchase. Hope this helps a little. _________________ Tracie Williams Sandollar Corporation[ This Message was edited by: Tracie Williams on 2001-10-31 20:30 ]

11-01-2001, 05:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
Sandman Join Date: Oct 29 2001 Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	Tracie; Good advise and I followed you until the end...what do you mean by they can't use it for service purchase? Thanks, Sandman

11-01-2001, 06:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 1,906 Rep Power: 23	product = lotion, goggles, jewelry, etc. service = tanning, manicure, etc.

11-01-2001, 09:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
BOBER96 Join Date: Oct 17 2000 Posts: 905 Rep Power: 24	I like Sun Wellness too, but they are really stiffing me on it!!!! I rarely get it anymore and when I do, they send like 8 copies! What the **** am I supposed to do with 8? Makes it difficult to spread the word. I went to their booth in Nashville to share this concern with them and was totally ignored while the person in the booth was on her cell phone!!!! Talk about being PO'd!

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