Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Here is my reasoning behind using female employees. I agree that naturally guys are better at sales. However if you have a great employee training manual, regular sales training classes, and a marketing program (price structure ) that is easy to sell the female employee will be great at sales.

Yes this business is driven by 80% female tanners. Women do not want to worry about wearing makeup, being hit on or having a guy touch them when being sold lotions. The success of this business is based on communication, women communicate best with other women. Women do not hate women. Women are loyal and less likely to steal. Women present less sexual situations. When men come in to tan they would rather be sold by a female. So when you break it all down it is best to have females selling females just like at a makeup counter at a department store. The salons I open are among the top producing salons in the country. Except for the owners all employees are female.

I believe that everything you do has a positive or negative effect on the business. Doing nothing will always have a negative effect. Everything else must be evaluated to determine which is the best way to go. I would never suggest that what I believe is the only way. However I can predict with great certainty the results that will come from what I suggest. Success is just as easy to achieve as failure. Having a solid proven plan that evaluates every aspect of operating a salon will always create the best results.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

My boss wanted to send me to some symposium Feb 18th-20th....that's all I got before 1st crisis of the day hit!!!! Anybody have any details or do i have to wait til she appears again?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

It almost sounds like most of the posters are suggesting that only tanning salons require so much planning and money. If businesses where easy to open and operate everyone would own their own business. If you are going to be a business owner of any kind, be prepared have a proven plan and proper funding and your chances of success will be very good. It takes a lot of effort but in the end it is worth it.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

salons are opening up like crazy and also closing like crazy ... and i think the ones that are opening and closing shortly after are the people that didnt think they were going to have to put sixty to eighty hours a week into it ... to make it successfull that first two years i think you have to be there as much as possible or it will never make it ... your employees will never be as energetic and outgoing to a customer as you will be and this whole business is based on referrals so if you cant spend a good part of your life at the store it is def. not for you!!!
good luck everyone

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I work 80 hours a week and have now for 5 monthes

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I would listen to Steve Underhill...I have known him since he was with Puretan and he is a very smart man. The first time i went to buy beds, he taught me alot. I have been sucessful for 16 years because of people like him that took the time with a "small" salon owner...I have since owned 6 salons and now have only 2 with 27 units total!! And Steve...if you don't remember me, PM me and I will respond!

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Would you recommend opening a Franchise vs. your own? I know you end up paying the royalties but then having the backup to help advertise and set you up with training might be worth it.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

my family owns a tanning salon and i manage the store. we have done very well with our speicals and tanning lotions.. i have brought in a exclusive line of nutrionial suppliements that have worked very well for the store. I encourage anyone that wants to make extra money year round to look into joining the company. If you wantt o learn more please go to my website and see what its all about www.myxpi.com/bodyfuel . if you want to call please call 781-831-7616 and ask for adam Some of the key benefits of the products are:

Cardiovascular protective agents
Helps with allergic reactions
Prevents kidney stones
Anti - inflammatory
Prevents arthritis
Anti - depressant and anti - anxiety
Stimulates immune response
Anti - aging
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Promotes weight - loss
Anti - fatigue
Prevents hardening of the arteries
Prevent fungal, viral, and
bacterial infections

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

This a great post. Thanks for all the wonderful advice. I am thinking of opening my own salon later in life and this has given me a lot of things to consider.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

where's number 12?!?! I must be blind..


or maybe it just wasn't numbered... lol

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

You wanna know what would be a really great thread?! "Ten Basic Tips to running a profitable tanning salon". I guess y'all will just have to wait for my book to publish; or you can catch Mike Jones' puppet show every Sunday at the "Pimimpin' is Easy" social gathering at his church. Good luck out there. -Belvy

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

What marvelous advice is stored in this article. ]

I like no 3. May sound stupid but really hadn't considered decor to suit both sexes. My fella has it one color and selfish nail tech me was thinking more of nail salon colors!!!
That paragraph, has been a reminder that i should to consider the likes of my client's needs first.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I already have a small nail salon business with my daughter and we are considering buying a tanning salon that is for sale in the same neighborhood and combining the two.Now my daughter seems to think it might be cheaper if we rent a new space and start from scratch I'm not so sure anyone have any advice on this? I could use all the help I can get

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

It would save overhead down the road to combine both businesses into one location.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

you forgot cornhole'n the landlord for a few months of free rent.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Good stuff, thanks you for post this great information...

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I didn't forget. I just figured it was common knowledge.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Well Our loation seems to be all right. were close to town an some schools. We own our building so no rent just ele. gas to pay. We have three beds, one stand up, an just got three more beds to put in. just need to make room for them. I sure hope things will be alright. I work 12hour days. Just hired young gril to help out. Any advise will be grateful. :) marilyn

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Marilyn, when you are new it is very important that the owner is in the salon! Who is going to teach the young girl??

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I want to run a mobile house to house spray tanning business, What do I look for to get a business license? I am in Washington state. Where does that fit in?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

This is sad but true.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I would love a little advice from all of you. My wife and I purchased a tanning salon a few months back, and we are looking at purchasing a second one. Their is a salon that closed a couple of weeks ago, apparently the owners had two salons a good distance apart, and didn't take care of this one, so business was bad, they walked off, and let the landlord keep everything as payment for the money the owed. He has the salon priced really cheap, basicaly wholesale value for the equipment. I wanted to know what your opinions are on buying this salon. There are no books, so I don't know what the income has been, but it's in a good location with a lot of college students, and has some pretty good beds. Anyone have any input?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

If it's super cheap and the equipment works why not?

Just make sure that the place doesn't have a 20amp breaker for the ENTIRE BUILDING and enough A/C and you should be good to go!

A tanning salon is just another business that 90% can be figured out on paper. If you can make the numbers work WORST CASE SCENARIO then go for it.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Thanks for that advice, I appreciate it. One more question for anyone, one of the beds is a Velocity, I'm not sure the model though, but when I looked at the salon, there was a timer in the front, but the Velocity had it's own timer, anyone have a clue as to why that might be? The timer in the front has room for 7 beds, and the salon has six rooms, and (right now) only five beds, so I'm curious as to why that bed has it's own timer...

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

some don't have internal timers so they require a seperate external. Also it may not be compatible with their current line up.

It's more than likely they added the Velocity and it was just easier to add a single timer to it.

Wait, is the velocity a HP bed?

Also, how WHOLESALE were the beds priced at? Right now 10cents on the dollar is about the going rate for used equipment.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Well, he said he got an offer for all of the beds, the velocity, which is an HP bed, a SunStar, and I believe 3 Sundash beds (I don't know if Sundash is the right name.) The wholesale offer he said he got was 20k. He also had a sign made because he was going to open the salon up on his own, but realized it's not the business he is in, so he added the cost of the sign, the computer, software, etc, and came up with his selling price. The price seems really good to my wife and me. Although, we haven't dealt with used beds, and we don't know how old these are or how many hours are on them, etc, which is why I am looking for advice. Thanks again for your input...

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

House of Tan: I agree with you. I was employed by a 27 bed salon for 3 years before I started this new project for myself. We had attractive women, and guys as sales staff. The girls sold a lot, and the guys sold a lot more. I am not sexist, but it seems to me that men have more drive, and motivation in general. Now remember there are always exceptions, but Im saying in general. To sell the most, we had the best luck with constantly motivating employees with incentives, and sales contests, paying a very high comission was always helpful :-)

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Hi,
I'm a NEWBIE!! Been reading about a million threads in the last couple of days. I really like this site to gain information. I am looking to open a salon but am still researching. I live in a town of 30,000 people and the median age is 33 (and older). I found a great place to open the salon...near a grocery store and in a strip mall between a nail salon and a high traffic beauty salon. I am just totally freaked though on how I will be able to make the lease payment in the beginning. It looks like the space is 1800 sq feet @ 1.25 psf. Do you have any suggestions on how you were able to eat when you first started out? I realize it will take a while to be up an running.

Also there are only 2 other salons in a 5 mile radius. One is lower end and has sunquest beds and the other is ENTIRELY too nice with an ergonomic package. But we would all be spread out across the town. I'm typically a social worker and am ready to take on a new venture! I do realize I will be putting in a lot of time toward this business. Any thoughts or feedback is GREATLY appreciated?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Ergonomic or Ergoline?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I like them both.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

oops...I meant ergoline.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Now thats called as the right business strategy... The tips are all good and can work for a new beauty salon in an excellent way. Though this business has got a good hike in the market still then some of the tanning salons and beauty spas are yet to find a way for their success. For them these tips are really valuable...

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

this is good for the people thinking about opening one up

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Bumping for New Be Ed and others entering the site thinking of opening a salon.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Tangirl get you a ladybug steamer for the white grout it is alot easier to clean and does a wonderful job good luck to you ......

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

anyone i n ftworth lookin to sell james@ 817=231-4756

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I am interested in getting into the tanning business. I live in las vegas and I dont know much about the business yet. Should I look into a franchise or start on my own? If a franchise which do you reccommend ? What would be the average startup costs to start the business for a franchise and also an independent salon? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to do alot of research into this but would like to be pointed in the right direction.

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

When does the slow season start & end?

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

I love the advice! have run two salons for over 4 years but took a break to have a baby. Now I would really like to get into the ownership side of it. It helps finding posts like this!

Re: Ten basic tips to opening a salon.
 

Can some 1 advise me on these tanning beds
1. Matrix Compact L28-er (iso-Italia)
2. Glammy L18-ER (Iso-Italia)
3. Maximultisun 170 (Sportarredo)
4. Maxter V19-ER (Iso-Italia)
Are they good and how much should they cost???
And how much is it to change the lamps??

Please advice ASAP