arkietan

We are in the process of compiling our business plan for a tanning salon in Arkansas! Our town population is approximately 23,000 plus two 4 year colleges with about 5,000 students total. Our competition is two other tanning salons in town, one with 6 beds at least 10 years old, and the other has 14 beds with vacuum repair. Really! Both facilities are old, untidy and have poor hours. We have the opportunity to install 10 new beds with an Ovation vendor ranging from 128 to a Sundazzler. Our location would be across from Super WalMart in a 2,000 sq. ft. area. This is the only WalMart in a 35 mile radius. The new strip mall where we are planning on locating is directly across the street from Wal Mart/McDonalds with several national franchises already in business. Lease is $10.25 per sq. ft. We have researched this opportunity, but would appreciate any input from owners who have successfully accomplished what we hope to do! We do know both of these tanning salons stay busy! Do you think this would be a good business opportunity and any good hints for our business plan would be appreciated. We hope to become owners soon.

mouthybrat

Welcome to TanTalk!!!! It sounds like you have found a really good location and have gotten a pretty good feel of your competition! You will also need to make sure you do a lot of research on the equipment that you are planing to get.

mouthybrat

Welcome to TanTalk!!!! It sounds like you have found a really good location and have gotten a pretty good feel of your competition! You will also need to make sure you do a lot of research on the equipment that you are planing to get.

arkietan

Mouthybrat, thanks for the welcome! I forgot to mention that we found this site 4 days ago and we have been reading for 4 days. We love it. We are still researching the eqipment and I have been talking to Heartland this week but still looking at others. We just wanted someone's opinion on what they think of our opportunity. Thanks Again

BronzeBiz

Welcome! I'm a newbie myself, opened our salon about 6 weeks ago. Sounds like you've got a good location and nice size population going on. Have you started shopping beds yet? Several of the bed manufacturers ran statistics for us as part of their pitch. They ran a demographics study of what our area should be able to handle, how many people should be tanners within different radius. Didn't cost us a penny. Do you have business experience? We did our grand opening and I will do my next store a little differently. Be glad to answer any questions.

arkietan

BroneBiz, I am glad to meet another newbie. Yes we both have business experience but not with the tanning world. We are just curious about what everyone thinks about the plan we have here since most people here are in the business. Yes, the bed distributor that I spoke with yesterday said that we should have a 3,000 customer base.Don't know if that is good or not. Did your grand opening go well? Thanks for any advice.

paulxtremetan

Always nice to meet another newbie!!! We just opened a few days ago. It has been crazy!!! We are quite new, but one of the most important things we learned is to start early. By this I mean hitting the streets and local businesses with free tanning, grand opening info., etc. The earlier you start marketing, the higher the anticipation level from possible clients. Right before we opened, we had so many people just waiting to sign up for packages. But like I said, we're new so I'll go and let the pros help you out! Good luck... I'm sure you'll do well!!

paulxtremetan

Always nice to meet another newbie!!! We just opened a few days ago. It has been crazy!!! We are quite new, but one of the most important things we learned is to start early. By this I mean hitting the streets and local businesses with free tanning, grand opening info., etc. The earlier you start marketing, the higher the anticipation level from possible clients. Right before we opened, we had so many people just waiting to sign up for packages. But like I said, we're new so I'll go and let the pros help you out! Good luck... I'm sure you'll do well!!

arkietan

Paulxtremetan, thanks for the encouraging news. I will be sure to take your advice on getting out there early. I appreciate any advise. How many beds did you start with? Sounds like you have had a great opening. Good luck with everything.

top250tansyou

Arkie i am in little rock. Location sounds great. I dont know where you are but sun/erogline is in Jonesboro I have to assume they have a great showroom. This site is very hepful but smoetimes it is a beneifit to visit other salons to ask mulitple question at once. You would probably have to leave town for that though. Paul is right also about starting early. Start talking to lotion companies now about your grand opening - they will usually help you out alot. The season is about to get underway and the earlier you can start the better. LOL c ya.