Planet Beach or Hollywood Tans? - Page 4 - tanTALK

jo · 07-09-2004, 09:44 AM

I agree with suntanz - some franchises are worthy - tanning maybe not. There are 3 fabutans in our area. None are thriving. The one across from me reverted to a corporate store after I moved in. That owner lost a second one in another neighborhood. But the corporation sold yet another to some poor wretch who believed fabutan's line that they have never had a store that closed (which is not the same as being a success). last I heard - she had never been able to pay her rent on time - very high priced rent that the franchisor should have shied away from and given better advice. They do have some slick marketing. I've heard of these fabutans putting other salons out of business (they are lotion distributors as well who I heard offer great discounts to get a salon's business in an area they're looking at and find out how much lotion they're selling - then if it looks good - move in and destroy. But they only provide really basic equipment - they tell people that the higher intensity equipment is unhealthy and unsafe so anyone wanting a good tan has to go elsewhere.

TanningEmporium · 07-11-2004, 08:29 PM

Why would you want to put your hard earned money in someone elses pocket every month just to get a discount that with enough talk and purchasing you can get yourself, not to say I would want to keep that 3000 to 10000 a month for me and my family. If you have that kind of money, I will come to SC and set it up for you for a fee, tell you how to run it, hire your employees, JUst give me a price and I will tell you if I can do it, HECK I will stay by your side for 1 year and oversee the running and books for the right kind of cash, hey, if you average 5000 a month to a franchise that will be 72000 for one year, I do the above for you and clean a few toilets.

_________________
Margaret
www.tanning-emporium.com
IT's True, Educate them and they will come.[ This Message was edited by: TanningEmporium on 2004-07-11 19:30 ]

healthyglow · 07-11-2004, 09:33 PM

Hi all, I don't think there is a right or wrong way to get started in this business if it is something you have researched and developed a passion for. i will tell you I own and operate a FRANCHISE. I had done plenty of research(5 years of visiting every salon within 40 miles of my location,attending trade shows,and subscribing to all industry publications.) before I got started. I considered being independent first, however the 150k I had saved I lost in the stock during the end of the tech boom and subsequent crash. (the stock market was something I should have researched more.Oh well, live and learn.) I managed to save 50k over time and I did not want to wait to open a salon anymore. In the Chicagoland market, the area I decided to go into needed a Mega Salon with the best equipment,upscale decor and of course great customer service. This 23 room salon with all Ergoline and Uwe equipment(Which I believe to be the Mercedes and BMW of our industry) would cost me $450k. Well no bank was going to give me $400k as a start up, So I sought out a franchise.I chose Executive Tans because of the SBA financincing which at the time was essentially 100%, they also allow me to be independent in my pricing and Marketing and I dont pay a percentage of my gross revenue which I would not want to be part of. If I needed it I can talk daily to other franchisees. We also have our own private label lotions made by ETS with much greater profit margins than anything an independent could be purchasing from them. I could go on. In our first 18 months we have had 7000 people come through our doors we are also quite profitable. Guess what, all of our customers came from local independants, 2 of which have closed and others trying to sell. You can knock the franchise, but for me It has worked according to plan. Don't try to deny people an opportunity to fulfill a dream. My dream has come true! I get to wake up every morning and earn a good honest living doing something I love to do!

tanu01 · 07-11-2004, 09:39 PM

450 thous ? you should have a 40 room store.
Flick

healthyglow · 07-12-2004, 01:34 AM

Flick, you are so right, however you seem to miss my point.I didn't need 40 beds to open a salon, just 23 of the BEST pieces of equipment to do exactly what I PLANNED,which was to to WOW and deliver RESULTS to our tanners. Now if you had a choice with all things being equal would you drive a chevy or the BENZ! Remember don't hate the player, hate the game. I love the GAME(tanning) and I can play! The problem that any salon(franchise or independent)could be faced with is not having the foresight and or capital to give their clients the absolute best.Your business is like any relationship,you can't take it for granted, you should always be looking for ways to improve.In todays world you can't have people waiting in your lobby for 45 minutes and think they will continue to wait. You cant tan people on old equipment when there is new technology. You can't stop advertising for new clients because you have a large existing database. You can't let your customer service slip because you have a large EFT.You can't think you have all the answers! Be Humble. Remember there is always someone out there is is BIGGER, FASTER,STRONGER,PRETTIER AND WISER than you.

tanu01 · 07-12-2004, 09:17 AM

healthyglow, I have 3 stores. Been in this for over 15 years,None of my units are more then 4 years old. 1 27 unit store and two 10 units. We advertize in news print 12 months a year. Cable and network 9 months out of year,Radio 3 months out of the year.
The amount of money you spent on one store is down right stupid. And there is no way you can tell anyone that because you have 23 units that no one has to wait. Its not possible if you do indeed have a great store.
I have friends that have 50 and more units and there can be up to a 30 min wait.
A 10 thousand doller unit is not always better than a 5 thousand dollar unit. And technology has not really changed a whole lot recently,Just looks.
The only people now days that do not have the needed foresight are the ones that think hair nails and tanning still mix.
Flick

tanMBA · 07-12-2004, 09:26 AM

It amazes me that people can say someone spent too much money on a salon when they don't know how much money that person is making on it. At the end of the day, doesn't it come down to income and ROI?

tanu01 · 07-12-2004, 09:30 AM

It does not take much to know that if he only has 23 units and no waiting, He's not making what he should be.
Flick

West Side Tanner · 07-12-2004, 01:26 PM

You don't need a franchise. You are giving away your money!

THEDORSEYTOUCH · 07-12-2004, 09:49 PM

Margaret
Who would run your one salon if you do what you propose above?

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07-09-2004, 09:44 AM	#31 (permalink)
jo Join Date: Jan 8 2004 Posts: 239 Rep Power: 21	I agree with suntanz - some franchises are worthy - tanning maybe not. There are 3 fabutans in our area. None are thriving. The one across from me reverted to a corporate store after I moved in. That owner lost a second one in another neighborhood. But the corporation sold yet another to some poor wretch who believed fabutan's line that they have never had a store that closed (which is not the same as being a success). last I heard - she had never been able to pay her rent on time - very high priced rent that the franchisor should have shied away from and given better advice. They do have some slick marketing. I've heard of these fabutans putting other salons out of business (they are lotion distributors as well who I heard offer great discounts to get a salon's business in an area they're looking at and find out how much lotion they're selling - then if it looks good - move in and destroy. But they only provide really basic equipment - they tell people that the higher intensity equipment is unhealthy and unsafe so anyone wanting a good tan has to go elsewhere.

07-11-2004, 08:29 PM	#32 (permalink)
TanningEmporium Join Date: Jul 15 2003 Location: 213 Skyland Shp Ctr Posts: 2,613 Rep Power: 23	Why would you want to put your hard earned money in someone elses pocket every month just to get a discount that with enough talk and purchasing you can get yourself, not to say I would want to keep that 3000 to 10000 a month for me and my family. If you have that kind of money, I will come to SC and set it up for you for a fee, tell you how to run it, hire your employees, JUst give me a price and I will tell you if I can do it, HECK I will stay by your side for 1 year and oversee the running and books for the right kind of cash, hey, if you average 5000 a month to a franchise that will be 72000 for one year, I do the above for you and clean a few toilets. _________________ Margaret www.tanning-emporium.com IT's True, Educate them and they will come.[ This Message was edited by: TanningEmporium on 2004-07-11 19:30 ]

07-11-2004, 09:33 PM	#33 (permalink)
healthyglow Join Date: Oct 16 2003 Location: Chicago,Il Posts: 56 Rep Power: 0	Hi all, I don't think there is a right or wrong way to get started in this business if it is something you have researched and developed a passion for. i will tell you I own and operate a FRANCHISE. I had done plenty of research(5 years of visiting every salon within 40 miles of my location,attending trade shows,and subscribing to all industry publications.) before I got started. I considered being independent first, however the 150k I had saved I lost in the stock during the end of the tech boom and subsequent crash. (the stock market was something I should have researched more.Oh well, live and learn.) I managed to save 50k over time and I did not want to wait to open a salon anymore. In the Chicagoland market, the area I decided to go into needed a Mega Salon with the best equipment,upscale decor and of course great customer service. This 23 room salon with all Ergoline and Uwe equipment(Which I believe to be the Mercedes and BMW of our industry) would cost me $450k. Well no bank was going to give me $400k as a start up, So I sought out a franchise.I chose Executive Tans because of the SBA financincing which at the time was essentially 100%, they also allow me to be independent in my pricing and Marketing and I dont pay a percentage of my gross revenue which I would not want to be part of. If I needed it I can talk daily to other franchisees. We also have our own private label lotions made by ETS with much greater profit margins than anything an independent could be purchasing from them. I could go on. In our first 18 months we have had 7000 people come through our doors we are also quite profitable. Guess what, all of our customers came from local independants, 2 of which have closed and others trying to sell. You can knock the franchise, but for me It has worked according to plan. Don't try to deny people an opportunity to fulfill a dream. My dream has come true! I get to wake up every morning and earn a good honest living doing something I love to do!

07-11-2004, 09:39 PM	#34 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	450 thous ? you should have a 40 room store. Flick

07-12-2004, 01:34 AM	#35 (permalink)
healthyglow Join Date: Oct 16 2003 Location: Chicago,Il Posts: 56 Rep Power: 0	Flick, you are so right, however you seem to miss my point.I didn't need 40 beds to open a salon, just 23 of the BEST pieces of equipment to do exactly what I PLANNED,which was to to WOW and deliver RESULTS to our tanners. Now if you had a choice with all things being equal would you drive a chevy or the BENZ! Remember don't hate the player, hate the game. I love the GAME(tanning) and I can play! The problem that any salon(franchise or independent)could be faced with is not having the foresight and or capital to give their clients the absolute best.Your business is like any relationship,you can't take it for granted, you should always be looking for ways to improve.In todays world you can't have people waiting in your lobby for 45 minutes and think they will continue to wait. You cant tan people on old equipment when there is new technology. You can't stop advertising for new clients because you have a large existing database. You can't let your customer service slip because you have a large EFT.You can't think you have all the answers! Be Humble. Remember there is always someone out there is is BIGGER, FASTER,STRONGER,PRETTIER AND WISER than you.

07-12-2004, 09:17 AM	#36 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	healthyglow, I have 3 stores. Been in this for over 15 years,None of my units are more then 4 years old. 1 27 unit store and two 10 units. We advertize in news print 12 months a year. Cable and network 9 months out of year,Radio 3 months out of the year. The amount of money you spent on one store is down right stupid. And there is no way you can tell anyone that because you have 23 units that no one has to wait. Its not possible if you do indeed have a great store. I have friends that have 50 and more units and there can be up to a 30 min wait. A 10 thousand doller unit is not always better than a 5 thousand dollar unit. And technology has not really changed a whole lot recently,Just looks. The only people now days that do not have the needed foresight are the ones that think hair nails and tanning still mix. Flick

07-12-2004, 09:26 AM	#37 (permalink)
tanMBA Join Date: Jun 22 2004 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	It amazes me that people can say someone spent too much money on a salon when they don't know how much money that person is making on it. At the end of the day, doesn't it come down to income and ROI?

07-12-2004, 09:30 AM	#38 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	It does not take much to know that if he only has 23 units and no waiting, He's not making what he should be. Flick

07-12-2004, 01:26 PM	#39 (permalink)
West Side Tanner Join Date: Dec 27 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,818 Rep Power: 21	You don't need a franchise. You are giving away your money!

07-12-2004, 09:49 PM	#40 (permalink)
THEDORSEYTOUCH Waiting Confirmation Join Date: May 28 2003 Posts: 429 Rep Power: 0	Margaret Who would run your one salon if you do what you propose above?

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