WendyJo

From the location I plan to lease, there are approximately 15,787 people within a 5 mile radius. 2004 Est. Median Household Income $35,198. And, approximately 39,860 cars per day traffic count per 2003 DOT traffic study.

It's a very small town, where Wal-Mart is the busiest area - and the space I'm looking at is in a strip center right next to it.

There is only 1 tanning salon in town currently with 14 units (no HP, no VHR, all base beds except stand-up and they do airbrush tanning, too). There are approximately 10-12 other units in town (in various hair salons and workout facilities).

I plan to have 8-10 units. Is that too little? The space is only 1400 sf (20x70).

Currently, only 1 place has "levels" of tanning. 3 beds in a workout facility - They have a 30 lamp, 34 lamp and a 42 lamp w/Facials (I believe they're Montego Bay).

I was thinking of starting off with 4 level 1 beds - 32 lamp 20 min. (Tan America or ETS - haven't decided)

3 level 2 beds - 42 lamp 15 min. w/facials ETS Solaris 442

1 stand up (level?) 52 - lamp 10 minute ETS Solarforce 652v

1 level 3 HP - ETS Velocity

1 Magic or Mystic spray booth.


I've been reading and searching and am still having a hard time trying to figure out the right mix.

I want to have session packages, but also introduce EFT to my area. No one around here has it - I don't know if there's a reason for that or not.

I plan to have a $40 monthly unlimited on base beds, but cut it in half for EFT and offer 20% discount on lotions and upgrades. No contract, no sign up fee, but have a $50 cancellation fee if they cancel before 12 months.

I would appreciate any advice. We're probably looking at a November opening now.

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[ This Message was edited by: WendyJo on 2005-06-18 11:01 ]

hot like this

I would say the following....... Run Forest.. Run!!!!!!


There is a reason why the other salons don't have vhr or hp beds/booths. The number for household income is really low, the number of people in that town seems very small. I do not think another tanning salon would work out.

ETS is nothing but eye candy btw....



basicly...run away as fast as you can!!!

Neon Beach

Yeah baby!!

Ezliving_Jim

Quick thoughts....

Consider other brands besides ETS. Your ideas for different levels is good. Keep a spare room for a future spray booth if you still feel the demand for one before your second season.

4 - level 1
2 - level 2 VHR
2 - level 3 Bigger VHR
1 - VHR standup
1 - HP (360)

reserve space for expansion.

WendyJo

I'm sorry, "hot like this" and "Neon Beach" I guess I didn't include enough info. This town is in the South. Everything is spread out. In our town, Wal-mart is at the end of the "strip" with hardly any houses near it. So, the population directly surrounding Wal-mart is not a good judge of how this town works. And, the income level is low on that side of town because there are hardly any houses.

Approximately 35,000 people live outside the city limits. They come into this town to shop. Most of them shop at Wal-mart.

We have been experiencing RAPID growth in the last 2 years! They're talking about opening up a 6 Flags here. There are 1,500 new homes currently under construction inside the city limits and tons more outside the city. I have a friend that has been selling Real Estate for over 20 years in this town and she says she's never seen anything like this.

And, my only competing tanning salon is disgusting! The carpet is so stained I didn't want to stand barefoot. The chairs in each tanning room have cushions that are so filthy, I was afraid to put my clothes or purse on it. They have the customers clean the beds with papertowels and Windex. I cannot imagine what sort of "stuff" someone could catch from how unsanitary that place is. Ewwww.

So, with that information, would you still say no?




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[ This Message was edited by: WendyJo on 2005-06-18 12:55 ]

Neon Beach

Oh boy, a Wal-Mart town. Big spenders then?

WendyJo

Quote:
On 2005-06-18 12:55:00, Neon Beach wrote:
Oh boy, a Wal-Mart town. Big spenders then?


There are a lot of big spenders, they just live outside the city limits and drive into town.

We have 2 golf courses with homes surrounding them ranging from $350,000 to $1,000,000. We have many neighborhoods where the average house is $200,000.

They just don't live inside the city limits by Wal-mart. But, they do come into town to tan.

DWhite6872

You can only be the judge of your town..it sounds like it is worth looking into....

Neon Beach

Oh? Well, then you'd better plan on investing $400,000 in your salon.

I'm in a Wal-Mart town with 4.5 times your pop., and they are all cheap due to the Wal-Mart mentality. Now they expect to see the yellow smiley slashing prices everywhere they go.

DWhite6872

everyone has a Walmart..