Go Back   tanTALK - Tanning Salon Business Owners Community > TanTalk Central > New To The Tanning Business

New To The Tanning Business Interested or Future Salon Business Owners discuss Topics Here and Ask Questions To The Pros.

Reply
 
LinkBack (1) Thread Tools
Old 01-15-2007, 10:14 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 14 2007
Posts: 5
Rep Power: 0 saweissich is on a distinguished road
Question Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

I've been doing and insane amount of research on opening a tanning salon in a city close to where I live that doesn't currently have a tanning salon. I found this site and have been scouring all the threads and now I'm hoping for some feed back!

I would love to hear opinions, thoughts, advice etc.

This is what we have going for us. We are near the gulf coast about 25 miles from the beach. The city doesn't have a tanning salon only 8 hair salons that offer either 1 or 2 beds. The hair salons don't advertise that they have these beds it's just by word of mouth. In fact I had my hair cut just recently in one of the salons and never would have guessed they had a tanning bed. Several of the hair salons I called that didn't have beds wished they did and one was looking into possibly buying a bed. (I have all the bed info and prices that the salons are charging)

There are two new strip malls going up in this city. One is already started and close to completion the other will be started March 1 and completed August 1. (if all goes well)
I'm interested in the mall that will be completed August 1 as the builder will pay all of our build outs and the mall is right on the main highway that runs through the county. This mall will have a real estate co, mortgage co, engineering firm. Where as the other mall will have resteraunts, cell phone stores etc. I read on this site that it's not good to be near resteraunts. The demographics of the city looks like this:

Gender
Males: 1,795 (47%)
Females: 1,987 (53%)

Median Age: 33.6 (Males: 31.6, Females: 35.4)

Males Under 20: 16%
Females Under 20: 16%
Males 20 to 40: 14%
Females 20 to 40: 14%
Males 40 to 60: 11%
Females 40 to 60: 13%
Males Over 60: 7%
Females Over 60: 10%

The population has been growing at an annual rate of 4.8%.

The closest city with a tanning salon is 11 miles away. The three cities that surround the city I'm interested in don't have tanning salons.

I'm considering leasing beds at first and was wondering if anyone had any input on this as well?

Thank you so much!
saweissich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 10:35 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
excitednewguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 17 2005
Location: Southeast
Posts: 374
Rep Power: 19 excitednewguy is on a distinguished road
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

Don't lease beds, buy if you can or have the Bank help out with a business loan to cover the costs. Most banks "don't like" Tanning Businesses, but if you have a good relationship with a bank, they will tend to overlook this in most cases. Also, if your Lanlord is going to pay for all of the build out costs, you can let the Bank know that some of the money from the small business loan is going to go towards build out. They, believe it or not, feel better to loan money for AC's, Electrical Work, Sheetrock, etc. etc. over tanning beds sometimes.

It does not sound like you have a lot of folks around you. I would "estimate" that about 10% of the population tans, and if you are saying there are no tanning salons close by, maybe you can estimate in getting 50% of this business. You will have to work the numbers out yourself to see if it will work for you.

What beds are you looking at? You might want to start with less than what you want, give it some time to make money, and buy more later. Make sure that you build out the empty rooms so that they are capable of just adding the beds later, with no additional electrical work needed.

Sunsally will be along shortly, and I'm sure she will lay it on you. Listen to her, she's been in the game a while and always gives good advice. You will be able to tell the "business people" versus the "non business people" in here quick. She is a business minded person, much like me, and likes to look at things from every angle.
excitednewguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 10:44 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 14 2007
Posts: 5
Rep Power: 0 saweissich is on a distinguished road
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

We are looking at the Solaris beds. I was thinking one 15 minute face bed, one 20 minute bed, and possibly a stand up bed...I'm not married to those choices though and I'm open to input on that as well. We are also going to include airbrushing. We will have 1,000 sq ft for our salon. The airbrushing is actually huge down here. I considered getting a mystic tan booth but those are less popular then the airbrush . People seem to like the more personal attention.

We will definitely have all of our rooms built out and I'll just keep the doors shut to the rooms that don't have equipment in them.
I've been reading that its important to offer other services besides tanning. Is it better to have a massage therapist, or would a spa bed of some type be better?
saweissich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 10:51 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 14 2007
Posts: 5
Rep Power: 0 saweissich is on a distinguished road
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

I was also wondering why you feel so strongly against leasing the beds? I'm trying to learn as much as I can about that and would love to know more opinions on it as well. If anyone has leased beds and can tell me their experience I would greatly appreciate that too.
saweissich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 10:59 AM   #5 (permalink)
 
Neon Beach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 30 2000
Location: Ontario
Age: 61
Posts: 38,594
Rep Power: 107 Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

I have leased one pc. of equipment, and could have bought it out right 3 times by now.
Neon Beach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 12:22 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 14 2007
Posts: 5
Rep Power: 0 saweissich is on a distinguished road
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

I also wanted to add that we will be paying $15sqft per year that includes CAM fees.
saweissich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 12:31 PM   #7 (permalink)
I love Derf!!
 
lewdyju's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 5 2006
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 618
Rep Power: 20 lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

If you are set on the Aug 1 completion date mall jus be aware that date will probably change many times over. I signed my lease a year ago, was supposed to open in Aug or Sept, then Nov, now??? I still have yet to receive my keys there have been so many delays. I was told by the develpor it should be less than 30 days for sure. I just had to renegotiate my lease because now the busy season is approaching and I will be missing out on Feb. Have they broke ground on the the new center yet? I know the for the second salon I will be looking at an existing newer building. On the upside, it has given me the opportunity to research for another year and meet some great people on this site.
lewdyju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 12:40 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
Neon Beach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 30 2000
Location: Ontario
Age: 61
Posts: 38,594
Rep Power: 107 Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute Neon Beach has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

2nd?
Neon Beach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 12:43 PM   #9 (permalink)
I love Derf!!
 
lewdyju's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 5 2006
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 618
Rep Power: 20 lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of lewdyju has much to be proud of
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

In the future Neon, my husband owns a printing business, he will be selling it in 2 years, we will use that to open a 2nd.
lewdyju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2007, 03:11 PM   #10 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Jan 14 2007
Posts: 5
Rep Power: 0 saweissich is on a distinguished road
Re: Looking into opening a salon would love input.(long)

I'm thinking it will most likely change. They are starting construction March1st and explained that it would take roughly 4 months to build a 5800 sq ft building. There will be 5 1000 sq ft bays and 1 800 sq ft bay.
saweissich is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

LinkBacks (?)
LinkBack to this Thread: http://tantalk.com/new-tanning-business/2364558-looking-into-opening-salon-would-love-input-long.html
Posted By For Type Date
Show Car Insurance - show girl insurance, car aaa This thread Refback 08-20-2007 10:57 AM


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Grand Opening vs. Customer Appreciation vs. FTW sunsally General Tanning Industry Discussions 19 02-05-2015 02:02 AM
Opening New Salon (need a name) JTCHEY1 General Tanning Industry Discussions 54 12-20-2005 08:52 AM
Another \"sort of\" new guy looking for info on opening a new salon excitednewguy New To The Tanning Business 10 10-01-2005 11:15 PM
Opening new salon....Need slightly used Tam America Equipment. teamtan205 For Sale - FOR SALON OWNERS ONLY 0 08-10-2005 06:32 PM
Need help opening a new salon? TanningConsultant For Sale - FOR SALON OWNERS ONLY 7 10-16-2001 10:40 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:32 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0
Copyright 2009 - tanTALK.com

click here for advertising info!