sunsally

If you just raised the wages of the people you have now - no.

But Movieking's point is that it IS possible to hire employees who will a. sell and b. "act as responsibly as if they owned the place" - but you won't generally find them as the first warm body willing to work for a minimum wage job.

Also - they won't generally walk in the door with ALL the skills they need to be outstanding. You will have to train them, follow up, monitor them, give feedback - and be willing to fire and start all over.

Definitely not something everyone is comfortable with - but it CAN be done and IS done by some business owners! If not - work it yourself and you have bought a "job" with no room to expand.

dVader37

thank you... i am planing to work in my salon if and when i do open but i was asking more on what is your OPINION on the future of the tanning as a business owner. Will there be a future in the business itself??? NOT if im going to be personally successful.. im looking at the bigger picture

excusemesir

If any of us had that sort of insight we probably wouldn't be on this forum right now trying to figure out how to survive. The "big picture" for the tanning industry doesn't look very bright right now (pun intended). That being said if you are smart with where and how you open there is still money to be made. Good luck!

parrot head

All I've ever had working here are college kids (warm bodies). I'm not big enough to need a manager, nor will I pay these warm bodies more then minimun wage. I do give incentives on lotion sales. If they sell $300 in any given month, I pay them 10%, if they hit $600, I pay them 15%. If they happen to reach $1000, they get 20%. My November commissions totalled $38. Another thing, during November, We had a sale on lotions and everything was priced @40% off msrp. If I paid myself commissions, I'd hit 20% every month. I talk til I'm blue in the face on how to sell lotions, but it doesn't give them any incentive what-so-ever.

sunsally

1. What research have you done? Has it been about running a business in general, the tanning industry or what?
2. What do you mean by "adequate enough"? What made you pick this location?
3. What makes you "very motivated" to open an indoor tanning salon?


You mention you are a "young entrepreneur". Have you run other businesses in the past or is this your first attempt? What work experience have you had so far?

In general - as an industry trend, the sales for the majority of salons that have been IN business for the past 10 years or so have seen a downward trend over the past 7 years.

That said - SOME owners are doing well, expanding, growing. And a whole lot of others have closed down and gone out of business.

In general, UV tanning does not seem to be on a "growth" trajectory -- because of the years of relentless "anti-tan" message. Sunless tanning on the other hand is up.

Would I recommend this to a young person with not much experience or money as "the" industry to put their stick in the sand over? No. There are many other places in which to start your entrepreneurial career that are trending upward now.

If you have no other opportunities right now, and money to burn, could you give it a whirl? Sure. As with any business, you should go into it EXPECTING to be successful and profitable - but being prepared to lose everything. Don't make any commitments in terms of money borrowed, building leases signed etc that you aren't willing to live with if the business fails.

Tanning is first and foremost - a business. Secondly - it is a retail SALES business. And last...by a margin...it is about tanning. So if you have tremendous sales skills, tremendous business skills and think the BEST use of those skills and your money is opening a tanning salon because of a unique location and opportunity you see available - it might be a good decision. But don't be fooled thinking it is "easy" or it is a "if you build it they will come" sort of industry. It was at one time, but hasn't been for probably a decade. And I don't expect that particular trend to change. What IS changing is as salons drop out and as new entrepreneurs can't get funding to get in, those left, who know what they are doing, may see greater opportunities. Maybe.

Hope that helps -

kookyguy

Peachfish!

Black Sun

Sounds like to me, you answered your own question in your opening remarks.
Open a coffee shop or tattoo studio instead. Both are more accepted by banks and public perception of 'vogue'

I see the future this way: If you have DEEP pockets, you have a chance. Opening a good salon, (read;successful), takes about 300-500K. That is to open the doors...then a good reserve to carry you the first year with no expectations to break even for 3 years.
If you think by buying a salon or opening a salon for anything much less, you should re-think this.

Tanning will be around, but at a price. Both for the tanner and owner/operator. The days of this being a turn-key biz are long-gone. With the average bed costing $30-60,000 you could see your investment fade quicker than a cheap tan without the long-term investment and reserve.