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New To The Tanning Business Interested or Future Salon Business Owners discuss Topics Here and Ask Questions To The Pros. |
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05-30-2013, 05:20 PM | #11 (permalink) |
Join Date: Mar 18 2005 Location: GA
Posts: 1,153
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion We tend to speak in generalizations which doesn't really help people much. Trying to be all things to all people in my opinion is a recipe for disaster. Your average entrepreneur will never be able to compete with a big box franchise operation straight up. I buy good serviceable equipment in the 8-10 old range, and I do not obsess about HP and other expensive units that require gobs of HVAC and power. I keep my costs low; therefore I can price myself below big box competitors and still keep a decent profit margin. I have clean but not luxurious facilities. That has been a formula for success for me for 21 years now. I compete successfully with some of the biggest names in the tanning franchise business. |
05-31-2013, 10:55 AM | #12 (permalink) | |
Join Date: Nov 19 2010 Location: GA
Posts: 933
Rep Power: 14 | Re: Honest Opintion Quote:
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06-04-2013, 09:25 AM | #13 (permalink) |
Join Date: Mar 26 2009 Location: Mobile
Posts: 71
Rep Power: 0 | Re: Honest Opintion Thank you all for the feedback. Just to clear up what I was saying...I'm not "banking" on the fact that the HS is literally in my backyard, but it certainly helps. Let’s face it, they will still tan. I can agree that maybe not all of the employees at the hospital will tan, but again being near a large hospital that has lots of employees certainly won’t hurt. I guess what I was getting at is that I'm not in some secluded area. There is potential to pull a lot of business in at this location. As far as having lower prices, in no way will I be "cheap", just slightly lower than my closest competition. I plan on offering the best service, best products at a slightly more reasonable price (that’s all). My plan was to keep the equipment that is there just making sure I replace the bulbs and keep what I have working efficiently. I will be adding Airbrush to my services (which is not offered at my competitor) so I think that will help as well. Again, thank you all for your opinion. |
06-05-2013, 10:46 AM | #14 (permalink) | |
Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX
Posts: 1,502
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion Quote:
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06-06-2013, 10:10 AM | #15 (permalink) |
Join Date: Mar 26 2009 Location: Mobile
Posts: 71
Rep Power: 0 | Re: Honest Opintion I find that interesting that people generally tan near where they live, because I've always tanned near where I work that way I have the ability to go before, after or during my lunch but maybe thats just me. Thanks for the feedback it is appriciated |
06-06-2013, 10:25 AM | #16 (permalink) |
Join Date: Mar 18 2005 Location: GA
Posts: 1,153
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion I think that it works both ways-sometimes people go to a tanning salon that is better, friendlier even if it is not close to them. Sometimes the location to where they shop helps. That would be the ONLY reason to pay the ridiculous rent that you pay to locate close to a Walmart or Publix. I operate a stand alone store in a bad part of town that has great traffic counts close to a big affluent residential area and do well there. |
06-06-2013, 03:18 PM | #17 (permalink) |
Join Date: Mar 18 2005 Location: GA
Posts: 1,153
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion In most retail environments, industries are market segmented according to customer incomes, and preferences, not the industries themselves. Some customers do not want or need the Cadillac tanning treatment and do not want to pay the Cadillac prices. In many salons, especially the big box franchises, you cannot buy a single visit. You cannot buy a month even by itself, and in many of them, you must buy their lotion. A lot of people resent the lack of choice, and choose salons that provide their needs, without any extras that they do not want to pay for. |
06-07-2013, 11:32 AM | #18 (permalink) |
Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX
Posts: 1,502
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion Tanning is a niche business, therefore it makes little sense to carve out a niche within a niche. Being able to accommodate every type of tanner is your insurance against circumstances out of your control. To alienate any part of the tanning population because you do not offer the type of tanning they are looking fore is not a good idea. Yes there can be markets that may not need HP tanning however that does not suggest that you could not increase sales by having it. When you say only having the systems I have works for me is based on the fact that you do not know what a different mix will do for your business because you have never tried it. If you only have low pressure equipment, low pressure tanning is all you can sell. Partial service tanning salons creates business for full service tanning salons. Independent salon operators can compete with large chains because you are only competing with salons within a certain radius of your salon. Another thing to consider is the indirect business that comes from a broad equipment mix. However you operate your salon or what ever your equipment mix is, if you are happy with your generated income, good for you. However if you in fact want to maximize income potential in most markets you must be full service. |
06-07-2013, 11:45 AM | #19 (permalink) |
Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX
Posts: 1,502
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion When I say people tend to tan near where they live, that is not absolute. The largest percentage of people tan near where they live so they can tan in the evenings and weekends. When choosing locations you must consider this. If you are looking at a location that is predominately business based in the market, you are going to have a problem. This is an area where large chains have an advantage that allows tanners to tan at any location. They are likely to have a location near work and home. There are always exceptions to the 3 mile radius and tanning near home, however when evaluating a location it is best to evaluate a location based on homes in the market. It is really about making the best decisions. To say I have kind of a nice salon with really old equipment and no high pressure but tanners are happy with my salon is naive. The minute a tanner is exposed to a higher standard of tanning it is very hard to except anything less. It is about offering the best tanning experience. All salons can tan you if the change lamps, however the perception of the tanner is that the better experience gives them a better tan. If you have accurate information you can make better decisions as an operator. |
06-07-2013, 01:58 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
Join Date: Mar 18 2005 Location: GA
Posts: 1,153
Rep Power: 20 | Re: Honest Opintion Quote:
I also do not think that when a person tries an upgrade bed, that they automatically think that no other equipment will do. In fact, I have many customers who do not like bells and whistles like facials, so they probably wouldn't like HP either. I am not against HP, just think that it is not a given that you should try to be everything to everyone. People become millionaires by creating niches within niches-what is a cupcake bakery or an organic produce market? a niche within a niche. The whole Apple empire began as a niche within a niche. | |
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