Is a new salon a good idea?
 

Hi! I am looking to open a new salon. It will be in a city of approx. 100,000 people, next to a university with a student body of 15,000. The next closest salon is 4-5 miles away, near a shopping mall. The building is new, landlord is negotiable with the construction. Do I have an idea here, or am I missing something? Right now, the other salon near the mall has lines out the door in the busy season, and a fairly steady stream in the slow season (I've been a customer). I would appreciate any insight, and can provide more info. It would also be a walk-in salon. Thanks!

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

No brainer...........do it!
With a good business model you will do great!
I'm close to a University, but there are 3 other tanning salons closer...across the street from the school!
I have owned this salon 7 months. At month 3, I beat the previous owners foot traffic and revenue for that same month for every year they were open (3)!!
At month 7 I'm continuing to beat every month they were open. I have no past business ownership experience nor extensive tanning experience but I'm doing fine.
You can too, just don't do everything like your big competitors. And your the only one in the area!! Get into the College Coupon Book ASAP! Give a 6 month membership they can't refuse because it's $5 cheaper a month than your closest competitor. Keep your product markup to where a college student can afford it. Have your Upper, Middle and Lower shelf lotions to fit every budget. Work your salon everyday! Go cherry pick an experienced, disgruntled sales person...........then remember to thank me later!
You will kill it!!

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

This is not simply a college location. It is close enough to the college to draw that client while also being in a dense populated demographic. You have a dense population, low median age and the closest real competition is 5 miles away and has more business than they handle. This will not be a college salon, however you will benefit from the college greatly. Do not market to only the student.

Get it right and you will do very well.

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

Good luck! Hope you decided to open one! I would recommend using soltron beds their bulletproof and have an amazing look to them! Also sunlync is a great program to us when u have a location and even if you decide to open more in the future they all inter lock with each other. Designer Skin has amazing lotions and fit any ones budget! Good Luck!

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

Remember collage customer don't have a lot of $$ you be discounting what you have lot of unlimited packages and when school out what the $$ going to be then?????

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

I'm amazed anyone would want to start up a tanning salon with the very most ever, negative press and teen bans going on. So many salons going under.

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

The economy is great, giving students oodles of extra money. Tannings reputation has never been better what with all the great press. Tanning lotions can only be bought in salons, they will be forced to pay your prices.

What could possibly go wrong?

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

It is not what your salon will do in the next year or 2; it is what things will be like 8-10 years from now. In 10 years, you may not be able to tan indoors without a prescription.

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

Update on my original post:
We did open February of this year. So far, we have been very fortunate. We did a free tan week at the end of February and never looked back. We were seeing around 175 clients/day with 11 beds until about a month ago, which we expected. We have slowed down somewhat, but we also offer custom as well as a spray booth, and wedding parties as well as weight lifting competitors flock in here while the students are gone.
We kept it fairly simple- 4 levels of UV, all Soltron and Ergo beds. We also have 2 stand ups.
Our state just passed an under 18 tan ban, but honestly as we were pretty new, we really didn't have a ton of teen clients yet, and the few we did have switched over to spray.
We do have NFL training camp coming in the next few weeks, and one of the retired players is setting up a tent in our parking lot for autographs, etc... so we did get a "colored" spray that matches the team colors for the fans that are here.
We look forward to the college students returning the 2nd week of August!
Thanks for asking about us!!

Re: Is a new salon a good idea?
 

Hey congratulations. Great to hear positive news. Sounds like you've got some great things happening for you.