New or Old ? - tanTALK

tanu01 · 09-12-2014, 08:33 AM

In genral biz most say it takes 5 - 7 years for a biz to be considwerd on good ground.
At what point do you consider your salon nolonger considerd new?

parrot head · 09-12-2014, 09:29 AM

When we opened our salon in 2005, the bed salesman told us "your only new once, so make the best of it". I think a new salon is maybe new for the first year, and that's it. It doesn't take much to keep it fresh every year, but you're only new once. We are a little different, being mainly a college salon, so this year we are new to 3000 incoming freshmen. We impress these new clients every September, and hopefully keep them tanning here for 4-6 years.

Steve Underhill · 09-12-2014, 01:26 PM

One of the most important things you can do is to make sure your salon looks new no matter how old it is.

This requires touching up paint, occasionally steaming grout if you have tile, making any repairs to equipment visually that is needed and maintaining the enthusiasm with your staff. It also requires reinvesting in your business. If a new tanner comes to your salon no matter how long you have been open it must look and feel new to that tanner.

Over time introducing a new piece of equipment also adds to the newness of your salon. marketing material in your lobby and tanning rooms that is always kept fresh also adds to this.

Never let your salon look worn. What tanners see and feel ads to the tanning experience and value of your product.

Unless you are a chain that depends on branding that can include a specific color scheme you can every few years put a fresh coat of paint with a new color. Tanners appreciate when they see that you care enough to maintain a beautiful tanning environment.

I am sure Tanu01 will agree with the pitfalls of not changing with time. What may have been a great formula at one time can't be expected to work well as times change.

When you don't make those important changes your sales will reflect it.

parrot head · 09-12-2014, 02:33 PM

At times, no matter what you do, will bring in customers. My salon is seasonal, and June through August reflect this. My decreases every year for the last 8 years, are not for the lack of trying, but for the mindset of kids thinking tanning is not good for you, and they simply don't have the available funds. Steve, no matter what you say, this business is dying. Every time you turn around some organization or government agency is putting another nail in the coffin. It just never ends. My salon is a good example of what is wrong with the industry. I have a good customer base from which to draw from, I have a real clean, and appealing salon, and get many compliments., I always change, and have fresh lamps, I don't have a piece of equipment that has a bad or non-working part on it. Last, but not least, I have very little competition. Still, my sales continue to drop.

tanu01 · 09-12-2014, 03:38 PM

Parrot, Over the years reading your post, I have always thought you have the perfect store. You get the summer off !! AND............. Snow mobiling during xmas break.

parrot head · 09-12-2014, 04:17 PM

^^^Next year, for sure, I'm closed during the summer, and the way it feels now, I'll be snowmobiling before you know it. Bring it on!!.

Steve Underhill · 09-12-2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrot head

At times, no matter what you do, will bring in customers. My salon is seasonal, and June through August reflect this. My decreases every year for the last 8 years, are not for the lack of trying, but for the mindset of kids thinking tanning is not good for you, and they simply don't have the available funds. Steve, no matter what you say, this business is dying. Every time you turn around some organization or government agency is putting another nail in the coffin. It just never ends. My salon is a good example of what is wrong with the industry. I have a good customer base from which to draw from, I have a real clean, and appealing salon, and get many compliments., I always change, and have fresh lamps, I don't have a piece of equipment that has a bad or non-working part on it. Last, but not least, I have very little competition. Still, my sales continue to drop.

Maybe we could have a conversation sometime and just chat about what is going on in your salon. I just find it hard to believe with how you describe your salon that you are showing regular declines. maybe you are missing something in the evaluation of your salon and market.

09-12-2014, 08:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	New or Old ? In genral biz most say it takes 5 - 7 years for a biz to be considwerd on good ground. At what point do you consider your salon nolonger considerd new?

09-12-2014, 09:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
parrot head Team TanTalk Join Date: Jul 13 2004 Location: Menomonie, Wi. Age: 82 Posts: 3,145 Rep Power: 22	Re: New or Old ? When we opened our salon in 2005, the bed salesman told us "your only new once, so make the best of it". I think a new salon is maybe new for the first year, and that's it. It doesn't take much to keep it fresh every year, but you're only new once. We are a little different, being mainly a college salon, so this year we are new to 3000 incoming freshmen. We impress these new clients every September, and hopefully keep them tanning here for 4-6 years.

09-12-2014, 01:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Steve Underhill Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 1,502 Rep Power: 21	Re: New or Old ? One of the most important things you can do is to make sure your salon looks new no matter how old it is. This requires touching up paint, occasionally steaming grout if you have tile, making any repairs to equipment visually that is needed and maintaining the enthusiasm with your staff. It also requires reinvesting in your business. If a new tanner comes to your salon no matter how long you have been open it must look and feel new to that tanner. Over time introducing a new piece of equipment also adds to the newness of your salon. marketing material in your lobby and tanning rooms that is always kept fresh also adds to this. Never let your salon look worn. What tanners see and feel ads to the tanning experience and value of your product. Unless you are a chain that depends on branding that can include a specific color scheme you can every few years put a fresh coat of paint with a new color. Tanners appreciate when they see that you care enough to maintain a beautiful tanning environment. I am sure Tanu01 will agree with the pitfalls of not changing with time. What may have been a great formula at one time can't be expected to work well as times change. When you don't make those important changes your sales will reflect it. __________________ Stephen Underhill Consultant steve@smuconsulting.com

09-12-2014, 02:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
parrot head Team TanTalk Join Date: Jul 13 2004 Location: Menomonie, Wi. Age: 82 Posts: 3,145 Rep Power: 22	Re: New or Old ? At times, no matter what you do, will bring in customers. My salon is seasonal, and June through August reflect this. My decreases every year for the last 8 years, are not for the lack of trying, but for the mindset of kids thinking tanning is not good for you, and they simply don't have the available funds. Steve, no matter what you say, this business is dying. Every time you turn around some organization or government agency is putting another nail in the coffin. It just never ends. My salon is a good example of what is wrong with the industry. I have a good customer base from which to draw from, I have a real clean, and appealing salon, and get many compliments., I always change, and have fresh lamps, I don't have a piece of equipment that has a bad or non-working part on it. Last, but not least, I have very little competition. Still, my sales continue to drop.

09-12-2014, 03:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	Re: New or Old ? Parrot, Over the years reading your post, I have always thought you have the perfect store. You get the summer off !! AND............. Snow mobiling during xmas break.

09-12-2014, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
parrot head Team TanTalk Join Date: Jul 13 2004 Location: Menomonie, Wi. Age: 82 Posts: 3,145 Rep Power: 22	Re: New or Old ? ^^^Next year, for sure, I'm closed during the summer, and the way it feels now, I'll be snowmobiling before you know it. Bring it on!!.

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