Competing Salons

ElectricBeachTanning · 11-10-2003, 01:32 AM

I was wondering... In my town we have 3 other tanning salons. Lately we have been getting a lot of new clients from these salons for various reasons but the thing I was wondering about is why employees/owners of these competing salons have been coming into my salon or calling my salon (we have caller ID) and ask stupid questions about various packages or lotions that we have in stock. Are they spying on our salon or what?
I respect their businesses and even send clients into their shops if they have something that I dont have at the time, so what is thier problem? Anyone have any advice or input on this situation? Thank you!

tanman02 · 11-10-2003, 06:35 AM

Yes they are spying. Sounds like you are doing something right for their clients to come to you and they are trying to figure out why. The first thing a stupid salon owner will think they are losing business is because they think you are under cutting their prices so they will call you up and ask what you are charging.

The second step they will take is to start running ridiculous sales to try and steal back their clients. Don't worry this happens all the time. They will lower prices their services will drop off even more and eventually they will be trying to sell you their business because they are bankrupt.

ElectricBeachTanning · 11-10-2003, 01:16 PM

Thanks tanman. I thought they were spying. The funny thing is we have had the same prices since we opened in 2000. Most new clients coming in to my shop our here because of our customer service and knowledgable staff (and of course, our beds). ha ha

mouthybrat · 11-10-2003, 08:56 PM

That is exactly why they are spying. They know you are a better salon and they are trying to find out how to beat you at your own game. Don't worry too much about it. Heck, we laugh about it here. It just goes to show you that they are obviously not as busy as you are, since they have so much time on their hands to spy!

Just keep doing what you are doing, because you are obviously doing it right! Otherwise, they wouldn't be so scared of you!

ElectricBeachTanning · 11-11-2003, 12:54 AM

thank you.

TANQUEEN · 11-11-2003, 02:28 AM

Wait awhile then buy them out. I buy out at least one competitor every year on average. Much better prices than Nashville.

jade · 11-12-2003, 12:18 AM

Perhaps you are just paranoid! Really. I know that my salon will do this to competing salons, and here’s why. A client will come into our salon that has been shopping around. They want to tan at our salon, but they found a special at another salon. We have no problem pleasing our clients with matching another "competing" salon's special. But you will always have lying clients that are just trying to cheat you. So we always call the other salon and verify the special. I know I would feel dumb calling a salon and saying, "Hi, I'm the owner of such-and-such salon. I have a client here who saw your special, but I am going to take their business if the special is correct. What are your current specials?" Can you see why you might get stupid calls from another salon? I hope that you call other salons to verify specials. And if they are truly "competing" salons, keep your client happy and offer this one time special. They want to stay at your salon; give them a reason.

ElectricBeachTanning · 11-12-2003, 12:11 PM

Jade... What about having at least two employees ( i think one was the owner) come into my shop asking questions within a week... Am I still being paranoid? I dont care about what the other shops are doing or offering. I focus on MY shop and how to make it better, starting with my equipment, my customers and my employees not much else matters in my opinion. I dont match my competing salons prices. I know what my shop/beds are worth and there is no comprimise there. We have been in business for 3 years with no complaints and our clientel is getting bigger every year partly due to how we treat our clients. That tells me that I am doing something right

acapulco · 11-12-2003, 06:42 PM

immitation is the best form of flattery.

rufusjack · 11-17-2003, 12:19 AM

Electric Beach: You need to care about what your competitors ARE doing! How else would you know what they are doing?

I personally check out my competitors every 3 mos to see if they are doing anything different. I also make my managers go to competitors salons to see how others operate. This helps in selling your salon to new customers.

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11-10-2003, 01:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
ElectricBeachTanning Join Date: Nov 5 2003 Posts: 113 Rep Power: 5	I was wondering... In my town we have 3 other tanning salons. Lately we have been getting a lot of new clients from these salons for various reasons but the thing I was wondering about is why employees/owners of these competing salons have been coming into my salon or calling my salon (we have caller ID) and ask stupid questions about various packages or lotions that we have in stock. Are they spying on our salon or what? I respect their businesses and even send clients into their shops if they have something that I dont have at the time, so what is thier problem? Anyone have any advice or input on this situation? Thank you!

11-10-2003, 06:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
tanman02 Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Aug 15 2003 Posts: 344 Rep Power: 0	Yes they are spying. Sounds like you are doing something right for their clients to come to you and they are trying to figure out why. The first thing a stupid salon owner will think they are losing business is because they think you are under cutting their prices so they will call you up and ask what you are charging. The second step they will take is to start running ridiculous sales to try and steal back their clients. Don't worry this happens all the time. They will lower prices their services will drop off even more and eventually they will be trying to sell you their business because they are bankrupt.

11-10-2003, 01:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
ElectricBeachTanning Join Date: Nov 5 2003 Posts: 113 Rep Power: 5	Thanks tanman. I thought they were spying. The funny thing is we have had the same prices since we opened in 2000. Most new clients coming in to my shop our here because of our customer service and knowledgable staff (and of course, our beds). ha ha

11-10-2003, 08:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
mouthybrat Join Date: Nov 9 2003 Posts: 752 Rep Power: 5	That is exactly why they are spying. They know you are a better salon and they are trying to find out how to beat you at your own game. Don't worry too much about it. Heck, we laugh about it here. It just goes to show you that they are obviously not as busy as you are, since they have so much time on their hands to spy! Just keep doing what you are doing, because you are obviously doing it right! Otherwise, they wouldn't be so scared of you!

11-11-2003, 12:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
ElectricBeachTanning Join Date: Nov 5 2003 Posts: 113 Rep Power: 5	thank you.

11-11-2003, 02:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
TANQUEEN Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Aug 6 2002 Posts: 389 Rep Power: 0	Wait awhile then buy them out. I buy out at least one competitor every year on average. Much better prices than Nashville.

11-12-2003, 12:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
jade Join Date: Feb 19 2003 Posts: 69 Rep Power: 0	Perhaps you are just paranoid! Really. I know that my salon will do this to competing salons, and here’s why. A client will come into our salon that has been shopping around. They want to tan at our salon, but they found a special at another salon. We have no problem pleasing our clients with matching another "competing" salon's special. But you will always have lying clients that are just trying to cheat you. So we always call the other salon and verify the special. I know I would feel dumb calling a salon and saying, "Hi, I'm the owner of such-and-such salon. I have a client here who saw your special, but I am going to take their business if the special is correct. What are your current specials?" Can you see why you might get stupid calls from another salon? I hope that you call other salons to verify specials. And if they are truly "competing" salons, keep your client happy and offer this one time special. They want to stay at your salon; give them a reason.

11-12-2003, 12:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
ElectricBeachTanning Join Date: Nov 5 2003 Posts: 113 Rep Power: 5	Jade... What about having at least two employees ( i think one was the owner) come into my shop asking questions within a week... Am I still being paranoid? I dont care about what the other shops are doing or offering. I focus on MY shop and how to make it better, starting with my equipment, my customers and my employees not much else matters in my opinion. I dont match my competing salons prices. I know what my shop/beds are worth and there is no comprimise there. We have been in business for 3 years with no complaints and our clientel is getting bigger every year partly due to how we treat our clients. That tells me that I am doing something right

11-12-2003, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
acapulco Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Jul 4 2003 Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	immitation is the best form of flattery.

11-17-2003, 12:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
rufusjack Join Date: Nov 16 2003 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Electric Beach: You need to care about what your competitors ARE doing! How else would you know what they are doing? I personally check out my competitors every 3 mos to see if they are doing anything different. I also make my managers go to competitors salons to see how others operate. This helps in selling your salon to new customers.

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