How many different beds should a salon have to increase sells?

Tan.inc · 04-24-2004, 05:02 PM

I am hoping to open a salon and was wondering if I should buy all the same beds or diversify my selection. Some people have told me just starting out you need all the same beds but I don't want that to limit my sells. Which would be the best way to build a successful salon?

TanningEmporium · 04-24-2004, 06:38 PM

I a variety, how many beds are you wanting to start with?

jkonturas · 04-24-2004, 07:48 PM

To get all the same beds wouldnt be a very good move.... You need to have a variety of units to choose from!! Regular Beds (28 lamps/ 20 min. max), Medium beds (32-34 lamps/ 15 min. max), Big Beds (40-54 VLR/VHR lamps / 12-15 min. max), and of course VHR Booth's (44-60 lamps / 6-12 min max depending on which one you get)
It is a good idea to have all of these.... Some should have facial lamps also...JMHO

studio 102 · 04-24-2004, 08:01 PM

Five beds..with this combo, you will kill any competitor:
2 SunSectors w/facials
1 SunGate
1 future Sun HP
1 Sunless Booth

Tan.inc · 04-24-2004, 10:01 PM

I am going to start out small with only four beds. I am thinking strongly about going with the ovation 134 VLR, but I'm not sure what combination of beds to get since my salon will be small. I have a used Sundash 232 that I will be using, so three beds will be new. I know the ovation VLR comes with Cosmo lamps. I am also thinking about a solaris which as a frosted acrylic and Sunchaser 8.5 100watt lamps, but I'm not really sure if the Sunchaser is a good lamp. The solaris is cheaper, but I am willing to pay extra for good quality. Do you all think I should go with all ovation with different combinations of lamps like 28 lamp or 34 lamp? Or should I mix it up with a solaris and ovation?

nativetan · 04-24-2004, 10:46 PM

I guess it depends on your area but I couldnt survive with 4 or 5 beds total. I have 5 lp beds. 2 mp beds and 1 vhr bed and 1 vhr booth. Most weekdays from 4- 7pm I have all 5 of the 20 minute beds full 1 one the 15's and both 10 minute bed and stand up are full. I thought my set up would not cause a wait but it does somewhat as soon as I can I'm going to add another stand up. But like I said depends on your area go to the most popular tanning salon in your town see what mix they have check it out around their busiest time and see which beds are taken. Best way to know what to go with. I know in my town there is a salon, my closest competitor he only have 5 beds total 2 high 3 low. I get his clients left and right because they are sick of the wait (his beds suck too) but no one wants to wait. 10 minutes they dont mind so much but a 20 minute bed they can get annoyed

Tan.inc · 04-25-2004, 01:32 AM

I am in a very small town. I am lucky in part because tanning will not be my sole income and I am in such a small town. I am a registered nurse and work in the Intensive Care Unit which makes starting out small not such a problem and I hope to increase my size as soon as I build clientale. I have family that own tanning salons but they live a long distance from me and their beds are quite old. I decided to go into tanning because I have seen how well they have done in the past and plus I have always wanted my own salon. If I get the right setup I feel like I will be the best salon in town because I have checked around and most of the salons are running 30 min beds that are older models. MY only true competition is running Sundash 232s as base beds which are good beds, but I need better beds.
Nativetan thanks for the info. Do you have any suggestion on what type of beds I should go with to be competitive? All advice is greatly apprecitated.

jkonturas · 04-25-2004, 02:36 AM

Stick with the Ovation line from Heartland- Really good machines!! Their SunDazzler VHR Booth's Rock!! I have all of their beds, and they give awesome color, for an awesome price!!

Tan.inc · 04-25-2004, 01:09 PM

Out of all the beds I have researched I really like the Ovation. Does Puretan have good base beds? Since it's only going to be a four bed salon to start that kinda limits my choices. I'm thinking of going with 2 lp beds and 2 mp beds. Would it be better to go with 3lp beds and only 1 mp or 3mp and 1 lp?

tropicalescape · 04-26-2004, 02:01 PM

We are an Ultra Sun salon, and are definately killing our competiton.

We started out with (2)reg base beds 3600/0, (1) super bed 4000/0 (1) stand up and (1) mega 5000/4 along with the Mystic. Just last month we got (1) more base bed and what we call a mini super (in between reg and super bed).

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04-24-2004, 05:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tan.inc Join Date: Apr 23 2004 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	I am hoping to open a salon and was wondering if I should buy all the same beds or diversify my selection. Some people have told me just starting out you need all the same beds but I don't want that to limit my sells. Which would be the best way to build a successful salon?

04-24-2004, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
TanningEmporium Join Date: Jul 15 2003 Location: 213 Skyland Shp Ctr Posts: 4,192 Rep Power: 8	I a variety, how many beds are you wanting to start with?

04-24-2004, 07:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
jkonturas Join Date: Aug 27 2003 Location: Rhode Island Age: 31 Posts: 966 Rep Power: 6	To get all the same beds wouldnt be a very good move.... You need to have a variety of units to choose from!! Regular Beds (28 lamps/ 20 min. max), Medium beds (32-34 lamps/ 15 min. max), Big Beds (40-54 VLR/VHR lamps / 12-15 min. max), and of course VHR Booth's (44-60 lamps / 6-12 min max depending on which one you get) It is a good idea to have all of these.... Some should have facial lamps also...JMHO

04-24-2004, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
studio 102 Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Apr 1 2004 Posts: 457 Rep Power: 0	Five beds..with this combo, you will kill any competitor: 2 SunSectors w/facials 1 SunGate 1 future Sun HP 1 Sunless Booth

04-24-2004, 10:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tan.inc Join Date: Apr 23 2004 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	I am going to start out small with only four beds. I am thinking strongly about going with the ovation 134 VLR, but I'm not sure what combination of beds to get since my salon will be small. I have a used Sundash 232 that I will be using, so three beds will be new. I know the ovation VLR comes with Cosmo lamps. I am also thinking about a solaris which as a frosted acrylic and Sunchaser 8.5 100watt lamps, but I'm not really sure if the Sunchaser is a good lamp. The solaris is cheaper, but I am willing to pay extra for good quality. Do you all think I should go with all ovation with different combinations of lamps like 28 lamp or 34 lamp? Or should I mix it up with a solaris and ovation?

04-24-2004, 10:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
nativetan Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Apr 4 2004 Posts: 176 Rep Power: 0	I guess it depends on your area but I couldnt survive with 4 or 5 beds total. I have 5 lp beds. 2 mp beds and 1 vhr bed and 1 vhr booth. Most weekdays from 4- 7pm I have all 5 of the 20 minute beds full 1 one the 15's and both 10 minute bed and stand up are full. I thought my set up would not cause a wait but it does somewhat as soon as I can I'm going to add another stand up. But like I said depends on your area go to the most popular tanning salon in your town see what mix they have check it out around their busiest time and see which beds are taken. Best way to know what to go with. I know in my town there is a salon, my closest competitor he only have 5 beds total 2 high 3 low. I get his clients left and right because they are sick of the wait (his beds suck too) but no one wants to wait. 10 minutes they dont mind so much but a 20 minute bed they can get annoyed

04-25-2004, 02:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
jkonturas Join Date: Aug 27 2003 Location: Rhode Island Age: 31 Posts: 966 Rep Power: 6	Stick with the Ovation line from Heartland- Really good machines!! Their SunDazzler VHR Booth's Rock!! I have all of their beds, and they give awesome color, for an awesome price!!

04-25-2004, 01:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tan.inc Join Date: Apr 23 2004 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	Out of all the beds I have researched I really like the Ovation. Does Puretan have good base beds? Since it's only going to be a four bed salon to start that kinda limits my choices. I'm thinking of going with 2 lp beds and 2 mp beds. Would it be better to go with 3lp beds and only 1 mp or 3mp and 1 lp?

04-26-2004, 02:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
tropicalescape Join Date: Sep 16 2003 Posts: 388 Rep Power: 6	We are an Ultra Sun salon, and are definately killing our competiton. We started out with (2)reg base beds 3600/0, (1) super bed 4000/0 (1) stand up and (1) mega 5000/4 along with the Mystic. Just last month we got (1) more base bed and what we call a mini super (in between reg and super bed).

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