Tanning Salons Thriving in Scottland

[eileen]

Sun 29 Jul 2007
Fake tan trade finds clouds' silver lining

MARC HORNE AND MURDO MACLEOD
IT HAS been dubbed the Tommy Sheridan summer.
Unprecedented numbers of Scots are following the example of the mahogany-hued left-winger by heading to the tanning salon to ward off the blues of a washout summer.

Sunbed centres across Scotland are reporting large increases in business, while fake-tan products have been flying off the shelves.
Last week, the Met Office confirmed that the early summer has been the wettest since records began more than 240 years ago.
But the seemingly never-ending procession of rain clouds has proved to have a distinctly silver lining for tanning salons and cosmetics firms.
Gill Perkins, of the Sunbed Association, which represents hundreds of salons across the UK, confirmed that business had warmed up in the chilly conditions.
"Large numbers of people, especially those who aren't going abroad, have been going to their local salon to get a tan.
"Our members have been extremely busy across the country this summer and we are expecting this to continue."
Julie Lambert, manager of Glasgow's Enhance Beauty Salon, added: "The most popular thing that people are opting for this summer is the spray-tanning.
"We have had lots of brides looking for a spray tan because there has been very little sun this summer."
Claire Rafferty, supervisor at the Celeste Beauty salon in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, said: "Spray tans have definitely gone up compared with the same time last year. "
Many Scots are also opting for fake-tanning lotions in order to cheer themselves up amid the dismal weather.
Catherine Bowie, the owner of Body Talk salon in Aberdeen, said: "People are coming in for treatments which you normally get in the winter, such as facials and massage."
The grim weather has proved to be a boon for managers of indoor children's play areas.
Sheiley Russell, the manager of Edinburgh's Jelly Club, said: "The rain makes a very big difference to us. We are finding ourselves with well over 130 children in here on a wet summer's day. A normal summer's day would see us with about 90 at most."
B&Q has recorded an increase in welly sales of more than 200% since last summer, while sales of barbecues, deck chairs and garden furniture are stagnant.
At John Lewis stores in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, there has been a slump in sales of seasonal items such as sun loungers, beachwear and bikinis. Instead, the chain is reporting healthy sales of umbrellas, gloves and coats.
High-street chemists say sales of flu and cold remedies are up 60% compared with June and July last year, while allergy remedies, such as those for hay fever, are down 40% due to the washout conditions.
Pharmacists have dubbed the phenomenon Swiss (Symptoms of Winter In Summer Syndrome).
This article: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com...?id=1182252007

[tanthis&tanthat]

see, i keep trying to tell my mom that we need to move over there!

[Cali's Finest]

I guess Ill go too... Everyone needs a tan.