Competition 1 mile away!

[eyecandytanning]

Originally Posted by anytime tan

From personal experiance, it was not one of the smartest moves we have made.
We have a location next to a gym, which at first seemed like a really good move, but as time went on it wasn't that good.
Of course gym members get a discount, but then the owner of the gym decieded to get their own tanning beds. Only 3 but offers it at $10 unlimited per month! That hurt a little, we have slowly be gaining back the clients but some people don't care about the dirty, cheaper versions of our beds. They also use coin operated beds, so nothing is regulated, clients clean their own, and they don't offer tanning lotion! So that is why we are seeing some come back to us. But $10 a month is not worth me cleaning their bed so we don't even try a compete with that!!
In the end, I wouldn't do it because of our bad situation.

You didnt negotiate exclusivity in your lease?

[eileen]

you might want to lookup adam.sand I believe he subleases with Gold's Gym

[NIKKI22]

People have been coming to my store just to buy eyewear and I couldn't figure out why and they didn't want to tell me when I asked, so finally a young guy came in and I got it out of him that golds gym has unlimited tanning there but they dont have eyewear to sell or use. I don't understand how this is legal, Florida is a regulated state. The next time the health inspector comes in which will be any day i'm saying something to her.

[unity]

I certainly would. Competition is one thing, unfair competition is another.

[caribbean tan man]

i had a planet fitness open near me end of last season now i got a 2nd one opening even closer this april. i know of a few that have definitley left for the gym. i know of a few that came back also.

seems my higher level clients dont like it but the lower level clients do!

they only sell winkese so ive had a few people come in to buy goggles.

ive also had a few come buy lotion from me which is how i found out they tanned there.

the cost is only a extra $10 a month on your membership.

ive also heard of a few burn stories already too!

my take on it is... this is a NEW gym and the majority of people who join will quit within 2-3 months and if they dont quit the NEW equipment will be well worn in by 3 months anyways and will not perform if not kept up. Most gyms dont focus on the tanning its like a perk to the membership. A true tanning salon in a gym would need to be set up totally different than a regular salon (IMO)

THE SCARY PART IS IF THEY SEE U DOING GOOD....YOUR GONE!

I would just worry about your current salon...i also have another franchise competitor that is located next to another gym in town and we get a good amount of gym members anyways.

THE TRUE TANNERS WILL PICK A TRUE SALON!

	Superior UV

[rjwarner]

Thanks for all of the good advice and opinions. My other fear is that someone else will take the lease space and put a "true" salon there. I just hate the idea of "doing nothing" and seeing someone else take my clients away.

[TchoSumr]

Originally Posted by rjwarner

Thanks for all of the good advice and opinions. My other fear is that someone else will take the lease space and put a "true" salon there. I just hate the idea of "doing nothing" and seeing someone else take my clients away.

rj, I understand that you are afraid of losing business. I owned a gym for 7 years and I can tell you from experience that most people will attend a gym on a regular basis for 3-4 months then rarely show up. That's the reason I stayed with my tanning salon and sold the gym. I had to beg people to come in and exercise which would improve their health and they would cry about spending money on exercise. I never had anyone cry when they put down $100 for a tanning package, and they never cry about coming in for 10 or 15 minutes of heaven.

[ArnoldsPupil]

We have two tanning salons withing a mile of us and were taking a lot of members from them as they are not as clean and friendly, dont change their bulbs. Word gets around and now it has.
We also opened a gym right next door to the tanning and we have lots of people, men, women, highschoolers, bodybuilders, powerlifters ect. coming over to use the stand ups. We also offer 4 levels of taning. No package deal with the gym. People pay for the priv.

	Superior UV