BOBER96

RE: the McD's thing....yes, I am sure it was very painful and sure, damages should have been awarded, but.....the area where the spill occured probably hasn't seen much other action in a while...she was like 80 years old. On the Wal-mart issue. I do love Super Walmarts. But....there are some things I will not compromise on. I wouldn't get my hair done there (you don't get cream of the crop grads from cosmetology school that choose to go work at a Walmart salon), I would not get my nails done there (same thing applies) and I certainly wouldn't tan there. As far as the lotions go, my understanding is that they will be sold in the salon, not on the shelves of Walmart. If the prices remain at retail levels, I don't see a problem with it, but I doubt they would. In general, I think it is a poor idea, but what do I know? I am not a jillionaire salon owner with like 300 salons. Just a pee-on trying to eek out an existance.

SunDream1

Well I called and spoke with Tammy @ Celsius. She is overnighting me a package. I will let you guys know what I find out. What I do know is that there is going to be a salon in all SWalmarts that have not already signed agreements for other things..ex. Lens Crafter...however Celsius has first right of refusal if space becomes available in the already established Walmarts. I feel I need to reevaluate my options. I don't want to put my family at risk by opening a salon and trying to compete w/ Celsius when I could open my salon under their franchise. So I guess I am changing gears for the time being. I am sad but I have to look at all of my options and make the wisest business decision because what I am doing will effect not just me. It is a lot of money and I don't want to be eating beanie weenies the rest of my life. What confidence I have. It is just one of those days I guess. I am confused and frustrated.

SunDream1

Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. Celsius is part of the Smart Tan Network and all of there employees must take and pass the smart tan test withing 30 days of being hired. So I don't think the burn thing will happen. Celsius is also very active in community projects and support research on serveral diseases, according to Tammy this is what made the decision for Walmart to pick Celsius as their franchise.

BOBER96

Tammy who?Just because they get Smart Tan certified doesn't mean they adhere. There is a salon in my area that is certified and is one of the worst places I have seen! Double sessions, no eyewear, etc.

SunDream1

I did not get her last name. But she is the contact listed on their web page and she is who they transfered me to so I suspect she is the main contact. I have a conference call scheduled for Thursday. I will let you guys know what I learn and will definitely need some feed back!

corvette

THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR MOST IN THE INDUSTRY.WALMART COMES INTO A TOWN AND EVERYTHING THAT COMPETES WITH THEM ENDS UP CLOSING NOT LONG AFTER.I CANNOT SEE WHERE THIS IS GOOD FOR ANYONE EXCEPT CELSIUS.DONT THINK YOUR PEOPLE WONT GO TRY IT OUT,THEY WILL AND IF IT IS DONE RIGHT ,WHICH I EXPECT IT WILL BE THEY WILL BE GONE.OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE WALMART IS CUT THROAT AT MERCHANDISING WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE ON TOP.

Rich

I have watched this discussion unfold over the weeks and listend to everyones points. I have even responded several times to the points here. Let me say a couple of things. First to the people who demean the customer base of Walmart. Get real. Do you really think that Walmart can do the numbers they do natiowide and become the single largest retailer in the world by selling to lowlifes and scum only. You talk about the customers being cheap and how you would not shop there. Well everyone else shops there folks. Figure out the numbers they do and it can not all come from welfare and disability customers. Do the math. Second, this may be the best thing in the world or the worst thing in the world but again do the numbers. Even if they are wildly successful they could open maybe 200-300 salons in the next 10 years. Do you really think that 300 salons in the next 10 years out of the thousands of salons in the country is going to make some prolific shift in the way the industry goes? If we all got behind an industry wide effort to educate the public in a mass media market about tanning and push to double the % of the population that tans we would all gain. There has been more talk here about Walmart stores than industry growth and how to fuel it and it makes no sense to me. We are missing the larger picture. Lastly to the folks who are doing the Walmart stores my hat is off to you for the grabbing the idea and running with it. Good luck in the project, keep your goals high and may your bulbs burn bright.

SunDream1

I was wondering if people would be upset at me for considering the idea of becoming a frachisee. Rich has been the only one to respond. When I spoke with Tammy it sounds like the demographics Celsius is using is that SuperWalmarts bring in over 100,000 people a year and if you even shoot and meet 1% of that you will have met a high goal for a individual salon. I am torn. Do I support Small Business' and become one or do I become a cut throat so that I can rise the probability of my success? [ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: SunDream1 ]

Rich

What I don't understand is how you get the idea that you would be a cut throat if you became a franchisee. Just because the salons are going to be located inside of a walmart why does that make you cut throat. Forget it is in walmart, put it inside a high traffic strip center. Go down easier now? What is the difference? Walmarts entry ways are nothing more than a high traffic strip center. Get over it being in Walmart. As for them discounting lotions they either will or won't just like anyother salon, being inside walmart has nothing to do with it. The distinction has to be made and remembered that walmart is not doing this, Celsius is. They just happen to be renting from walmart.[ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: Rich ]

Golden

Well I don't think that it's going to be Wal-mart that kills all the small salons. It's when all the other big companies follow suit that's what will change tanning as we know it. Celcius is a upscale salon thats going to be hard to fight if they move across the street from you. Fact. As far as there deal they have with Wal-mart, we will never know for sure. I think that Wal-mart has there butts covered being just a landlord for the record, keeping those lawsuits down. They are in my opinion just as much a part of wal-mart as you can get. The'll have the same buying power as wal-mart. And don't think all the lotion sells people here are not racking there brain to strike up a deal with them. Nation wide there going to be. It's just like Sun dream, there worried that there selling out considering a franchise. If you were celcius you would not pass up this deal to go nation wide if you would team up with Wal-mart. There pretty big salon now, but I dont see them having enough money to fire up a salon in every Wal-mart. That my friend is a whole butt load of money. So Celcius has there own salons but this new deal is All Wal-mart. Be very afraid because there other companies with deep pockets doing the same thing. You just seeing the start of a new trend.[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: Golden ]