Jenny

I am just about ready to open my salon. I was wanting advice on what brands of lotions should I start out with and how much. It is a fairly small salon. Any advice would be appreciated.

Tan-U-Too

Start with at least 6 products. At least 3 bottles of each. How small is small?Top sellers are Austalian Gold Accelerator, Velocity & Iced Creme, California Tan Rage Lotion, Max Lotion & Cocoa. How familiar are you with products? You'll find that you'll selll the most of what you like best. Get your distibuter to do a education presentation at your salon to educate your employees on the lotions you sell. Try a few pkts. also. Don't undercut your resell price and don't be afraid to sell more pricey products.

Carin Walker

Jenny, Depending on the size of your salon and how much traffic you pull in will depend on your lotion demand. I recommend Cal Tan, JA, and Supre. Cal Tans Hot Chocolate and Ambrosia are great step 1's. Step 2's that are good are CUO2, Helix, and Caramel Spice. Supre has a great line also. Anyone can start out with Jam. Impact and Mega Vibe are also good sellers. Their new line of Hemp is turning out to be a hit with customers. JA offers some great products also. Try and carry something with bronzer, tingle, both and none of these. That way you will have something for everyone. Don't forget moisturizers. If you can get your lotion quickly I would problably start out with a minimum of 6 of each and go from there. Good Luck!!!------------------Carin WalkerSandollar Tanning Resorts

Special Effects Tanning

Jenny,I agree with everyone here. DOn't have too many different things that you are unable to explain. I sell alot of Cal Tan Max Lotion, for a good basic product. I also sell the mini tubes of Supre Impact and Extreme, they both seem to go over well. I also do well with a line from Fiesta Sun. For the more mature tanner, the new products from Nutra Labs Glimra are wonderful! What I suggest is contacting these companies and getting samples and try them for yourself, so you will be able to explain them to your customers.Congrats and good luck with your new salon!

let them eat cake

I recently opened a new salon, and made a commitment NOT to carry Australian Gold or any other low ticket items and also opened with very high prices for tanning. The first week I opened, I was afraid I would have to lower my standards, but now after being open two months, I can say I did the right thing. We attract a more upscale clientelle, and any bargain hunters leave quickly after they even look at the prices on the shelves.We sell about 25%-40% in lotion sales! Better than I expected. You need to have a variety of products, but not a ton of each.You'll quickly learn what you can sell and what sells itself, and reorder before you run out!

Tan-U-Too

I would have to disagree that Australian Gold products are lower scale. Rangingin price from $13.00 to $64.00, for some of the highest quality products is more accurate. AG Hot is one of the best lotions I've ever used, along with Helix & Impact. All major lines range there prices in this area. I don't care for lower quality products myself, but some people cannot afford 40 to 50+ $$$$ for a bottle of lotion. Selling them some lotion for there skin(even a lower priced one) is better then no lotion on there skin. Unless you sell your lotion on the "10 easy payments" program??? What line are you selling that you consider superior to others?

Jamacia Jim

A. Gold may be great stuff but a discount store 100ft away sells the stuff cheaper than i can buy it. JA and Cal Tan can cover you the cal tan Ambrosia sells real well.

Tan-U-Too

And I've had several hairdresser let me know that they can buy California Tan at my cost.For all there friends and family as well, but I still sell quit a bit of it.AG is only sold in retail in Florida. Many of those products are not availble to salons. Also on the internet Aus. Gold is the only product I see at full retail, all others are greatly discounted to the public.