JAHZLENE

SO, I'm opening a spray tan studio within 2 miles of 2 tanning salons. I keep juggling with my thoughts and thought I'd reach out to you all. I'm located directly next to a HUGE high school, there are at least 5 middle-class subdivisions within a 5 mile radius. The area is steadily growing with shopping plazas and more subdivisions. I'm in the military and know that the quality of the service you provide, ethics, as well as customer service are key to any business and I have extensive experience in all. Why the location? The rent is great, it's close to my home and my military job, so I can be there and not be there comfortably. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Is this an insane move? What do you think?

Din

I'd go with Insane. If you can't always dedicate your time to your business, who will be working it when you aren't available? Hand held spray tans is so easy to steal money and do cash jobs, they'll rob you blind if you aren't there and you have employees doing it.

With 2 tanning salons closeby, if they offer spray tanning as well and you are ONLY spray tanning ....they'd visit the professional tanning salon in most cases.

__________________

www.ChronosMarketing.com
1-844-CHRONOS

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

JAHZLENE

Very well said. I'm leaning towards mildly insane, as well. LOL :) I just don't want to be solely mobile anymore. I find that alot of people question where my location is. Maybe I can hollow out a bus and make it a studio on wheels. LOL... While I'm sitting her laughing, I bet someone has done it already! Thank you for your response, Din.

kookyguy

It's a bad idea. Save your time and money.

aleite21

I just did the same thing - we just opened July 31st ( spray tanning only) & my business has doubled in just three weeks just because I have a location and am not just offering a mobile service. I do it by appointment only, most people call to schedule a hand spray anyways - so I try to be flexible but I am not open all day everyday.

I think if the rent is reasonable and you have a good solid client base - you should just go for it. Do lots of marketing and let people know you are there!

Good Luck :) If you have any questions or anything please dont hesitate to ask me!

sassy spray

If you read more threads here you will find alot of people have done well by having a "location". Good luck.

JAHZLENE

I've been reading threads on here for over a year to help me make my spray tanning decisions. I have noticed that locations generally do better, however, it's the choice of location that has me uneasy. :) Placing myself in direct line with 2 fully operational tanning salons; despite the fact that the area is fast growing, I don't want to shoot myself in the foot before I even begin! I know one of them has the Versa Spa and not sure what the other has. :) Aleite21o you have a fully operating salon near you? Thank you all for your responses! :)

aleite21

I do have one about 2 miles away and it's crappy so I am not really competing with them.
Also, 2 blocks away there is a spa that does airbrush and I dont feel competitive with them. Itl works out for me because my work speaks for itself.

skissedtan

spray tanning is a great and easy way to make money...i have airbrush tannning here at my salon and i do EXTREMELY well with it. i think the key to being successful with the spray tanning is the system you use (booth or airbrush ), price, and the willingness of the customers to do their part in preparing their skin ....SUPER IMPORTANT! I don't take walk-ins because the skin isn't prepared to take the solution . usually people have moisturizer , lotion, or make-up on and this will act as a barrier. keep in mind that if the tan doesn't look good they will tell everyone where they got it and that looks bad on you! i wouldn't recommend spray booths because i hear nothing but horror stories about them in fact, alot of my customers come to me to fix the spray tans they get in a booth. try to keep your price below $30 dollars and i think you'll have a lot of response....as long as you're competitive pricewise and your tans look great you'll be able to compete with the other two salons.....good luck!

JAHZLENE

Thank you all for you responses. :) I found another spot today. It's a raw with no build out, 1200sq ft, but they want $2400....WTH...I'm not real hip with the real estate department, but THAT SEEMS SUPER STEEP! It's a new strip center and has constant traffic. It is right outside of an Air Force base and has a large student population. The students come in every week. So, a piece of me thinks this is would be a great spot...but the $ scares the heck out of me. The other spot was $1500 for 950 sq.ft. I really have a HUGE respect for those of you who went through establishing your own Tanning Salons with beds. I contemplated that once, but the dollar signs gave me a coronary! LOL! I guess all success comes with risks! :) Skissedtan- I like your thought of not spraying those who aren't properly prepped. What is your take on the exfoliating wipes/PH sprays? I have the Infinity Sun Spa on order right now and they have a PH spray they claim handles the problem of being unprepped. I love to think that this works since they're so high profile, but I don't want my name on a disaster!