sunsally

Spies are common - on the phone and in person. Sometimes you'll spot them, other times you won't. I got one new customer because after she sold her personal tanning salon she "shopped" the salons in the area. She was older, and did "seem" in some ways like she could be a salon owner (questions she asked - more knowledgeable, having been tanning for 20 years and having owned her own bed I guess!). One salon confronted her saying she thought she was an owner, and wouldn't take her through to see the equipment!! I toured her through, as usual, gave the spiel about the equipment and our "philosophy", as usual, answered her questions, as usual. She stopped me mid-way through, told me how different that was compared to other salons, and has been a regular customer (as well as her two adult daughters) ever since!

Advice? Treat EVERY customer through the door exactly the same! You NEVER know who is a big spender and who is a spy. If you are saying things to your "customers" that you wouldn't want your competition to hear, than stop saying it. They'll find out what beds you have, what it looks like, your prices soon enough anyway - and do you care? Will you change something if they know that? Run YOUR salon the best you can - and don't worry about what the competition does or doesn't do until you find they are doing something smarter/better and then consider if you should adapt.

10 beds, right? Figure out your "busy times" (not all day is equal normally) and line up a bed cleaner to help during those hours. fMight need 2 to cover all 7 days (if you need them all 7) to work around their school/activities schedules. On-call if you can --- give them free/reduced tanning as part of the pay and "on-call" status. It is too hard to run the desk, show around and sign up new customers AND clean beds when you have a lobby full of people. Bed-cleaner should be just that - leave your self on "sales" for now!

That's my "advice" -

Salon sounds beautiful by the way!

TRayz

We are going into our 2nd year and still haven't hired anyone. We do it all ourselves. It is draining, but you save, save, save. I really think we will have to hire a bed cleaner this year though. We are closing the week between the holidays and adding 4 more beds. I expect this season to be hoppin'!!! Hope it is for everyone here.

alohatanning

Sun Sally, Thank you very much.. i am going to use that info. I really dont care if they spy I am nto going to change what I say or do becuase I do not knock my competition. I do not know what they have. I did have one competitor, look through my computer while I cleaned a bed though. I had my husband handle that one. She is a nut job. One question.. When or do you ever raise prices? What are some prom specials that you run? Pleae let me know. Thanks

JOLEE

wow, your competitor looked through your computer? thats gutsy. aloha~do a search on here for prom specials and raising prices. these things have been talked about tons of times, you'll probably be able to find more information by doing a search on those things. Sounds like your salon is doing great! congrats.

alohatanning

Thank you veyr much. Yeah can you believe it? Went right in like she owned it. Some people have balls.!! So to speak. I am going to look.. what do i type in Prom Specials?