Semi-new to business

tanheather34 · 10-17-2005, 08:10 AM

Sorry, this is long. I have been lurking here for several months and now I have some questions. 4 months ago my friend and I (big BIG mistake) opened a tanning salon. Our agreement was that I would buy the beds and provide the space (for free - no rent!) she would run the business, and we would split the profits. We purchased 2 Sunvision 28LE beds. This is a small town - 1 other salon, not much competition. Problems started almost from the beginning - she complained about having to be there, rude to customers, not opening when she was supposed to be there, no advertising. She decided 2 days ago that she wanted out and my husband and I agreed to let her out of her contract, just to get her out of there.

I wanted to get some opinions from some of you. Am I making a mistake by taking over the business? I am not fooling myself into thinking that I can get rich from this. I love the business and want to make it successful. The beds are paid for, and we own the building it is in, so no rent. My husband thinks that we should purchase another bed (high pressure maybe?) but I think we should get the business built up more before we take that kind of step.

Also, this is a very small town and the only lotions anyone around here knows are Australian Gold, so do I continue to sell that, which I hate, or put them in the bargain bin and educate them on other lotions?

Any help would be appreciated!

caribbean tan man · 10-17-2005, 09:22 AM

why didnt you work the business! another job or didnt want to? you only have 2 beds? sounds like the best thing you could of done is let her out of the contract! friend partnerships dont work! its is now time for you to get in there and make the customers see the difference you can make and for the australian gold if thats what they use now then sell it to them. australian gold is not as bad as some people make it seem(i sell it) if youd like try to convert them over to a better line while still carrying AG that way when they tell you no(chances are they will)you can still sell them the AG! as far as the new bed goes do you only have 2 beds? how many does the comp have if you only have 2 then i think you should add a stanup or spray hold off on the HP unless your market calls for it or comp has it?

dcjjp2 · 10-17-2005, 09:31 AM

You shouldn't even be thinking of HP for a VERY long time. That would be one **** of a jump from a 28 lamp ( sorry for this, home unit) base level to a HP.

Think of getting something in the 40+ lamp with facials and possibly some type of either stand up or sunless spray tan for variety.

If AG sells, sell the **** out of it. I couldn't personally give it away.

CAYENNE2005 · 10-17-2005, 09:37 AM

what he said ^^^

BigLeo · 10-18-2005, 01:20 AM

Jeez, what a freaking disaster. Sounds like your put too much trust in your friend. Having a friend run your business is not a very intelligent business decision. Doesn't sound like your friend was very reliable. You didn't indiciate whether you are marking money at your salon, but it could not be that much given that you have oly two beds. I would not upgrade to HP unless you can afford to do so and there is a definite market for HP tanning. Again, you have to decide if you really want to be in the indoor tanning salon business. You are now in the low season, so I would wait until next year. Decide where you want to be serious about tanning. this is not a business for novices who plan poorly or turn the management over to somebody else, especially a friend. It's like lending money to friends. If they don't pay what they owe, they won't be friends again. Bad, bad mistake.

tanheather34 · 10-18-2005, 03:07 PM

I know, I know, stupid of me. And I swear, I'm not an idiot. I didn't work the business in the beginning because I have 2 kids, house to take care of, blah blah blah. Same as everyone else, I know. It just comes down to the fact that I trusted her waaayyy too much. We were not making money, actually losing money. That happens when you don't advertise and nobody knows you are there and the people who do know won't come because the people working there are rude. I have thought long and hard about this and have decided that I want to make a go of it. I have educated myself and am going to get certification through Smart Tan, plus 2 of my good friends have been successful in the business for 20+ years and I am learning everything I can from them. The other salon in town does not have anyone working there who knows anything they need to know to educate their customers.

As for getting the HP bed, I don't think there is really a market for that here. I have thought about sunless spray tanning.

What I am going to do is advertise that we are re-opening under new management/ownership, have some opening specials, and let people know that we are dedicated.

caribbean tan man · 10-18-2005, 05:48 PM

get another machine! do you really only have 2? yes spray is great idea it brings in whole new clientel! do a grand re-opening with free tan day or weekend free lotion samples

caribbean tan man · 10-18-2005, 05:48 PM

get another machine! do you really only have 2? yes spray is great idea it brings in whole new clientel! do a grand re-opening with free tan day or weekend free lotion samples

james123tanning · 10-18-2005, 06:45 PM

Give away free lotion with high purchase course cards. People love thinking they are getting something for free or cheapr. Also the free tanning day is a good one, get them hooked people develop tanorexia faster than you think

tanheather34 · 10-18-2005, 07:07 PM

Yes, believe it or not, I only have 2 beds. But, this is a very small town of 1,200 people. I think I have found a stand up that I am going to investigate further tomorrow.

I am definitely going to try some of your suggestions. People in this town are especially cheap and will love thinking they are getting something for free or that I am losing something by giving it to them for free.

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10-17-2005, 08:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
tanheather34 Join Date: Jun 20 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 201 Rep Power: 4	Sorry, this is long. I have been lurking here for several months and now I have some questions. 4 months ago my friend and I (big BIG mistake) opened a tanning salon. Our agreement was that I would buy the beds and provide the space (for free - no rent!) she would run the business, and we would split the profits. We purchased 2 Sunvision 28LE beds. This is a small town - 1 other salon, not much competition. Problems started almost from the beginning - she complained about having to be there, rude to customers, not opening when she was supposed to be there, no advertising. She decided 2 days ago that she wanted out and my husband and I agreed to let her out of her contract, just to get her out of there. I wanted to get some opinions from some of you. Am I making a mistake by taking over the business? I am not fooling myself into thinking that I can get rich from this. I love the business and want to make it successful. The beds are paid for, and we own the building it is in, so no rent. My husband thinks that we should purchase another bed (high pressure maybe?) but I think we should get the business built up more before we take that kind of step. Also, this is a very small town and the only lotions anyone around here knows are Australian Gold, so do I continue to sell that, which I hate, or put them in the bargain bin and educate them on other lotions? Any help would be appreciated!

10-17-2005, 09:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,163 Rep Power: 31	why didnt you work the business! another job or didnt want to? you only have 2 beds? sounds like the best thing you could of done is let her out of the contract! friend partnerships dont work! its is now time for you to get in there and make the customers see the difference you can make and for the australian gold if thats what they use now then sell it to them. australian gold is not as bad as some people make it seem(i sell it) if youd like try to convert them over to a better line while still carrying AG that way when they tell you no(chances are they will)you can still sell them the AG! as far as the new bed goes do you only have 2 beds? how many does the comp have if you only have 2 then i think you should add a stanup or spray hold off on the HP unless your market calls for it or comp has it?

10-17-2005, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
dcjjp2 I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 12 2004 Location: Va Posts: 5,355 Rep Power: 13	You shouldn't even be thinking of HP for a VERY long time. That would be one ** of a jump from a 28 lamp ( sorry for this, home unit) base level to a HP. Think of getting something in the 40+ lamp with facials and possibly some type of either stand up or sunless spray tan for variety. If AG sells, sell the ** out of it. I couldn't personally give it away.

10-17-2005, 09:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
CAYENNE2005 I love Derf!! Join Date: Jan 31 2005 Location: Around the corner Age: 40 Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 127	what he said ^^^

10-18-2005, 01:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
BigLeo Join Date: Jan 27 2005 Posts: 243 Rep Power: 4	Jeez, what a freaking disaster. Sounds like your put too much trust in your friend. Having a friend run your business is not a very intelligent business decision. Doesn't sound like your friend was very reliable. You didn't indiciate whether you are marking money at your salon, but it could not be that much given that you have oly two beds. I would not upgrade to HP unless you can afford to do so and there is a definite market for HP tanning. Again, you have to decide if you really want to be in the indoor tanning salon business. You are now in the low season, so I would wait until next year. Decide where you want to be serious about tanning. this is not a business for novices who plan poorly or turn the management over to somebody else, especially a friend. It's like lending money to friends. If they don't pay what they owe, they won't be friends again. Bad, bad mistake.

10-18-2005, 03:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
tanheather34 Join Date: Jun 20 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 201 Rep Power: 4	I know, I know, stupid of me. And I swear, I'm not an idiot. I didn't work the business in the beginning because I have 2 kids, house to take care of, blah blah blah. Same as everyone else, I know. It just comes down to the fact that I trusted her waaayyy too much. We were not making money, actually losing money. That happens when you don't advertise and nobody knows you are there and the people who do know won't come because the people working there are rude. I have thought long and hard about this and have decided that I want to make a go of it. I have educated myself and am going to get certification through Smart Tan, plus 2 of my good friends have been successful in the business for 20+ years and I am learning everything I can from them. The other salon in town does not have anyone working there who knows anything they need to know to educate their customers. As for getting the HP bed, I don't think there is really a market for that here. I have thought about sunless spray tanning. What I am going to do is advertise that we are re-opening under new management/ownership, have some opening specials, and let people know that we are dedicated.

10-18-2005, 05:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,163 Rep Power: 31	get another machine! do you really only have 2? yes spray is great idea it brings in whole new clientel! do a grand re-opening with free tan day or weekend free lotion samples

10-18-2005, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,163 Rep Power: 31	get another machine! do you really only have 2? yes spray is great idea it brings in whole new clientel! do a grand re-opening with free tan day or weekend free lotion samples

10-18-2005, 06:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
james123tanning Join Date: Oct 18 2005 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	Give away free lotion with high purchase course cards. People love thinking they are getting something for free or cheapr. Also the free tanning day is a good one, get them hooked people develop tanorexia faster than you think

10-18-2005, 07:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
tanheather34 Join Date: Jun 20 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 201 Rep Power: 4	Yes, believe it or not, I only have 2 beds. But, this is a very small town of 1,200 people. I think I have found a stand up that I am going to investigate further tomorrow. I am definitely going to try some of your suggestions. People in this town are especially cheap and will love thinking they are getting something for free or that I am losing something by giving it to them for free.

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