Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!!

naterichie22 · 08-17-2006, 09:30 PM

Hello everybody!!! Glad to have a place here where I can seek advice! I just bought an existing tanning salon and would like anyone's input on my best approach. The salon is only 2 years old. It breaks even every month currently. The lady I bought it from owns two other tanning salons and has owned this one for the past year. She hasn't worked the salon herself, just employees have worked it this year. It has potential to do very well. I don't know anything about the tanning business. I felt it was an opportunity she offered me that I couldn't pass up. I am currently in outside sales as a profession. My fiance owns a very nice beauty salon in the area and I am thinking to do some marketing through her. I need any thoughts, input, advice from where to go from here or what existing salon owners would do if they were in my shoes. Marketing Ideas especially!!!

*Luv2taN* · 08-17-2006, 09:58 PM

umm.. good luck...:)

mr belvedere · 08-17-2006, 10:31 PM

Salons in which the owner(s) work the counter every day do the best, in most cases. If you want to increase revenues over what the salon is currently producing, you're going to have to go out and get tanners away from the other salons in the market space. Best way to do that is through promoting some kind of novelty, product, or service you have that the others don't. Customer rewards for referrals is the key though. Good luck.

naterichie22 · 08-17-2006, 11:23 PM

Thanks for the replys!!! Now as far as a novelty, product or service goes, what are some of those options? I do apologize, I really do need all the help I can get!! I definitely agree with the customer rewards with referrals.

SandiGirl · 08-17-2006, 11:52 PM

Just curious how you are going to give guidance/instructions/advice to your staff if you don't know anything? Do you know anything about beds, max times, times for starting out, when to relamp a bed, what the differences are...?

mr belvedere · 08-17-2006, 11:59 PM

He did point out he knows nothing about the biz Sandi. Novelties might be Eunoch bed washers. Services might be free massages on Fridays between 1 nad 5 with a lotion purchase. Products might be the latest and greatest in lotions, beds, and lamps. Good luck.

SandiGirl · 08-18-2006, 12:09 AM

Belvie, have you been drinking? What the heck is Eunoch bed washers?

I know he's new but that's my point....your employees shouldn't know more than you.

mr belvedere · 08-18-2006, 12:17 AM

Easy there Trigger. Maybe I spelled it wrong. You know, those harem guys that were all show and no go? Got their Willie whacked and their muscles exploded? Those guys. I agree with your point, but I don't see any point in beating the guy silly at this point. My point is, your point was taken, but he made a point of pointing out the point that he knows nothing about this business. Get my point?

naterichie22 · 08-18-2006, 12:17 AM

Haha, I know I told you guys I don't have a clue about this business. I am trying to learn as quickly as possible. Luckily, the lady that is selling the salon to me gets her hair done at my fiance's salon so she is helping me out as much as possible. The current employees have run the place for the past year so I am keeping everything the same for now except trying to recruit more customers. That is really where I need the best advice out there!! So far I like your suggestions. Thanks a lot for your patience!!! :)

mr belvedere · 08-18-2006, 12:22 AM

It's good that you have a sense of humor Nate. Never lose that. And never forget to bring it when you log on here. The point is, recruiting new customers is the same as any other sales job. I don't know what you sell, but I'm betting you have customers, and you're always trying to get new ones. Make a point of adapting those same strategies to your new business and go like ****. Good luck. ~Hey! Watch where you're POINTING THAT!!~

08-17-2006, 09:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
naterichie22 Join Date: Aug 15 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Hello everybody!!! Glad to have a place here where I can seek advice! I just bought an existing tanning salon and would like anyone's input on my best approach. The salon is only 2 years old. It breaks even every month currently. The lady I bought it from owns two other tanning salons and has owned this one for the past year. She hasn't worked the salon herself, just employees have worked it this year. It has potential to do very well. I don't know anything about the tanning business. I felt it was an opportunity she offered me that I couldn't pass up. I am currently in outside sales as a profession. My fiance owns a very nice beauty salon in the area and I am thinking to do some marketing through her. I need any thoughts, input, advice from where to go from here or what existing salon owners would do if they were in my shoes. Marketing Ideas especially!!!

08-17-2006, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Luv2taN Join Date: May 23 2006 Location: Sydney Nova Scotia Posts: 105 Rep Power: 3	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! umm.. good luck...:)

08-17-2006, 10:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
mr belvedere DERFERATOR Join Date: May 10 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 8,477 Rep Power: 52	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Salons in which the owner(s) work the counter every day do the best, in most cases. If you want to increase revenues over what the salon is currently producing, you're going to have to go out and get tanners away from the other salons in the market space. Best way to do that is through promoting some kind of novelty, product, or service you have that the others don't. Customer rewards for referrals is the key though. Good luck. __________________ "A dusty bible leads to a dirty life ..." -Synonymous

08-17-2006, 11:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
naterichie22 Join Date: Aug 15 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Thanks for the replys!!! Now as far as a novelty, product or service goes, what are some of those options? I do apologize, I really do need all the help I can get!! I definitely agree with the customer rewards with referrals.

08-17-2006, 11:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
SandiGirl OFFICIAL BFF member Join Date: Jan 2 2005 Location: BFFland Posts: 3,331 Rep Power: 36	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Just curious how you are going to give guidance/instructions/advice to your staff if you don't know anything? Do you know anything about beds, max times, times for starting out, when to relamp a bed, what the differences are...? __________________ ~I'll try to be nicer if you try to be smarter.~

08-17-2006, 11:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
mr belvedere DERFERATOR Join Date: May 10 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 8,477 Rep Power: 52	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! He did point out he knows nothing about the biz Sandi. Novelties might be Eunoch bed washers. Services might be free massages on Fridays between 1 nad 5 with a lotion purchase. Products might be the latest and greatest in lotions, beds, and lamps. Good luck. __________________ "A dusty bible leads to a dirty life ..." -Synonymous

08-18-2006, 12:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
SandiGirl OFFICIAL BFF member Join Date: Jan 2 2005 Location: BFFland Posts: 3,331 Rep Power: 36	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Belvie, have you been drinking? What the heck is Eunoch bed washers? I know he's new but that's my point....your employees shouldn't know more than you. __________________ ~I'll try to be nicer if you try to be smarter.~

08-18-2006, 12:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
mr belvedere DERFERATOR Join Date: May 10 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 8,477 Rep Power: 52	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Easy there Trigger. Maybe I spelled it wrong. You know, those harem guys that were all show and no go? Got their Willie whacked and their muscles exploded? Those guys. I agree with your point, but I don't see any point in beating the guy silly at this point. My point is, your point was taken, but he made a point of pointing out the point that he knows nothing about this business. Get my point? __________________ "A dusty bible leads to a dirty life ..." -Synonymous

08-18-2006, 12:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
naterichie22 Join Date: Aug 15 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! Haha, I know I told you guys I don't have a clue about this business. I am trying to learn as quickly as possible. Luckily, the lady that is selling the salon to me gets her hair done at my fiance's salon so she is helping me out as much as possible. The current employees have run the place for the past year so I am keeping everything the same for now except trying to recruit more customers. That is really where I need the best advice out there!! So far I like your suggestions. Thanks a lot for your patience!!! :)

08-18-2006, 12:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
mr belvedere DERFERATOR Join Date: May 10 2005 Age: 38 Posts: 8,477 Rep Power: 52	Re: Brand New Owner with Questions!!!!!! It's good that you have a sense of humor Nate. Never lose that. And never forget to bring it when you log on here. The point is, recruiting new customers is the same as any other sales job. I don't know what you sell, but I'm betting you have customers, and you're always trying to get new ones. Make a point of adapting those same strategies to your new business and go like ****. Good luck. ~Hey! Watch where you're POINTING THAT!!~ __________________ "A dusty bible leads to a dirty life ..." -Synonymous

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What would you do?????	tan4utwo	Open Forum	12	04-23-2005 11:16 AM
Previous owner calling, asking questions, hanging up	JohnnyComeLately	Open Forum	10	03-14-2005 08:47 AM
New salon owner here. I have a few questions.	RockinAR	Tanning Biz Newbies	10	10-10-2003 03:33 PM
some questions from a new salon owner	HECSIL	Open Forum	12	05-25-2003 09:31 PM