RyanLA

Enfant thanks for the advise and help, Yes im working on a bussiness plan and just trying to get as much info as possible. Im trying real hard on putting this together but I atleast have about 4-6 months on my side.
I want to offer great beds at decent prices...looking more for long jevity than quick $$$
IVe been reading great posts about ultra sun and the rep seems alot more decent than most of the other reps ive talked to.
If anyone has anything to say about ultra sun, pros and cons please share.

Hope everyone is doing great and look forward to making new friends here

Thanks

Ryan

sunsally

Ryan (and all interested in opening a new salon) -

First things first - take a breath! :)

Starting up a new business is SO exciting, but also so overwhelming! It is easy to get focused on the trees and lose sight of the forest as they say.

Equipment is critical, but unlike your comment above (and I know - I'm pulling it out of context), it will never "get people in the door"!". Customers for the most part don't have a CLUE about equipment. They MAY know the name of a bed they tanned at in one salon (if the salon doesn't put their own spin of a name on it), but for the most part, they react to what looks good, and then, what tans well.

But more importantly, it is your entire PLAN - and how it "fits" together - that makes an impact on customers and determines if you will be successful or not.

For example - first thing is location. If your location is a winner, you rock. If it stinks, all the great everything else in the world might never matter. Now - determining what will, or will not be a "great" location can be tough! Depends on the area demographics, visibility, parking, nearby businesses, competition, rent rate (and the "value" it is or isn't for those things), etc.

The space itself == the size is critical. A 20' wide or 40' wide fits the maximal amount of equipment the most easily. But maybe you have a "look" you want that may require a different shape. Just remember - MAXIMIZE your square footage with revenue production. Don't want to be paying for a lot of empty space!

Competition - for this great location and perfect site -- how is the competition? How much, how good, how established? Is there "room" for someone to come in to the market here?

Pricing/advertising/marketing plan -- CRITICAL! Are you trying to be low price/high volume? One stop shopping with anything a tanner might want? Just tanning or other services? "Spa like", "Industrial", "Beachy", "high end", "homey", etc etc Have to think though this FIRST - it will help you determine what equip makes sense.

I could go on, but you get the idea. A LOT of things to think about before you get to equipment!

THEN - once you get to the actual equipment:

-Levels (all from one manuf or mixed) and quantity
-Budget (new, used, a mix, etc)
-Maintenance issues (how reliable, how easy to simple cleaning and repairs,..)
-Performance (of course!)
-Design/look
-Service Reputation


WHEW - I'm tired just writing all that, let alone reading it!

The bottom line is what is "best" will vary based on all of this. In many cases, just ONE manufacturer may not have the "best" at every level - so you might mix it up. Might mix new and used. Might start with some of your equipment and add the remaining as you see what your "demand" dictates and/or so you can always be adding new (to your salon at least) items and remain "cutting edge".

Most new salon owners START by wanting to focus on their beds or their interior design. Instead, it is critical you start on the much-less-fun-and-less-sexy business plan and analysis.

I know I have posts on similar topics - I'm too lazy to go do a search! :) But definitely read as much as you can about the BUSINESS first before you get too swayed on equipment. Read as many posts as you can, plan on going to Nashville this fall for the ITA show, and by December you will be READY to be a new salon owner!!

Hope that helps!

JOHN @ URI

Better yet, answer this question! What does the competition have?

Do they have Ergoline? If so, all you will do is get into a pi ssing match of who has the lower prices? Find out what the competition has & do 1 better.

sunsally

I don't disagree necessarily John, but it isn't that simple.

They might have the same bed - but do they have the exact same mix? Are you structuring your pricing the same? Same "feel" in the salon? Same quality of location?

Lots of salons can have the same equipment (they DO!), and not necessarily get into price wars. OR - you can have DIFFERENT equipment, and get into one.

I had a guy move in 3 blocks North of my salon just last month. He has a "Level 4" bed (a used Orbit) that he advertises as $19/single session. It "competes" with my Ergoline 600 at $16/walk-in.

However, he has "chosen" to do a Prom special for highschoolers to give them one month unlimited in that bed for $15 - no strings.

Have I lost a little business because of it this month? - yes. Will I match it? Heck no! It doesn't make financial sense, and those aren't our "bread and butter" clients anyway. I won't give it up THAT low in the middle of season just to play his game.

I WILL however put a strategy in place when he is done to pull them all back and more!

Or - let him keep running $15/mo unlimited on a big VHR bed until he runs himself broke. Either way!

I believe in making yourself as "bulletproof" as possible. That is the combination of your equipment, your cost structure (always helps to have less debt than your competitors!), your pricing structure, your location, etc. As long as your equipment PERFORMS WELL and you keep it up, you leave yourself much less vulnerable to competition on that front.

engfant

No. There is NO REASON to copy another salon unless you are buying an existing salon that happens to have the same mix as the competition.

If this is the case then we all know why they had to sell out...

I'm telling you right now that the most important parts to focus on is NOT the bed you are going to run.
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS
WHAT'S THE SIZE OF THE SALON
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE PER VISIT BASED ON (YOUR GUESS) WHAT THE OPERATING COSTS ARE GOING TO BE.

For instance, you might just go all steel beds, workhourses that last forever but no options or thrills. If you need to get $20/visit due to your operating costs being $25k/month then you need to go with a bed that would COMMAND the money with "shock and awe".

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CarlsbadTan

Please see my post in your other link (same question) ....

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Sol Salon

I have montego bay and uwe from PC Marketing and was totally satisfied with the sales process, impressed with service and installation and our clients love the performance. It is high end equipment and just starting to make an impact out west. The iBed rocks!

socaltech

oh yeah Sol Salon the iBED rocks this world. this unit is in class of its own. who will be the 1st in southern califronia to get one????? u were the 1st in Cali though :) hope all is well