Advertising???? - Page 2

engfant · 01-11-2008, 01:10 PM

that's true too. Just get da money. I do have a bed that's ment for this very situation. I just wouldn't encourage low ballers to be low ballers.

Actually I recommend to lowballers they get on the cellphone and walk across the highway but that's just a "recommendation".

I DID get a "YOU DO FIRST TAN FREE" calls today. Told her it's double for the first tan.

REALLY? Ok thanks! was the response.

Was that a HUMAN that just called or robot????

excusemesir · 01-11-2008, 03:34 PM

Timeless...it all depends on what you have to work with, what you want your image to be and what your competition is known for. What has the salon been known for under the previous owner(s)? Were they the cheapest place to tan, the friendliest, the cleanest, have the best beds? Do you want to go for quantity of tanners or quality of tanners? I know, I know...we all want a large quantity of quality tanners but in this business you rarely are able to do both. If you have a lot of base beds, older equipment, and/or your salon is a little run-down then you might as well do what's being suggested and go for the bottom feeders. On the other hand if you have good equipment (quality and mix of beds), a clean salon, and excellent customer service than don't do a lot of discounting. Coupon/discount advertising can definitely increase the number of tanners you have but it cuts into your profit. With busy season knocking on your door you shouldn't need to discount that much if you have a good price structure in place to support your equipment mix.

As far as advertising goes it again depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you decide to go the discount route, go with the penny savers and money mailer type advertising. Radio, cable and broadcast tv, and upscale magazines are all excellent at getting an "image" message out or for event ads like a grand opening or anniversary celebration. Billboards are great for short messages and directional type ads (ABC Tanning, next exit, right on Broadway). Contact someone from each of these media and do some research. I've found that each one has some good salespeople and some bad salespeople. Talk to other business owners you know and get recommendations.

The preceeding is just my humble opinion and free advice and it's worth every penny!:)

caribbean tan man · 01-11-2008, 05:17 PM

direct mail to my clients works best for me.

excusemesir · 01-11-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caribbean tan man

direct mail to my clients works best for me.

Yep...forgot about this one. And since you're taking over a salon I'd guess you'll be getting the data base. Good place to start.

timeless tans · 01-12-2008, 08:15 AM

Thanks to all for the constructive suggestions. Keep em coming. Fresh ideas are welcome.

megatanman · 01-12-2008, 08:37 AM

Billboards do well for us=$500 mo.
Money Saver is a bargain at=$100

WendyJo · 01-12-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unity

Our new clients get 5 for $5 in our beds. HUGE hit with that.

As for the way you advertise, that very much depends on you demographics. Around here radio is a complete waste. Not just for me, but A LOT of small business owners complain - price is too high for what you get back. TV is a LOT cheaper.

Then we have this thing called Val-Pak. Its a blue envelope that get sent to a great many house. Its used to do well, but a lot of the big boys pulled out and the mailer got weak with specials. As a result people just threw them away without opening them.

Our best bet was a new mailer in out area called Money Saver. It was more of a coupon magazine. It gets mailed out and put in stores. The rates are reasonable and we have had HUGE success. We continue to use them.

Talk to other small business owners to gauge success of method. Then decide how you want to approach the specials since the size of the ad from each could vary.

When you said TV is cheaper than radio, I thought... no way. How could that be?

Then I called Comcast and you're right. LOL. Local radio ads were $10 to $15 per spot, and they didn't do squat for me. Advertising on cable channels like E!, CMT, MTV, etc. is only $7 per spot!

Needless to say, I'm working on the commercial script right now, and we'll be shooting next week.

So, thanks unity!!! :)

unity · 01-12-2008, 01:23 PM

No prob! ;) Ya, some spots I do on TV can be VERY expensive. But a TV commercial is less ignored than radio. In the end I can spend $2500 on TV for the MONTH or I can spend $2000 for a week of radio.

sierra · 01-14-2008, 07:30 AM

Direct mail works best for us!

sonyafly · 02-20-2008, 06:30 PM

Does anyone know where I could purchase a mailing list for potentail tanning clients in my area? (SoCal)

01-11-2008, 01:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
engfant FREE ENGFANTUCATION Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 8,490 Rep Power: 12	Re: Advertising???? that's true too. Just get da money. I do have a bed that's ment for this very situation. I just wouldn't encourage low ballers to be low ballers. Actually I recommend to lowballers they get on the cellphone and walk across the highway but that's just a "recommendation". I DID get a "YOU DO FIRST TAN FREE" calls today. Told her it's double for the first tan. REALLY? Ok thanks! was the response. Was that a HUMAN that just called or robot???? __________________ Nothing is more dangerous than stupid. The #1 cause of death is natural causes...but where's the ribbon? http://mercola.fileburst.com/Flash/A...wsubscribe.swf

01-11-2008, 03:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
excusemesir Join Date: Sep 3 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 117 Rep Power: 2	Re: Advertising???? Timeless...it all depends on what you have to work with, what you want your image to be and what your competition is known for. What has the salon been known for under the previous owner(s)? Were they the cheapest place to tan, the friendliest, the cleanest, have the best beds? Do you want to go for quantity of tanners or quality of tanners? I know, I know...we all want a large quantity of quality tanners but in this business you rarely are able to do both. If you have a lot of base beds, older equipment, and/or your salon is a little run-down then you might as well do what's being suggested and go for the bottom feeders. On the other hand if you have good equipment (quality and mix of beds), a clean salon, and excellent customer service than don't do a lot of discounting. Coupon/discount advertising can definitely increase the number of tanners you have but it cuts into your profit. With busy season knocking on your door you shouldn't need to discount that much if you have a good price structure in place to support your equipment mix. As far as advertising goes it again depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you decide to go the discount route, go with the penny savers and money mailer type advertising. Radio, cable and broadcast tv, and upscale magazines are all excellent at getting an "image" message out or for event ads like a grand opening or anniversary celebration. Billboards are great for short messages and directional type ads (ABC Tanning, next exit, right on Broadway). Contact someone from each of these media and do some research. I've found that each one has some good salespeople and some bad salespeople. Talk to other business owners you know and get recommendations. The preceeding is just my humble opinion and free advice and it's worth every penny!:)

01-11-2008, 05:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,048 Rep Power: 30	Re: Advertising???? direct mail to my clients works best for me. __________________ someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

01-12-2008, 08:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
timeless tans Join Date: Jan 8 2008 Location: san diego Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Re: Advertising???? Thanks to all for the constructive suggestions. Keep em coming. Fresh ideas are welcome.

01-12-2008, 08:37 AM	#16 (permalink)
megatanman I love Derf!! Join Date: Aug 17 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 242 Rep Power: 1	Re: Advertising???? Billboards do well for us=$500 mo. Money Saver is a bargain at=$100 __________________ By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as he*l or an extremely wretched life as paradise. Adolf Hitler

01-12-2008, 01:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
unity I vote for DERF! Join Date: Jan 6 2004 Location: Midwest-ish Posts: 1,998 Rep Power: 5	Re: Advertising???? No prob! ;) Ya, some spots I do on TV can be VERY expensive. But a TV commercial is less ignored than radio. In the end I can spend $2500 on TV for the MONTH or I can spend $2000 for a week of radio. __________________ Quote by mkubal on prinitng: "I think that when the print dialogue says "(borderless)" what it really means to say is "(this would be borderless were it not for the giant white border).""

01-14-2008, 07:30 AM	#19 (permalink)
sierra I love Derf!! Join Date: Jan 8 2007 Location: North Eastern US Posts: 141 Rep Power: 2	Re: Advertising???? Direct mail works best for us!

02-20-2008, 06:30 PM	#20 (permalink)
sonyafly Join Date: Dec 14 2007 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0	Re: Advertising???? Does anyone know where I could purchase a mailing list for potentail tanning clients in my area? (SoCal)

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