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Old 04-09-2010, 04:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Question Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

Hello, I am a new tanning salon owner. I have managed this salon/ video store for a year and have recently bought it. When I started here I knew literally nothing about tanning, had not even been a customer. A year later even though I have learned a lot I fully admit I still know pretty much nothing. So I am hoping to hear some opinions from the pros as to what to do with re-lamping the beds.
I have 2 Montego bay classic wolff 2400s and one Sonnebraune (wolff) And before the opinions I get are that I should replace these ancient beds ;) I am in a very rural area. We only have one salon that has nice new beds and they charge more than 3 times what I charge the rest of the salons cost just a dollar or two more than me and also have old small beds. I serve people who like a great color tan for very low cost and I have a lot of the teen age crowd. So old as they are I am frequently told they give the best color in town and for the best price. So why change anything you may ask. Well here is the deal, The bulbs are used in my very rough estimate 1400 hours a year and have not been changed since Jan of 2007!!! or 4,200 hours. And don't tell me they can't possible give a tan because my pale hynie is brown and i have never tanned anywhere else ;) Like I said my beds are known for giving the best color in town, crazy but true.

The current bulbs are the same in all three beds they are hi-tan 100 W. And of course some people go in them for 20 minutes or more but people just starting out still can only go in 4-8 minutes or they get burned.

So what do you all think. Do I re- lamp with the same lamps and make people sign a waiver if they want to go in more than 10 min? Do I do a bed with a Lower UVB and higher UVA and call it a level one bed? for newbies and get Hi tans for my happy current customers and experienced new customers.

I have to say that given the performance I have seen in these very old Hi-tans I am leaning twards doing at least 2 beds with them. But like I said I am a tanning novice and welcome suggestions.
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Old 04-09-2010, 05:20 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

Quote:
The bulbs are used in my very rough estimate 1400 hours a year and have not been changed since Jan of 2007!!! or 4,200 hours
WHAT???

There is NO WAY those lamps are still putting out any UV!!!

If they are, you must have the "Vortex" of tanning salons!!!
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Old 04-09-2010, 05:42 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

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WHAT???

There is NO WAY those lamps are still putting out any UV!!!

If they are, you must have the "Vortex" of tanning salons!!!
I know, I even called the owner before me to re check that he had not changed lamps! He was only here 4 months before I started and no change. You see why I am leary to change out my miracle lamps? Fact is I my skin tans here and I have never been anywhere else. Im in NW washington so no outdoor sun exposure either. We are WELL known for the best beds in town. The more I learn about how this all works the more confused I get because no one gets that old bulb burn just burns if they go in longer than they should. Sales person told me that at this point they should just be florescent lights in a tan bed but they are clearly not.

So anyway should I re-lamp with the same lamps? Seems to work vortex or no. i am trying to find a UV meter I can afford to see if there is any UV or not ( and monitor the new lamps) but there has to be UV because tans are had here!
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Old 04-09-2010, 05:47 PM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

Yeah, grab a set of meters and meter up those sleds. I gotta see these readings!

You said...
Quote:
He was only here 4 months before I started and no change
It's quite possible the owners before him changed them out right before they sold it to him.
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Old 04-09-2010, 06:03 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

ok. here is my current thinking on this with one more question added in.

I want to do one bed with the Hi-Tans, I have to know if this lamp life is a fluke or a re-creatable event. AND test these on a meter for their life.
As these are 10 min lamps, I will call this my level 3/1 bed and treat it as such in marketing (which is most intense? Level 3 or level 1?)

Then do one bed with a more UVA heavy bulb a 5% bulb. For people who want deeper color and don't mind not seeing instant results as much as wanting a deeper longer lasting tan (assuming I have the functions of UVA vs. UVB down) CAll this my lowest intensity bed

Then have one that is alternating lamps in the canopy one 5 one 7 one 5 one 7 and so on. But when you do this, i understand that it can only be in the canopy to avoid striping, so what do you put in the lounge when you are doing the alternating in the canopy?

opinions on that plan?
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Old 04-09-2010, 06:09 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

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Originally Posted by navigatin1 View Post
Yeah, grab a set of meters and meter up those sleds. I gotta see these readings!

You said...


It's quite possible the owners before him changed them out right before they sold it to him.
Got a meter for sale? ;)

The owner before him was the one who replaced them (his brother in law) Both of them only ever used one distributor for lamps lotions and everything. Last re-lamp was '07 according to that distributer. long time customers confirm this. So are new meters 150$ . there aren't less expensive ones that do an ok job? I mean since the readings are relative and all.
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Old 04-09-2010, 06:23 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

A couple of things....

If you have 20 min beds, you CAN'T lamp them with 10 min lamps and just tan people for 10 mins. You'll have to have the bed recertified!!!
If anyone ever got hurt, you'd be up sh-ts creek without a paddle!!!

Meters cost what they cost, it's all part of doing business. So invest in a set, and you'll know exactly what your beds are doing at all times. And know when it's time to change lamps. (And no, they are not all the same)

Depending on how close the canopy on the beds are to the person tanning, will be the deciding factor on IF you can alternate lamps in the bed. Too close, they'll stripe.

I'm going to move this thread into the lamps area, and the lamp guys will be around to give you some advice on what's the best lamps for your equipment.
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Old 04-09-2010, 06:35 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

All customers should be able to tan on any bed you have. Their skin type determines how long of a session they get in any particular bed. Do you skin type every customer? If you have 20 minute max beds then put 20 minute lamps in them. You'll gain more business if you lamp the beds correctly and operate your salon in a professional manner.
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Old 04-09-2010, 08:08 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

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Originally Posted by navigatin1 View Post
A couple of things....

I'm going to move this thread into the lamps area, and the lamp guys will be around to give you some advice on what's the best lamps for your equipment.
Am I not in the lamp / equipment area? Sorry thought I aimed correctly ;)

So meters cost what meters cost but I have one meter from one guy and it's cost, don't know if they are available used or if there are different meters for different prices and where these can be purchased.

As for the lamps, I am in Washington which has no bed regulations. While I get that the 10 min bulbs are not the intended bulbs for the beds it is what the previous owner put in and what the customers love. It doesn't make it high pressure but it does mean, i think, that people should not try to go in them for 20 minutes. So i guess you CAN put them in the real question is SHOULD i put them in ;)
But you are right if anyone got hurt i'd be up **** creek, but in an unregulated state while i do not have to conform to regs i am also not protected by them so no matter what I put in, if people want to sue, i am up **** creek regardless of what lamps i have. Thats where liability release forms and insurance comes in. As for the canopy it is pretty high but then I am small and I should factor for my largest customers, so alternating is probably not a good idea.

hmm lots of good food for thought
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Old 04-09-2010, 08:14 PM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Re: Revamping a Salon need expert opinions

Lamp with what the bed is intended. They guy only had the place 4 mos. I can also tell you a 10 min rated lamp will likely cost you more than a 100 watt 20 min lamp and depending on your pricing you may be screwing yourself out of money
A 10 min lamp in no way make is HP completely different breed of beast. You may not be regulated in Washington but pretty sure you still will fall into the same guidlines with the FDA. Your customers don't know whats good for them, as a responsible salon owner its your job to educate them.
Good Luck!!! :)
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