You got that right.

As you often say Neon, no offense but....

if salons in your town that offer no training, just a spare room or two in the back, clean your own bed, set your own time are more ATTRACTIVE to the tanners in your town than YOUR salon --- then is it POSSIBLE they don't see the "value" in the services you DO offer compared to the prices you charge??

And you really think they are making their fortunes on $3 pairs of peepers and $18 bottles of moisturizers??

Basic economics. At $10 for an apple (Harry & David catalog), only a few will purchase. But SOME will! At $1/pound for apples, many more will purchase. In greater quantities. With regularity. And even have some "accidentally go bad" in the frig because they didn't get to them in time without feeling great remorse.

Harry & David will survive. A lot more apples will be sold at grocery stores. If Harry & David was a stand-alone store in one town they would NOT survive.

If it is ALL about price in your market, then figure out a way to make your pricing enticing enough that you will get MORE of the tanners who are flocking to your competitors to flock to you instead - get ALL the "apple eaters"!! You pay the same rent this month whether you tan 20/day or 200/day! Pay the same payroll, same phone bill, same mag subscriptions, same licensing fee, same bed lease payment. The only thing that changes is a MINIMAL uptick in electrical and lamp costs!

Truly, it isn't a "maybe in your market...." thing - it is basic market theory!

No offense sunsally, but the endless analogies were worthless, keep it simple.

"if salons in your town that offer no training, just a spare room or two in the back, clean your own bed, set your own time are more ATTRACTIVE to the tanners in your town than YOUR salon --- then is it POSSIBLE they don't see the "value" in the services you DO offer compared to the prices you charge?? "

Hmmmmmmmmm? Maybe the comsumers in my town don't care, they just want the "same" for cheaper. I have spent 7 years of advertising dollars emphasising Smart Tan training, we don't tan minors, free skin type analysis', first session free, you get my first born!!

You really have to experience this town before you can judge my performance as a business owner and tanning salon owner.

Hmmm -- you seem perfectly confident to judge Dennis and others without experiencing their towns.....

Your consumers want the "same" for cheaper? So they perceive what you offer as the "same" as those other (low quality) salons, only more expensive???

Simple enough for you?

"Your consumers want the "same" for cheaper? So they perceive what you offer as the "same" as those other (low quality) salons, only more expensive???

Simple enough for you? "

No, brainyact , what I'm saying is that people here cannot make an intelligent decision on what is the best value, if it's cheap then that's the one for me!!

That is why dollar stores and WalMart thrive here, and specialty stores and services struggle. You really have to live it before you can understand it here. ~shrug~

I prefer "brainiac"

"What I'm saying is that people here cannot make an intelligent decision..."

Wow - hope your competitors don't use that one!! LOL!

I'm going to contact my old Econ profs and suggest they make Timmons Ont a case study for their next book - the one city that defies all the economic and business theories!

Meanwhile, I think I'll take a pass on the offer to live there - were you making a pass at me?? wink wink

I think you're starting to warm up to me a little......

Neon...Walmart thrives in alot of towns...not just yours...they have been doing well across the country.
I hope the really strong local tanning salons survive and I hope there are a couple of large "local big time" salons and or large franchise/corporate stores that take over each market.
We need to have 3 major players in each market to survive as an industry...."When the elephants fight the ants die"....we have so much to do in our industry!
We have to come together and promote Vit.D and the benefits of sunlight exposure. We cannot do this if there are 30 salons of individual business owners...we can only become a strong industry if there are major players across the country. If we have bigger players and salon owners with multipale locations hopefully they will have additional funds and connections to get our message out to the consumers....then we will all be better off as an industry...
We need a lot of good press....and it will come with money and salon owners who can afford to see the bigger picture and help all of us reach the consumer.

Quote:We need a lot of good press....and it will come with money and salon owners who can afford to see the bigger picture and help all of us reach the consumer.


Agreed...however I just have diffucultly understanding why can't the 'ants' and the 'elephants' chip in the ching to do it? NOW on a individual basis..I am not talking about a NAC or PTAf whatever..
What I mean to make it a point to utilize a minimum of a 1/4 of all your advertisments to educate the clients. (an potential tanners) At the very least.
You could ---Take it a step further and once or twice a year devote an entire 3 X 5 ad to tips on sun safety...or in the winter a few tips from The Vitiman D council..or other docs that post information on the benefits of tanning. Timed appropriately of course.
JMHO



That would create more tanners from scared media believing non tanners...doncha think?

I believe in that 100%...I think there needs to be a couple of elephants and strong ants to see and believe in looking at our big picture...if we are making this analogy! I think there is some consolidation that has to happen and larger salon owners to start the ball rolling with strong local players. I think at least in our market we are close but there still needs to be a strong player to step up and start the effort.

Absolutely we can!!! Customer Service, Informed, Friendly, Resonibly priced, CLEAN and FUN atmosphere, Professional....the list goes on.