italianoborioso

I am a brand new salon and have been open for 2 days... We have had a total of 12 people in 2 days.... what am I doing wrong? Any suggestions would be great to get more people in here...

engfant

You've been open for 2 days! Be happy you've had 12people.

NJDave

People don't know your open. Have a free tan week. Advertise, banners and road signs.

italianoborioso

well thats encouraging... we are sitting here and like man its very slow and boring... I hope it does pick up...

tan goddess

What kind of marketing/advertising have you done?

italianoborioso

I have 5000 flyers that I have passed out... We have a grand opening sign hanging outside... I have someone standing out on the street with a huge sign... im looking into direct mail and maybe putting some ads in different newspapers/magezines....

tan goddess

Clipper Ads work great around here. Also, set up a Myspace/ Facebook account and friend request like crazy. Have a grand opening. Maybe even do radio ads. People probably just dont know you exist yet.

theislandtan

In our beginning days we offered the first tan for free. It helped to bring people in the door. Start a referral program to get your clients bringing people in. Any client who gets 5 other members to sign up to a monthly package gets a free month of tanning.

top2btmtan

Contact your local newspaper as well contact the local business press. These places are always looking for spot filler to do stories. This works for existing and new salons. They will likely do a story on your location - especially since businesses are opening up in economic times as these..you will be surprised at the positive response you get from local papers.

Also - hit up all the modeling agencies in town and offer the manager a special incentive and an incentive for all their models. Youll be surprised how work of mouth. Canvas complimentary businesses...nail salons, hair salons, med spas, weight loss clinics, and clothing and retail stores. Youll get them coming soon!! Good luck to you.

sunsally

This is NOT a "if you build it, they will come" sort of industry.

I'm assuming that you have opened in an area where there are already existing salons. This means that every customer that is going to come to YOUR salon is already tanning - somewhere else. You have to give them reason to break their routine, break what they know and is comfortable to them and try your place instead - not that easy to do.

The best thing to do is build a huge "anticipatory buzz" - before you ever open. Getting your business card (with an offer on it) into the hands of every person in your town, having relationships to co-market with other companies established, etc etc.

Too late to do that "before" - so now you start now!

A few recommendations (some echoing those above):

1. Have a business card or referral card printed with an offer on it. Personally, I do NOT like "free tan" - they come in, get it, and are gone. I like 3 Free tans, or a free week or a week for $7 or 3 tans for $3 or anything that will bring them in MULTIPLE TIMES. "Free" is always on your lowest level bed. Hopefully you have multiple levels of equipment. If so, give them the opportunity to "trade" their "free" tan for an upgrade at a VERY small price -- e.g. Level 2 for $1, level 3 for $3-5,.... UPSELL THEM TO TRY YOUR BEST EQUIPMENT, not just the "free" tan.


2. Start a referral program. Tell every customer that walks into your salon about it, every time. For every customer they refer, give them something SIGNIFICANT - e.g. $10 on their "account". So they send 5 people through your door -- they just got $50 in "free" money to spend. This turns THEM into a loyal customer -- and brings you new tanners cheap. Most customers will send you just one or two -- but the couple of customers that make this their MISSION and send in lots - will be gold to you and you will GLADLY repay them in free tanning with the $$ they earned.


3. Every single place you go, every single place anyone in your family/friends/staff/supporters go -- have them carrying around those referral cards and passing them out. To the grocery clerk - and people you pass in the grocery store. At the bank. At every business in the vicinity to yours. To people in your neighborhood. Nearby hair salons,gym,... If you are not the MOST VOCAL promoter of your business -- who else do you expect to be?


4. Do NOT overspend on advertising this time of year! To be honest - you are opening a little "late" in the season, especially for Florida. People are tanning - but they probably are already "set" at their salons for many of them. Can't sell ice to Eskimos, can't turn (easily) turn non-tanners into tanners and can't significantly impact the tanning seasonality. Go for the "low hanging fruit" and work it hard! While you are in the salon waiting, work the phones, calling on those local businesses or apartment complexes to see if you can offer their employees/tenants anything - and then followup in person when you are out of the salon. Lots of sweat equity, lots of pounding the pavement.


Other tips:

a. Make sure you get email addresses from EVERYONE that comes in - this will be a cheap way to "reach out" later

b. Make sure you can SELL! Know what you are offering. What is your 'deal' you are trying to get everyone to buy? Maybe a package to "tan till summer" or "tan till 2010!". EFTS of course. Put a "can't refuse" deal out there to lock people in -- the more customers that make the change to you initially - the more they will attract. Everyone is nervous to try a new business -- give your "early adopters" a reason to stay!


Hope that helps -