DeterminedMama

eileen

I'm usually within 5 minutes of the salon so I do both year round.

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"under exposure to UV rays is as dangerous as overexposure....this is D life" eileen

Michelle N

I allow either. Never had a problem. In fact none of my competition will allow appts and my clients like that if they want to tan at a specific time, they can make that appt instead of walking in and getting put down at the bottom of the list.
With that in mind, we have mostly walk ins anyway with the exception of our custom sprays, then it's about 50/50.

sunsally

Do NOT take appointments for tanning - ever.

For custom spraying, if you need a 2nd person and there aren't normally 2 there, take appointments,

There are many threads here you can search on why appointments for UV tanning isn't recommended.

DeterminedMama

That's what I was thinking... Hmmm....

I must admit I'm a bit surprised. I'm off to try and search for that info now.

sunsally

Why no appts:

1. Too much time on the phone taking them, cancelling, changing,..

2. Have to block enough time for everyone to go the whole time, take lots of time dressing, etc. They don't. That time is then wasted and you lose revenue

3. If they can always make an appointment for 'their bed' - less of an opportunity to upgrade them (and make $$). If they can't get "their time", they might just skip - and you lose volume and $$

4. Life is stressful enough without having to rush to make a tanning "appointment". If they are late - the salon schedule goes off, just like a dr's office. This is bad for everyone


The bottom line - salon after salon after salon that switched from taking appointments to walk-ins only (not for custom spraying where you need extra staff - just for tanning) --- made MORE MONEY, saw MORE CUSTOMERS and resulted in LESS WORK for staff. Every single one.

If a customer has to wait a short time because they arrive at the busiest time of your day in the busiest months -- they can upgrade or talk about products. This is a selling and educational opportunity for the salon.

No appointments.

DeterminedMama

Thank you for that. Very, very good points.

I am learning through this process of salon ownership that my years as a tanning salon employee, I was trained to do some very "imperfect" things that weren't very good for the owners! Yikes! No wonder they weren't more successful!

Michelle N

Yes, Sunsally usually has a lot of useful information that should be taken with more than a grain of salt. If she says something, it is because she has tried it herself.
For the most part, we rarely have anyone making tanning appointments. We will write them in if they say something but it is our job to alway try to upsell them to a higher level even if they have an appointment. Sometimes it doesn't work, but usually it does. If I had a lot of people trying to make appointments, I will probably rething my appointment taking policy. Most people are used to the walk in policy that most other places have.
We also try to deter people from making tanning appointments by letting them know that they can usually just walk in with a minimal wait, or can upgrade, but that if they no show or are late, we charge a full single session price for the missed/late appointment. So far no problems.

eileen

You have to be on your game 100% to take appointments. I've always taken them without a problem. If you can't do the math don't try it. I do recommend to the clients to call us when they are on their way and we'll put them in the rotation, that usually works the best.

My above post was for custom sprays.

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"under exposure to UV rays is as dangerous as overexposure....this is D life" eileen

DeterminedMama

Oh yeah; a call-ahead list like at a busy restaurant, right? That's a good idea, too...