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Old 05-17-2011, 07:20 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
Join Date: Mar 30 2011
Location: north west
Posts: 5
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What would you do??

Ive been reading through the forum and Ive got to say its great reading and even after 10 years of owning a salon in the UK im still learning today. So Im coming to you guys for some advice on a problem I have.

Recently a new salon has opened up very close to me, normally this would'nt bother me too much but since opening the owner has gone out of his way to destroy our good reputation. I'll give you some examples:

He has been telling people that Ive been putting up posters all over town to discredit his salon (of course I havn't) even though nobody can seem to find these posters.

Hes been telling people he doesnt use cheap crappy £5 or $8 tubes (lamps) like me he only uses the expensive £28 or $45 lamp ones. I know hes using cosmedico's not sure which one I just know hes advertising 250watt and Im using wollf tubes 160 watt 3.3(not exactly cheap) the reason Ive always stuck with 160watt is I never believed in more watts is better quality of lamp and uv counts for more. Also Ive never seen a lamp thats been as expensive as £28.

Hes saying he only uses pink tubes, there much better for your skin than normal blue ones.

Ive recently retubed my beds about a week ago, now hes telling people there is no way Ive really done it and he is actively trying to get people to complain to the trading standards authority.

There are more but I'm probably boring you already so I'd like to ask for advice on how to deal with it? Today I managed to get hold of a leaflet and this is what it says:

Brand new & safer sunbeds and sunshowers
x-treme 250 watt pink tubes kinder to your skin
less radiation
no premature aging
3 times less uva
3 times more uvb
deeper longer lasting tan
latest technology
highest wattage available
cosmedico tubes

This is the bed they are using http://www.solansunbeds.co.uk/shadow.html
This bed has been around for about 25 years and as far as I can gather hasnt been in manufacture for around 5 years. I use the hapro lumina e class with wollf tubes fitted.

I have had quite a few people come back to me because they just cant stay on there beds because of the heat, mainly due to there beds being an old design and having no internal cooling so I can only assume the tubes are over heating.

I dont really want to lower our standards and get involved in a gutter fight with this salon as we operate a responsible business were people can come in get good advice without the risk of over doing it.

How would you guys tackle this situation?
How much if anything of what they say in there leaflet is true?

Any advice would be fantastic as they are running the risk of destroying not just my reputation but sunbeds in general because a lot of people are coming out of there salon red raw.
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Old 05-17-2011, 09:02 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
Join Date: May 17 2011
Location: Sheet Harbour, NS Canada
Posts: 12
Rep Power: 0 Ticker is on a distinguished road
Re: What would you do??

Sounds nasty overall. In your place I would run my own business and ignore, ignore, ignore! Big winds usually blow themselves out sooner or later. He can say anything, so long as it's true. If it's not true then sue him or have a lawyer send him a letter of warning.
I'd also produce a brochure focusing on 10 years of customer service and celebrate that with your regular customers.
You'll notice he wants "others" to report you... he's not going to do it himself? Yet he's in the business.. how odd!
I'd also check on your local legislation regarding Tanning Salons. Is he following all the rules? You might do that just so you know one way or another.
Some people like to make themselves taller by standing on the shoulders of others. After 10 years I'm sure the tanning public knows where they are most comfortable tanning and where they feel welcomed and get personalized advice about their products and their tanning experience. I know with my own long term tanners, I sometimes add a tan or two to their cards (yup! I said CARDS... I'm still in hard copy because I cannot decide on which tanning software would be best for me and my salon.. also in business 10 years now).
If I've learned anything about business I've learned to run my own business and let others run theirs. Sounds to me as though he's running himself out of business.
As to his leaflet... well I don't know anything about the beds he's using or about pink lamps.. although I've seen some recent information on red light therapy which has a number of benefits apparently (maybe those ladies of the night knew something the rest of us are just keying into.. lol)
Aging whether it is premature or not.. is aging and we all have to experience it.
Tanning depends on a number of factors.. the age of skin in general, the natural tone, the products used, the care that's been taken with it, whether the person moisturizes inside and out, foods they eat, and how well they exfoliate their skin. The lights of course contribute in a major way or we wouldn't be in business; but a long lasting tan has many variables to consider besides the beds.
I find tanners generally just want a tan and they don't really want all that gobbly gook about the engineering of a bed. I guess if you want to bore them to tears it might be important.
But I'd focus on YOUR business and keep an eye on the competition but don't let it decide how you run your business. By now you probably have a large data base of tanners. You might consider a "tanning reunion" for customers who haven't been around for a while or some other type of promotion that suits your situation.
Sometimes a "Mona Lisa Smile" and a lil shake of the head says more than all the nastyness you've experienced.
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