muvibz

I have had my salom for 5 years. I live in a very small community. Many salons have closed in the area leaving me as the only one. I offer Spray tanning , Body Wraps, and I have 5 beds. I charge the same price for all of them. I get busy in Feb. and make 7000.00 per month, ubtil July 5 like clock work I drop down to 600.00 a month and that generous. I was wondering what are the seasons in larger metropolitan areas. Chicago, L.A., Reno Carson city, Tucson, etc. I was thinking of moving to Mereno Valley California. But just would like information from real people. What are your seasonal times. what your revenue is in the busy time, and the slow times. with mine I can't judge a move with the wacky behaviors of this area. real honest information would help a lot. I don;t advice like consinder closing and getting out of the business. I hear that from most salon owners as it is. I have hung in there for 5 years and I have no plans on quitting now. Just wanting to move and need true information. I have checked revenue websights and they do not really cover tanning salons. I was checking in Vegas for info thing they might not be so closed mouth and it's a dessert community like Mereno vally, but no help. Please give another owner a hand please. I am not trying to move in on you business. In fact the area I am looking at doesn't have a salon in 16 miles. and runor has it they are closing because of a divorce, PLEASE.

sunsally

What you are seeing in your market is typical of most.

There is a slow season, called "JASON" - July, August, Sept, Oct, Nov.

Feb - June ---- it rains buckets of money.

July - Nov ---- slow

Dec & Jan --- building


What CAN change that - somewhat - is having strong membership programs, different marketing, etc.

But this is a seasonal business - no matter what city or part of the country. Some SALONS do a better job counterbalancing that than others, but even they see seasonal differences.

muvibz

But are you actually only making 600.00 a month in the slow season in a large city. I have a population of 5790 people city wide, and 20,000 county wide. I think that it's gotta be somewhat better in the slow season in a larger area. I have a client base of about 150 people. My 1 mo unlimited any bed is 40.00, 2 person 1 mo. 70.00, I have a special that just stuck permanant is 12 sessions 40.00 no expiration and sharing is allowed. or 18 sessons for 55.00. I know my prices are less because 1 salon in montrose 29 miles away is much higher and their overhead is huge. I have mobile spray tanning 3 sprays for 65.00, Body wraps that really work 3 for 200.00 or 75.00 each. I have 2 stand ups 10 min beds, 3 solaris 442 15 min beds. I upgraded the bulbs to 7.0 UVB and my clients love their color. But after Country Jam the end of June we drop to 600.00 a month and I have to pay the rent which is double that plus utilities. I make my own brand of lotion and it's set up as a lotion bar. We recently redecorated to 50's Hollywood Glam. It seems to be liked. I also carry bikinis made by a fredericks of hollywood designer I sell for 10.00 flat. and I offer Body jewelry for a song. So I guess I don't know what I am doing wrong. I am from Los Angeles Originally, and I want to go home. But I figure Mereno Valley California is growing rapidly and it's close enough. I want to keep my business, but not if I have to support it for another 5 years. I don't expect to get rich but it would be nice if I could afford to hire 1 person and pay a couple of my bills personally once in a while. I am dedicated to my salon. But I think it's time to move. I just want to know what a biggger city slow season revenue looks like typically. I do maybe 600.00 a month. Is that the same for a large population. It will not get better here in Delta CO as this town is shrinking . 9 Years ago this town was at 7200 people. I has lost many peopl. The mines are closing the oil rigs are now illegal and closed. The businesses here are closing at an alarming rate. It will be a ghost town in 5 years at this rate and I need to know what you guys know about a tanning salons revenue in a large population with what I have explained.

Black Sun

It is all a numbers game..everything is proportionate. Because a salon is located in a 'metropolitan' area, is not/never a guarantee of success. The more people/prospects in a larger area generally equates to more salons. In Atlanta where I am, it is not unusual to see 3 salons at one major intersection..like gas stations and groceries. In fact, this is usually the case anywhere within the 15 county metro-area of Atlanta. If not on the same intersection, the same street..all within blocks of each other. Chicago, LA, NYC, SF are no different

If you are the only salon for 20,000 people, consider yourself lucky..

delany

Honestly, reach out to SunSally above about your pricing. She helped me a few years back when I had my salon and it increased my revenue significantly

delany

So you only make $600 a month total in slow season? so the salon isnt supporting itself after 5 years? I am in a large city and although my numbers dropped in slow season, the salon still maintained itself. So to answer your question, my sales didnt drop proportionately to yours.

what are your hours?

Steve Underhill

You are obviously leaving a lot of income on the table. If you are $7K season and $600 off season you are clearly structured to produce minimum income. Moving to another area will not make things better unless you make some important changes.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

toasted1

I would raise my prices across the board...

PlatinumTanTer

SunSally has it right on with JASON, but it varies from year to year.

This tanning season in San Diego is picking up early and nicely.

Regarding your pricing: As long as you're using high quality equipment and solution , I strongly recommend charging more for airbrush tanning than tanning bed tans (unless you just mean spray tanning like a Mystic).

As far as increasing profit and keeping the money coming in: Yes, memberships and EFT discounts are certainly the way to go. $600 sounds Way too low, proportionately.

Good luck!

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Terry

Platinum Tan & Skin Bar
The Premier Tanning Salon in San Diego