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Tanning Salon Management Salon management help here.

View Poll Results: Where is our salon lacking the most? www.tantasticauburn.com
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Old 08-06-2013, 12:55 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Question Tanning Salon owner needs help....

My wife and I opened a tanning salon in Auburn Alabama back in 2008. It took 3 years to see a decent return on our investment. We really need some suggestions for improvements. Our busy season consists of January, Feb, Mar, & April, some times May. We see great profits during those months. I believe it always helps for a fresh set of eyes to take a look in to our business to get some good ideas of what we can do to make business better. I own another business that provides a steady income, and it runs itself so I do have the majority of my focus on this salon for now. The other tanning saloon in the area, Palm Beach Tan, which all of you know is a huge corporation so we honestly do not even try to compete with them. College students and nurses seem to be our main clientele. Anyone willing can visit www.tantasticauburn.com to view everything we offer as well as all the tanning beds we have and price lists. We have a standup booth, bronzing bed, 3 level 2 beds, 3 level 1 beds. I'm Mark and my wife is Christina btw. Any and all suggestions, comments, and opinions will be highly appreciated.
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Old 08-06-2013, 02:55 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Hello Mark, if you are just now finding this site read it for days on end; you will get so many ideas.

I don't have time to look at it right now, but there are great people on here who will give you honest feedback (keep thick skin with some of them).

Best wishes,
Tom
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Old 08-06-2013, 04:17 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Thank you for being up front and honest. I will begin researching.
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Old 08-06-2013, 05:07 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Search EFT on this site. A monthly recurring payment option for clients is the only thing keeping most salons afloat during the year.
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Old 08-06-2013, 05:53 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Great suggestion, thanks for the quick reply.
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Old 08-06-2013, 07:29 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Do you have sunless in your salon?
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Old 08-06-2013, 07:33 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

We do, my wife was just certified and we bought an air gun spray tan kit. I really need to update that on our website don't I. Thank you for mentioning that, that's something huge I carelessly overlooked. Do you have any suggestions for tanning packages mixed with sprays tans? Thanks for the reply.
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Old 08-07-2013, 02:11 AM   #8 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Expect some critical critiques..

My take: Your background music on your site needs to go...first thought that came to my mind, 'Starwars'. Better to have no music. Most readers/viewers are there to read, observe. Music distracts, in fact, may turn many off and away. Try to get away from a 'generic' looking site. Invest the small $$ into a better site. Auburn I am sure has some savvy techno nerds who you can find to do an upgrade for little money.

..and GET RID OF the word 'burn' in your web address(www.tantasticauburn.com. No way should that word be associated with tanning...Yes, I get it it is part of AUBURN, but, my eyes (obviously) focused on the 'burn' portion...and if I did, so can others. I'd change that if you upgrade the site.

Salon decor looks good, like the concrete stain floors, at least it appears to be

Beds are 'ok' beds. Tropical Rays? Not the best, and with those beds, it would be hard to compete with PB. However, you need to change your attitude about, 'not even compete' with them. Every competitor should be viewed as such, and viewed as a threat against your livelihood.

Is your level 1 bed a 28 lamper (it looks it). If so, plan in the future to gradually replace.
Base beds should be, at minimum, 32 lampers. Try to also plan on offering some form of HP.

Pricing structure seems low. I have not seen prices like that since the '80's. I'd increase it, and extend your 'VIP' to be more than 3 months..make it a year. EFT should be on-going, with a 30-day cancellation.
You NEED to compete.

Also, showing a profit after 3 years is normal...it takes that long, or longer.

Don't give up.
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Old 08-07-2013, 09:59 AM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

Good suggestions, thank you. We are currently looking to replace the level 1 beds. Any suggestions on brands to check out?
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Old 08-07-2013, 11:09 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: Tanning Salon owner needs help....

"Level 1" beds should be the least used beds in the salon and the beds that you make the least revenue on. Leave them alone and concentrate on getting VHR and HP beds so you can make some decent money. Plenty of good used beds available right now.

Your beds don't matter if they don't work with a well thought out business model. Your business plan should dictate your bed line up.
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