parrot head

Just looked at my JANUARY numbers, and I'm down 30% over last January. January usually dictates how the rest of my year will be, so I guess I've got not much to look forward to. My options are limited, so I'll just tough it out, and enjoy life. "Don't worry be happy".

parrot head

In analyzing my numbers, and looking at the "Whys" of why I'm down so far, I determined the weather was mostly the cause. January was one of the coldest and had the most snowfall of many years. Nobody moved around, let alone drove or walked to the tanning salon. The first two weeks of February are also going to extremely cold and snowy.

tanu01

The weather has determed the tanning climate since last March.
This is the first real winter weve had in many years. After this brief warm up this weekend tanning should be a go from here on out.

What happened to the tanners in Nov. and Dec. I'll never figure out.

Steve Underhill

While January was an unusual month due to the cold snap as a whole. If you are properly structured and marketing your salon, 2013 was up over 2012, this trend will continue for 2014. On the other hand if there are holes in your structure and are not taking advantage of todays advertising opportunities your numbers were down in 2013 over 2012 and this is probably a trend that goes back much further. You can expect this trend to continue for 2014 if you have not made changes.
This is an email I just received yesterday.
"We had our best year ever last year and I know the new price plan was the reason."
This is typical for any salon that makes positive changes.

My point is that while a cold snap will have a short term effect on income it does not represent your future. Adjusting how you do business will.
Valentine and the super bowl are here, build some marketing around them. Take a close look at your entire price structure and that goes deeper than just the price. Formula for marketing your price structure is all part of the bigger picture. Here is another email. "Good news for the month of January we are up 45% over last year's sales." This is not an accident.

__________________
Stephen Underhill
Consultant
steve@smuconsulting.com

parrot head

Another factor, which is effecting our business, is the fact that the bad media blitz is finally getting to the younger tanners. I know of many former customers of ours that just don't tan any more. It's either the fact that they don't have the funds to spend on tanning, or they are afraid of getting skin damage, or worse, cancer. This is a losing battle, I'm afraid. As far as someone being up 45% over last year, I think they may be pulling your leg a little, Steve.

DH

Also, remember your government is holding their tax refund hostage until February 1st this year! Things will change this week.

parrot head

^^^^Hope you're right.

tanu01

I'm down about 30-40 people per day with 2 new salons in town. One of them Rob Q, from ITA - like they'll get any more support.

parrot head

I don't tan many more then that in a day. I remember doing over 200 a day 9 years ago.

Tan Idaho

Its my first year in this salon that has gone through a couple of owners in its 10 ish years of operation.
January, was amazing! We beat numbers back to 2007!
This is a small salon; 8 tanning beds/booths, a Hydration Station that was never used, and airbrushing equipment. Last summer, I added waxing and a HydroMassage bed and now am getting a room ready for eyelash extensions.
This little salon began to see 50 to almost 80 clients in one day this past January. Not a big deal for you big guys, but for this salon, it has NEVER in it's past 10 years of being open seen 70 clients in one day!! Too, we are gaining an average of 6 new clients a day! We have been able to run the shop with one person on at a given time, now we need two team members to take care of the salon and its clients.
I checked the reports of when the busiest traffic is here, that's March and April. I am VERY optimistic on how 2014 will turn out!
Best of wishes!