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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".

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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^^^^Hope you're right.

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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.

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

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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!

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We also did great our first two years. As our bed salesmen told us when we first opened in 2005, you're only new once, so make the best of it. Keep up the good numbers.

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No one is pulling my leg, I get the sales reports and put the changes in place. While the rules are always changing it should never cause you to decline in sales. Sales are not declining because of rule changes. they are declining because you have not changed how you play the game.

Losing young tanners because of regulations is not having that much impact on sales. Negative press can have a very short term effect on the thinking of tanners, but only for a very short period of time. Why? Because the need to look good and feel good about yourself trumps everything and the consumer has a short memory.

Changes in your salon structure and pricing can increase sales to the point that a slight drop off because of negative press is complete a moot issue. Watch the Radio Shack super bowl commercial, it says it all. There must be change to grow your business.

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You should strive to always be new. New is a perception based on what a tanner sees and feels. Just like a car that can be kept in new condition for ever or a new car that can get run down in just a year. It is up to you to make sure that if a new tanner comes to your salon, based on what they see and feel is likely to ask you did you just open. Keep it new and fresh as a top priority. If a salon looks like it is old it is just lazy on the operators part.

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I think this may be the problem. If you are the same salon you were 9 years ago it is having an impact on sales. Nothing is the same as 5 years ago as far as the consumer is concerned. Sometimes we get stuck in our ways and look for reasons for a declining business when the reason is you. Embrace and be a part of or maybe even the initiator of change.

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What city are you in?

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We are way up in same store sales for Jan. Looking forward to a great 2014!

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January # are down , Because of weather here in Mass the cold as well as the snow has been bad this year with a report of 3 storm coming this week, one already pass it going to put a dent in trafffic flow again. When the weather here is good we are tanning , say what you want about advertising, you pay all this $$$ and the weather if not good you will lose no matter what. USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE.

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I am not the same salon I was 9 years ago. I have done many updates in those nine years, like increasing my bed count and mix from 11 units to 20 total. I have tried many different things, to increase my sales, and I'm not just sitting on my hands. Even with everything I have tried, my sales continue to decrease every year. I'm thinking of also decreasing my bed count, as I certainly don't need more then 5-8 beds. Anybody in the market for some old, junky tanning beds? lol

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There are reasons beyond our control at work in the Tanning industry. They may or may not be reduced by owner changes to the business. Sometimes it is just that you are too established and need a complete makeover, sometimes you just need to hang it up. I have been in those situations, so I know.

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I do think it's time to hang it up, but if I can continue as is, and put a few thousand in my pocket every month, that isn't all bad. Besides, I still enjoy what I do, and this is good.

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If you can make any money with minimal effort and cost, why not?

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Exactly my thoughts. I plan on running this salon, until I can't anymore. Then, I'll just junk out the beds, and rent out the building, or the college always need parking; they can tear down the building. I'm not at all worried about my situation, here.

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You must always reinvest in your business. A little each year so you are not looking at major changes all at one time. this is where part of the problem is. Not investing in the continued success of your business.

You must look like a tanning salon that is actually in the business of selling tanning services and products. Most salons I walk into are not set up to sell survives and products. Creating a buying environment as opposed to a selling environment will always generate more income, 100% of the time.

So many of you sound like you are just waiting for things to fail. So many people would give anything to own their own business. Those of you that have a business which is the hard part are not willing to fight and do every thing you can to be successful.

Having beds and unlocking the door is not a formula for success. Think what it would be like to go back to work for someone else. that should be motivation to evaluate, make changes, find money if needed and turn that salon around.

I work with operators that will do what it takes to succeed and I also work with those that want an easy fix. You get out what you put in. Guidance and willingness to make those hard changes will change your situation.

Or sit there and wait for it to all be taken away.

I am not talking about anyone specifically. If the shoe fits wear it, if not ignore my plea to control your own destiny.

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Change the name of your store, take a year off, let someone else run your store, put a grand opening sign out front. Then pretend that the store is under new management. After running a tanning salon for 17 years, sometimes customers just need to see a new face. I've been there, I know.

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And...................... All the dead beats and bottom feeders will return

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As long as they came with money to spend, I wouldn't care.

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Integrity mean much to you Peach?

Lie to your clients...
Make it look like the business failed...

Studious advice there sir

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AMEN :)

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I think the peach's prime has past.........

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Indeed.

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You guys are so keyed up to kill me that you don't realize a joke when you hear one! I bet you guys are the life of the party.

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Who would define any potential customer that way? Sounds like you could use some of Steve U's PR training. I'm sure he will give you a deal.

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Yeeeeeeeeeeeah. Blame the weather. http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...Laughing-2.gif

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I don't blame the weather. Its this great booming economy that we have going here.

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The peach is no longer ripe.

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Economy? It's all the negative press and what not, that will continue until you are all out of bidness. IMO of course.

lol................................. :)

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But, I'm having a ball, so who gives a sheet. lol and keep smiling

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Just ask our Prez....1/6 of the US on food stamps, 91 million out of the workforce, Zero inflation, 25% unemployment for teenagers, the FDA and EPA keeping us all safe, Obamacare going on, and the minimum wage going to $10.10 an hour, man, we should all be rolling in the dough, shouldn't we?

I just want to be the first tanning salon to take SNAP, but Tony probably has the inside edge with all that hi-tech equipment.

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"Have no fear". This is why I've been self-employed for the last 33 years.