Feb
13
Should you invest in a tanning salon that didn’t do well? That can be a very tough question to answer. This type of business has the potential to do very well, so you should dig around to discover why it had to close down. Was the owner ill? Did they retire? Was the business making a profit? What type of customer base did they have? All of these questions can help you get to the core of the issue.
A tanning salon has to be easily accessible in order to do well. Customers want to be able to go tan before work, at lunch, and after work. They don’t want to spend a great deal of time traveling to the location. If the building is being leased it is possible for you to move the equipment to a new location though.
They may be going somewhere else already though. You need to find out what your competition is. Are there three other tanning salons in town or ten? These numbers are going to be a big issue to consider. How are you going to offer something more than what the others have? How are you going to get their customers to step into your business and try it out?
The equipment in the establishment may be old and outdated. As a result you may need to invest in new tanning equipment. This can be a very expensive prospect, but one that is necessary to get the customers walking into the business. Many consumers want to take advantage of the sunless tanning booths as well as those that offer UV rays.
It is important to take your own finances into consideration as well. Any type of business venture has some risk associated with it. If you are up to the challenge though it could end up being a very good experience for you. Understanding what you need to complete to transform the business is important. Having a realistic idea of the cost is also something you need to be looking at.
Money also needs to be allocated for the purpose of advertising your ownership of the business. Make sure you include information about the various changes you have made. You want people to be willing to give it a chance. If you offer great promotions it will get them in to check it out in larger numbers. Get the whole story »
Feb
08
Not all tanning salons are the same, and consumers are being more conscious about this. They want to get a deep golden color from their tanning efforts, but they also want to know they are safe, get the information they need, be treated well when they enter the facility, and have their appointment time honored. If a salon can’t offer all of this then they won’t remain in business very long.
One of the biggest issues to be concerned with is safety. Tanning is an option rather than necessity. You don’t want the experience to turn bad due to cords being out where you can trip or the sunning areas not being kept clean. The equipment also need to be well maintained with emergency shut off switches clearly marked.
Information is a key element of the salon services. There are many questions people will have when they come in. All of the staff members need to be well trained on these issues. Otherwise it negatively reflects on the standards of the business. People will want to know about the various types of equipment, how UV rays can affect them, and what products they should use to accelerate their tan.
People often go to a tanning salon rather than laying outdoors due to time restraints. Therefore a good salon needs to be firm about appointment times. If people are late they will have to reschedule. This way those people showing up on time for their appointments don’t get penalized for it. You need to ask the salon how they handle such issues so you can be prepared for them.
Make sure you check out the various types of tanning equipment in it. This way you can have what you want access to available. Most tanning salons offer both beds and booths. Not all of them do though so make sure you ask what they feature. Many have also added sunless tanning equipment for those that are concerned about UV rays but still want a great look. Get the whole story »
Feb
05
photo credit: rutlo
If you own or manage a tanning salon business, you are aware that the business can be profitable, but that also means that there will be plenty of other businesses competing for those profits. If a business does its job getting and keeping customers, there will likely be plenty of happy returns.
But there is always that outside chance that that customer base will temporarily or eventually dwindle. Offering services at cheaper prices just means that your tanning salon is guaranteed to be less profitable just so it can be more competitive. That is definitely not a great option for you. So how do you make sure that you are riding the right side of the tide?
There is one idea that you should give serious consideration to. A totally new concept in the salon business. Get the whole story »
Feb
01
Think of some original marketing ploys to encourage customers to tan at your business. There is already a market for this type of service so you just need to reach out there and grab it. Make sure customers know exactly what you have to offer so they can decide it is the right facility for them. Simply advertising your business isn’t enough due to the amount of competition that is out there.
What is it that you have to offer above and beyond the competition? These are the things that are going to get customers to come in. A common mistake is to be too broad in your advertising. For example you may say you are a full service tanning salon. What exactly does that mean? For the customers, it could be mean many different things.
You are likely very proud of your tanning salon so make sure that is reflected in your advertising. Tell them what you have as far as how many tanning areas and what types they are. Let them know you offer a full line of quality tanning products that they can offer. Also let them know that you offer eye protection and very clean tanning areas. All of these things are great angles for marketing your tanning salon.
No matter how great the things you offer at your tanning salon are, you need to offer convenience. People need to be able to get an appointment for the services they want that fits into their own schedule. Keep this in mind when you are setting up your hours of business. It is acceptable to extend them in the spring and summer and then go back to a standard day.
You may find you have to hire extra staff to cover the longer days of service but it will be very worth it. Yet this can often be students who are looking for part time work. Hire some for the morning and some for the afternoon and into evening so you have it all covered.
Personalized service is something that customers really enjoy. It doesn’t matter what type of service they are seeking. You have an advantage over the competition when it comes to those who have already been to your tanning salon before. Send them a newsletter or a postcard. It can be a great way to advertise without seeming so. Get the whole story »
Jan
06
Are you interested in learning how to open a tanning salon? Many people are as it is becoming quite a profitable business in most areas. There is no shortage of both men and women that want to look their very best. Getting a tan is one way to make your skin glow and to feel great. For those worried about skin cancer from UV rays, there are also sunless indoor tanning options that are definitely getting plenty of business.
One of the basics to cover with how to open a tanning salon is to know exactly what you are getting yourself into. While this can be a highly successful business there are also some pitfalls you don’t want to associate with. The most common one is getting involved with a high rate of overhead. While it is tempting to buy the best tanning equipment out there don’t get yourself committed to high monthly payments.
The next is simply not planning for the entire year. With a tanning salon business there are peaks and valleys along the year. The colder fall and winter months you have the slower your business will be during those months. Therefore you need to make sure you have enough money saved up to pay for expenses during that part of the year. Get the whole story »
Jul
01
One way to increase your profits at a tanning salon is to get people to come in all year long. This is mainly a seasonal business but you can encourage a large portion of your customer base to continue tanning all year long. This will take more work if you live in an area where there is a long bout of cold weather. However, it can be accomplished and you will find it allows your tanning salon to do much better financially.
There are some ways to make your tanning salon profitable all year long. Don’t expect the same volume of customers but you can definitely get more than you do now. It is going to take some creativity as well as some great deals though. The cost of tanning is generally done by the month or per session. Customers get a discounted price though if they sign up for the month though.
Let customers decide if they want to pay for tanning by the session, by the month, or by the year. Let them know they will save a significant amount of money if they pay annually. This will let you benefit from their investment and they can benefit from the savings. For those that tend to get extremely pale in the winter months, all year tanning many be just what they need to look their best.
If your customers don’t want to pay for a year long tanning package, you can offer them very low costs. For example you can charge half the price of tanning during this time of year than you normally would. Offer a buy one month and get one month free plan so they can take advantage of savings in various ways.
Appeal to the benefits of indoor tanning as well because some people don’t think about it. The sun is good for your health and when you don’t get enough of it you could get moody. The winter time blues are real and some people don’t deal well with it being dark when they get up in the morning and then dark again when they get out of work.
A lack of sunlight during the colder part of the year can create serious issues for a person. It has been linked to some types of mental health disorders. A person can suffer both physically and mentally from a lack of sunlight. When you are indoors all day and no windows for the sun to shine through it is even worse. You may be surprised what some UV ray exposure can do for your mood as well. Get the whole story »
Jun
27
Operating your own tanning salon may be your dream business, but you need to pay attention to some details. Otherwise this venture can quickly turn into a recurring nightmare that is quickly draining your bank account. People have certain expectations so you need to be prepared to meet them. You will find waiting for an open bed or booth isn’t going to go over well.
With a tanning business, you have to be ready to meet the needs of your customers. This means you are open early so they can tan before work and you stay open so they can tan after they get off. Make sure you don’t over book appointments as most of the people that come in will need to get in and out in a set period of time. If they are continually waiting around they will soon tire of it and go tan at another location.
The equipment isn’t cheap but you will need to invest in several pieces so that you can keep customers happy. The problem though is during slower times of the year you will lose more than half of your customers. They will be seasonal and come back each year around the spring. You need to make sure you budget your earnings so that you can cover operating expenses during the slower time of the year.
Be very careful when selecting the equipment for your salon. It needs to be safe and in good working condition. You need to do research on the brands and models you are looking at. New equipment is costly but you may be able to get a good deal on discontinued models. Just make sure they haven’t been discontinued due to poor reviews. If you look at used equipment you need to carefully inspect it before you commit to buying it.
Make sure you are able to offer people good advice when they come to your salon. This includes information on how long they should tan initially, the risks of UV damage to their skin, and the right products to accelerate their tanning for their skin type. Keeping up on this information is going to require some dedication to reading materials. You will also need to share the information you find with your staff that will be assisting customers. Get the whole story »
Jun
17
If you want to start a tanning bed salon then you are lining yourself up for a very lucrative business opportunity. Despite some negative press about tanning beds, the tanning bed business is booming. However, you know that you want to start a tanning bed salon business but you may not be sure of how to go about it, so here are a few first steps you should consider as you plan to get started.
Know your starting budget
Like any business if you are starting from scratch there are going to be start up costs. The costs are going to be various things from getting equipment to having money for premises, and also cash flow to pay yourself and any employees for the first month or two as your business starts up, and also marketing so that people know you are there. Taking all of this into consideration you should therefore set yourself a budget to work in and make sure you stick to it so that you are not creating any financial headaches for yourself before you even get going properly.
Know Your Competition and USP
There are quite a few tanning salons these days so it would make sense to visit any in the area where you are planning to open up. When you visit these salons make sure you check out the decor and what they are charging their clients. How does there salon make you feel? If it makes you feel relaxed and comfortable then use some of that in your salon. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then do the opposite of that salon.
Also what can you do to make you a bit different and build your USP (unique selling proposition). Do a little bit of lateral thinking, something like a free drink for your customer or maybe have a beautician working at the salon so the client can get a manicure or something similar after they have had their tanning session. Get the whole story »
Should you invest in a tanning salon that didn’t do well? That can be a very tough question to answer. This type of business has the potential to do very well, so you should dig around to discover why it had to close down. Was the owner ill? Did they retire? Was the business making a profit? What type of customer base did they have? All of these questions can help you get to the core of the issue.
