To all of you non believers. I have owned and operated my own businesses for over 23 years (Non-Tanning.) When I decided to enter the tanning business I did my research over a 2 year period. I went to trade shows, talked to and reviewed every major tanning bed manufacture. I visited over a 100 salons in various States looking for ideals. I looked at the way they market there salons, the type of packages they sell and why, the type of equipment they carry and why, I looked very closely at how many levels of equipment they had and why. I looked at independents and franchises. And I determined to my satisfaction who was profitable and why.
I discovered that there are many ways of operating, marketing and setting up a winning program. I know from trial and error from past business experience that site location is a very tricky and a key ingredient to a winning program. I discovered that I put one of businesses (non-tanning) in a location that was good and profitable but, was just not quite right. A few years later in a costly move I relocated it to a new location just 200 yards away and saw an extra 350k in sales per year. A 40% increase from moving just down the street to much better location witch I should have looked at in the first place. My point is do your research and look and get help from someone you know is qualified and avoid costly mistakes.
There are so many variables in putting together a winning program you need to make sure you do it right the first time and avoid those costly mistakes. I have always done pretty well in my other business ventures and was smart enough to know that in the tanning business I needed help. I started looking for a consultant. I talked to a lot of salon owners and did a lot of online research.
One name kept coming up and I gave him a call. I literally talked to him for hours on the phone over several weeks and questioned his every suggestion. I am hard to satisfy when I am about to invest money in a new business venture. I finally agreed to go to Dallas to meet with him and listen to his whole program. I was very impressed and new I had found the winning program I was looking for.
I could ramble on to make my point but I think you get the ideal. If you have a salon or you are interested in opening one or more. IMHO you owe it to your self to give Stephen Underhill a call and in list his help in your new venture. I did and I have opened 3 very successful locations in a short time and more are planed in the future.
I was not asked to write this by anyone and received no financial gain for doing so. This is just my attempt to try and help those wanting to enter the tanning business or those in business now and wanting a better your program.
Good luck with your new venture.
Steve
Pacific Tan |