Thoughts on Sessions

[daredvl_edm]

I am curious to know on people's thoughts on Sessions. I currently have 2 super beds - 32 and 34 100 watt lamps, and 2 hex - 40 160 lamps and 2 regulars at 30 100 watts. I sell minutes, and monthly unlimited currently, but am curious on everyones thoughts on sessions and a pricing strategy that would benefit the industry.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks.

[Rob]

i dropped minutes 3 years ago and it was th best thing I ever did. We went to a point systems because you can offer your customer 1 tanning package that will allow them to use any bed in your salon. Sessions are great but you will have a harder time changing to that simply because it would be more difficult to make it compatible with all your units.

Example....100 points = $40
Your 32 and 34 lamp bed = 30 points
Your hex = 40 points
Your regulars = 20 points

THis is an example. You can offer one package and they have a choice of any unit in your place. Give them flexability and they'll love it.

[phattmatt]

I am wondering how a 100w units got the title= Super Bed?

Maybe they have a huge red "S" on the top of the canopy?

[Rob]

you would be suprised what people up here in the "Great White North" name their units.

I just took over a location that closed down. They had older sundash 226 units. They were calling them "super beds".

I think they were naming them that cause there was a salon down the road that named their beds that. So now they could call theirs "super beds" and charge a cheaper price. The general public has no idea what the difference is, they jsut know that xyz salon has their super bed at $12 drop in and abc salon has their super bed at 7.95 drop in.

Which one would you choose?

[daredvl_edm]

I call mine a super just because its got 3 face tanners, and its more appealing to the public of course than just a regular bed.

So now back to the question at hand....... So points then???? Points are good, however I am concerned people might feel ripped off. If you say 10 points for a hex and that is either for 5 min or 10 min, how is that fair. I don't think my tanners would be okay with that.

[northtanman]

Minutes work for smaller salons or salons that don't have alot of upgrades to choose from. Minutes are super for the bottom scraper type clients. Minutes are not good for salon owners.

sessions or units or stars...(all the same) work well for salons with upgrades to choose from. I have 7 different types of tanning units...all with star values attached...meaning anywhere from 1 to 6 stars to use each type...no matter how many minutes you go. So, clients buy a pre determined amount of "stars" and can use any piece of equipment...

but for the client thats used to only going in standard level one beds...that is used to only going 10 minutes down the road at xyz salon, they are happier with minutes. They are'nt happy that its one star to go in my level one beds for only half a session. Can't please everyone, and the salon down the street selling minutes and that will keep this client, is'nt making a buck off them anyhow.

I want my clients to use upgrades anyhow!!

ps, i don't call a 3 facial bed a "super bed" either although when its in a mix of 24 lamp level one beds, i can see how they get away with this. I have a 32 lamp reflector lamped bed with one 400 watt facial, my least expensive upgrade. (not super bed) I might call my orbits, which are 44 vhr/vho's and 4 - 1000 watt facials, a super bed! But then what would i call my omega and ergo 650? A whole lotta super beds?

It can get confusing...But i do like the mix. Also have 2 different stand ups...clients can't get tired of the same, ol same ol.

[W8INLINE]

Points are good, however I am concerned people might feel ripped off. If you say 10 points for a hex and that is either for 5 min or 10 min, how is that fair. I don't think my tanners would be okay with that.

How many of those tanners will help you pay the rent if you are short one month? Who owns the salon... you or your tanners? Who's the decision maker? Are you a push over? FAKEM ™ Charge what you need to make a living and thats that.... You seem to care more about them than they would about you.

[Rob]

You ARE selling tans....not time. If they want to buy time, tell them to go to Rogers and buy more time for their phone.

[daredvl_edm]

I am curious to know more of the point system here. In edmonton, all the salons base everything on minutes or sessions. Did you gradually end your minutes and then just go to points? How was the response? I like the idea of the flexibiltiy, as with minutes, its a huge pain in the ass to convert everything all the time.

Any more information would be great.

Thanks Rob :-)

[Rob]

No, we started Jan 1 with points. we did keep 1 small min package for each LP unit. But its not advertised.

At first, it was tough. But after explaining to them the flexibility, they started to like it better. Now, We have no problem at all selling our points. Even when we have new people move into our town, we have no problem.

[Island Cove]

If you say 10 points for a hex and that is either for 5 min or 10 min, how is that fair. I don't think my tanners would be okay with that.

How fair is minutes for you? Not much. besides the cost to run the unit electrical and lamps, when you add up ALL the costs that unit incures you, did you know a base bed costs you at least $3 per session to run, no matter if they go three minutes or 20 minutes? see how much money you LOST when you run that unit for 3 minutes on a minutes package. YOu should be paid per tan. We are not in the business of selling time, last i checked we were selling tans. People must remember that your in business to make money. If customers had it there way, they would be tanning for free!

We were nervous when we did the switch from minutes to points, so we did keep one small minutes package going (at top dollar) for the minute diehards. But if you just tell customers that the points or sessions are the most popular way to go... and don't present the minutes package unless its a last resort, eventualy points or sessions will win. Especialy with new customers coming through the door that never saw your old pricing.

[daredvl_edm]

Thanks for the great info. I am positive sessions and/or points are the way to go. If I did start it and keep a small minute package for people who are the long timers, this would work. I am going to start introducing it very soon.

Thanks again:-)

[EliteMike]

HOw about lets just drop the whole bed naming thing all around. The whole super, turbo, super dooper sizzling speed bed thing just sounds tacky. That's just my .02

If you want to differentiate with names, the metal names work

bronze, silver, gold, plat. or just use level 1, 2, 3, 4

[Brian Oshman]

Minutes are death!®

Minutes just leaves money on the table. The customers think they like it cuz they can stretch out the time. All this does is make you less money and the end result suffers.

Drop minutes at the beginning of the year. Cold turkey, no smoothing into it. Sessions and points only. Make this one and only change this season and your bottom line will signifigantly increase.

[MacDaddy]

Originally Posted by Rob

You ARE selling tans....not time. If they want to buy time, tell them to go to Rogers and buy more time for their phone.

Alot of business such as Gyms sell time. They are EFT based businesses and they sell time to you to use their facility. If you don't use it, they still get paid.

[daredvl_edm]

Lots of great information. I have just implemented the sessions as of today, and got rid of one of the minute packages. The previous owner had so many minute packages, so i removed one from the board. I am still offering 2 minute packages, however at the beginning of the year, i will only have the one minute package for the long timers, and beginner tanners. Now I just have to see how the sessions will do. Tonight when i get busy will be the test. :-)

[Din]

you don't need minutes for nobody. Drop them and switch to packages all one shot.

[daredvl_edm]

k, now Din.... I am curious on something though. If a person who never tans comes in and is very fair skinned. Would a small minute package not be good for her. This is why I am thinking of keeping a small one for the virgin tanners. Sessions for everyone else. Ur thoughts please.......

[Rob]

Thats when you bring in High Pressure!!

[EliteMike]

what everyone has been saying is you pay for results, not time. If you are getting results, ie. all your skin can handle within a few minutes, those are results aren't they. that is a full session for you.