Why not have minutes?

[essentials]

Still getting my "sea legs" since we've only been in business for a year, but we have given away free tans for certain things...

Our community has a "Girls Nite Out" event for charity. The tickets are $25 each and about 100 gift bags are given out. The event caters to our target market and we've gotten a 100% package purchase rate from the ones that have been redeemed.

Secondly, I will give free tan cards to customers that have brought in business or those who I feel will bring in quality customers. I usually give two cards and tell them they can use them themselves, or give them to people they think would like it. Everybody likes something for free, and they are quite happy with the gesture.

Both the cards and the certificates are unrestricted- any unit, any time, and it has worked for us.

[GreatShapeCo]

Hi all,
I am new here and a new owner. (Since June 2008)
I am wondering what the deal is with so many posts that I see that say we shouldn't have minute packages, unlimited packages etc? This may sound naive, but I won't know unless I ask.

[Tanning Queen]

Great Shape,

Welcome to the site and to tanning! I would suggest you start a new thread with your questions. Hijacking a thread will not really get you the results you are looking for. A new thread will get you the answers you need.

With that said, I will answer your question here, and then you can start a new thread with your questions and go from there.

Minutes will kill your income. It costs you the same to turn the bed on for 5 min or 20 min for the most part. Minutes end up costing you in the long run. People will milk them and take a 100 min package and make it into 10 sessions when it really should be 5 20 min sessions (just as an example). YOu just made HALF the income you would on a session package at the same price.

People are paying for a tan, not time. One person can handle less exposure than another. But everyone should pay the same.

[GreatShapeCo]

Sorry I wasn't trying to hijack the thread. I was just trying to post my query in a thread that had a similar topic for what I was looking for answers to. Most forums I have been on want that type of thing instead of having 65 threads that ask the same question. Sorry if I wasn't correct in that one...

I saw another thread with some info and I get the pay for a tan thing. I don't really 100% agree with all of it, I have one albino girl coming in and she can only do 2 minutes at a time. It is shameful to charge her session pricing on that I think. I don't think my brain can handle that one. I am thinking about changing to sessions but not sure how, I have posted in the other thread to see if I can get some assistance with how to price things. I am lost when it comes to that, I have worked here for 8 years, but always just did what I was told.
Thanks for answering....

[Tanning Queen]

Dont worry about hijacking and no need to apologize. Just thought i would guide you before you got jumped on. Plus, I figure you will get better answers with yuour own thread.

HOnestly, if she really is albino, or even skin type 1, she shouldnt be tanning at all. But, if you MUST do something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, you can do a custom package only for her. Tell her she can not tell anyone about it and it will be sold only to her.

Now, you need to start dumping those old units. They are work horses and you will never really have an issue with them. I know cuz I had them! I actually was an all stand up salon when I started out. I kept 2 of the 40 lamp 100w units but I rebuilt them to have better airflow. If yours are original, you will DIE in them from the heat!

Look into purchasing a better unit. Get a good Suncapsule VHR unit. Find a used one and you will be fine. Start phasing out the old ones and st art making money!

[GreatShapeCo]

I appreciate your time, the plan is to get a VHR, maybe two of them. It all depends on the almighty dollars that I have. I really don't want to get rid of the older units until I can afford it, so they have to stay for a while. So far the only issue is the stupid timers, not expensive, just hard to get parts for. I love the shop as it is, I want to see changes for the better, it will just take time. They are original, and the clients like them. The hotel is moving me to a new spot in a few months due to renovations, so when all that takes place, my plan is to have one newer bed and still utilize the older units until I can get more newer ones.
My girlie has been coming to the salon for two years, her Doc and I have spoken and we take really good care of her. This year she got up to 5 minutes 3 times a week and actually got a little colour. She was sooo happy with her panty tan line! Her skin is doing really well and she has gradually started to lose a little bit of her facial hair. It is amazing. She has never burned or even got a freckle...I don't think I have ever seen such a happy white client...

Curious, how did you rebuild the older units for better airflow? I assume a bigger fan, bigger holes at the bottom??

[Tanning Queen]

I had installed new/bigger fans, ordered new roofs for the booths from Suncap sothey would fit right. You can order new floors too that are vented so ther eis more airflow. But honestly, i wouldnt bother too much. You are going to spend a few hundred per booth retro fitting it when you could use that money towards a bigger better unit.