New Salon

[megan]

Ok I am opening a new salon. Tanning & Boutique. It's my first one and although I have done a lot of research, I am still new at it. One thing I have to my advantage is that my husband is a builder/developer and he is the one building it and the owner of the shopping center where the salon is going. So my rent is cheap for 1600 sq. ft. We live in a small suburb that is about 15 minutes to town. In the nearby town there are plenty of tanning salons but in our small community there aren't any. Within a 6 mile radius there are 28,000 people and 92% of that population is white. I know 28,000 isn't a whole lot but within 6 miles it is and there is no competition at all out here. There is one road going through here and there is nothing here. I know people would also drive from town out here if they liked it. I am doing a small boutique in the front of the store and 8 beds starting out plus spray and room to add additional beds if needed. We are paying a little less rent than most people would since it is our own building plus we already have 3 phases put in. We will not have a credit line to pay because we are trying to do the build out ourself. But we are leasing our equipment for 3 years. I am going with a very elegant, modern, posh, upscale salon. We have went over some numbers and went with expeceting the lowest income and the highest that our monthly bills could be just to make sure we could float it. Since this is my first salon I need all the help and advice I can get. I would appreciate some input from experienced salon owners. Thanks a lot!

[Din]

Was there a question?

[Derf]

I agree.

[megan]

Well I would just like suggestions, advice, etc.

[glowgirl35]

Ask us questions and we will give you advice! Trust me.....we could go on for days!!!!!!!!!!!!! What equip. line are you carrying? do you know anything about running a salon? are you doing any spa services? do you know about advertising?

[megan]

I am using prosun equipment. Already have beds picked out and pricing, all that good stuff. I have ideas for advertising. I guess my main question would be, what is the main thing I should focus on for making the business work? Is it the pricing, advertising, etc. There are no spa services other than spray tanning. I am doing a boutique in the front with swimsuits and just cute tops and things. I just don't want to do one thing completely wrong and the business fail. I have went over my estimated expense/income reports and it seems as if even in the slow months I can still make it. I had just been reading some posts from other salon owners and they just made it sound so scary! lol...so I thought you guys might have some words of advice for new salon owners since you've been there, done that and learned from your mistakes.

[Din]

First mistake you should learn from is ProSun is not the greatest beds to buy.

What made you come up with ProSun as the bed of choice for you?

[b.v.]

?????????????? Where

[glowgirl35]

I agree, Prosun.....if you did your homework is not the best choice. To make a salon work, you want to stand out...above the competition, have a super clean, funky salon and have great pricing and specials. Who is your spray tan by?
advertising is key, especially with a new salon. Do alot of grand opening specials, have everything stocked, good lotions etc and make sure you and your staff are knowledgeable!!

[EliteMike]

BLAH BLAH BLAH, PROSUN SUCKS, time to move on people. Time to check out the new equipment.

You'll be fine with Prosun as long as you go with X5s or 7s

Everyone that knocks prosun has not seen a new bed hands on

[Din]

This isn't to knock your equipment selection or your thinking behind the choice made, but until YOU tan in real beds and compare the quality of the bed, quality of the tan...you will then understand.

[EliteMike]

DIN, have you ever tanned in a new X5 or X7?

[glowgirl35]

I have and to be honest, in comparison, I don't think it compares. Everyone has their personal preference but I carry a bunch of different equipment lines and prosun DOES NOT compare, sorry. Back to her, we are here to help, everyone has opinions so you may need to filter out certain info. that you receive! Din, I'm with ya buddy!!

[megan]

Well I am a tanner myself and have used numerous beds. And yes I have tanned in the X7 and it seemed to be good. I am going with the X7, the X5, the X10 which is supposed to be awesome. 4 15min. onyx's and the V9 standup. I have checked out other equipment and I have been tanning for years. I didn't see what was wrong with Prosun. I can't travel around and try out every brand out there. I only tried out the X7 once so I can't say that it gave me a great tan but when I got out I saw results. Also a salon that is on the top 250 uses prosun and I have visited some of the salons that use them and they are doing remarkable. Some are even opening up 2 to 3 more additional salons.

[megan]

To make a salon work, you want to stand out...above the competition, have a super clean, funky salon and have great pricing and specials. Who is your spray tan by?
advertising is key, especially with a new salon. Do alot of grand opening specials, have everything stocked, good lotions etc and make sure you and your staff are knowledgeable!!

Glowgirl I was responding to your post. I am definetly on the right track to making my salon different from everyone else's and standing out. I am going with a very elegant, sophisticated look but modern. All of our tanning salons around here are just pretty average but I want to make my very unique. An upscale look with leapard print chairs and cool light fixtures. I am the type of person that wants the best of the best so I want the best of the lotions and will definetly keep them stocked. The spray tan will be done by me.

[Shane]

PLEASE don't make your decisions because a salon is in the "Top 250". Most salon owners will tell you flat out that it's a joke. It's nice to get so you can advertise that to your clients, but the top 250 is one of the biggest jokes in the industry.

[megan]

Ok well I take that out then lol. But I have contacted other salons using prosun equipment just to see how they were doing and one of them were in the process of opening another salon because that one was so busy. But they did a lot of extras like parties and bikini contests and they were great on advertising. But if the beds were that bad I don't think their business would be doing good.

[Din]

Originally Posted by EliteMike

DIN, have you ever tanned in a new X5 or X7?

Mike, have you ever tanned in a Sungate, How about a KBL 7900/Convertible (Diva 7)....hmmmm.....okay...how about UWE S-Class? Any of the above? If you have, you wouldn't be saying what you are saying Mike. I don't own any of the above, nor do i own Prosun.

BUT the moral of the story is....they out tan all others and i wish i had gone with them...and I am working my way towards buying THOSE beds and replacing all my beds and am pissed i spent $150,000+ on beds that i should have opened with less beds and bought BETTER beds instead of going full out or buying all/most of my beds just cuz they are cheaper in price.

If you want to make the same mistake as many have on here...then stick to your guns, buy whatever equipment you have set in your mind cuz you either already own them or have tanned in them for years or because 1 salon is in the top 250 has them. Did you look at the other 249 salons and what they have?

It's not about what beds you have in the top 250, it's how many beds, how many levels, what else you have to offer, looks of salon, etc... Heck, ETS salons made it in there...that goes to show you a lot.

If you want advice.....we are giving it to you. BUT, do not try and defend your choices when someone tells you YOU ARE WRONG
by choosing those beds or doing something. If you want someone to agree with you and your choices, call your mother. If you want REAL advice from professionals, veterans and technicians...then you came to the right place.

Whether you want to take that advice is your decision.

Good luck to you.

[Din]

we aren't telling you what to buy....we're just telling you that there are dozens of other beds that will out tan Prosun. I don't care if it's an X5 , X7, Qtip, ZZtop.......no if's and or buts about it.

Keep your options open

[megan]

Wow you guys are really harsh lol. The reason I defended my choise was because someone asked "what made you go with prosun". I was just giving my thoughts on the beds like everyone else was. So then tell me, what is the best beds to go with?