Tanning industry not for feint hearted

[cybertanned]

If your thinking of opening up, before you even consider where, how or with whom, take a day or so to read through the threads in on this site. Get a feel for what problems can occur and how hard it may be to get over them. Within this forum there are questions people ask you never would have thought of. and the people on here are damn brilliant so take notes, use them and succeed. Learn from peoples mistakes, excel from others experience.

This is not a noddy set-up, there are no EASY money making opportunities..if you want easy money marry a millionaire. You gotta have a hell of alot of determination, guts a whole lot of personality, endless patience and most of all common sense.

Just because you go tanning and the girl is doing nothing, but sitting behind the desk yet taking your money to start the bed doesn't mean that if you open up you will be doing the same thing.

Working for a good, well reputed salon will mean being able to sell, clean and generally run the salon without losing money, without damaging assets etc.

Running and owning a salon?
You have to know what to order, how long the lead time is across various suppliers, what the lotions and merchandise do and how they do it.

You have to decide what beds to get, how your going to finance them or pay for them (a salon full of good beds will cost you the same as at least two new cars), what timers you will use, what lamps to use to keep up with your competition, who will wire your beds up, whether or not the electric supply is configured for your needs (it can cost thousands and thousands to upgrade your elcetric supply depending on the site you are setting up in, what power is available there etc.)

You have to price your sessions and packages right, to optimize sales and cover variable and fixed costs and whatever profit margin you configure.

Don't expect too much profit to start with, it can take years of re-investment before you can reasonably take pay from your salon. Decide how hard you want to work versus payroll expenditure. This is the tricky bit, if you want staff to run it for you while you work its gonna cost you and your salary may be thrown into your salon to cover payroll and other tangible and non tangible costs. If you don;t work another job your basically counting on your salon to put bread on the table, AFTER expenses have been paid..very scary.

Advertising
Don't mean to be a hypocrit as we didnt do enough of it, so I'm talking from experience. Make sure you ADVERTISE...Saturate the market with your name if you can..I'm sure Gary from Grip Marketing wil do a better job of convinicing you than I can.

Expect LONNGGG hours...you really have to throw yourself into it, be prepared, in this industry there are many many things to go wrong that keep you busy in your first two years and then some. There are the little things too like whether you want internet access, getting it sorted, getting a phone / fax line sorted, calling suppliers and satocking up on starters and other essentials. Your dossing about clubbing and drinking time will be nullified if you want to make it work...

these are only a few factors that go into RUNNING a salon. If your really not sure DON'T DO IT. Your best bet is to see if you can get a job at a salon, maybe even shadowing someone for a while to see what is involved and expected of you, and remember even doing that won't guaruntee your ready for your own salon..there is always a risk...assess the strength of the industry as a whole, check the market need to see if in your area salons ae doing good or how many are closing down or getting out. LOCATION IS KEY. If one salon in texas is doing brilliant it doesn't mean the one you open in New Jersey will perform the same. Check the location for competitors, distance between you and them, how long they have been established etc.

Make sure the landlord you pay is half decent. Many are wolves, we got a criminally minded one. Some are decent people. It all depends so when you choose your location go round the stores and ask the owners how the landlord is as a person to do business with. Preapration is essential, mandatory. Without it you will lose.

If this hasn't made you think more seriously about opening then good luck you..your gonna need it.

If it has made you grumpy because its putting you off then I'm sorry, but that's why we say its not easy. Tanning Salons are not toys!

If you have read and still wanna make a go of it, good luck and I hope one day you will be featured in many Tanning magazines.

Darren and Toni
Cyber-Tan

[Ezliving_Jim]

You mean this is just like a real business?


Go figure!

[missmojorising]

Originally Posted by cybertanned

If your thinking of opening up, before you even consider where, how or with whom, take a day or so to read through these threads..

This is not a noddy set-up, there are no EASY money making opportunities..if you want easy money marry a millionaire. You gotta have a hell of alot of determination, guts a whole lot of personality, endless patience and most of all common sense.

Just because you go tanning and the girl is doing nothing, but sitting behind the desk yet taking your money to start the bed doesn't mean that if you open up you will be doing the same thing.

Working for a good, well reputed salon will mean being able to sell, clean and generally run the salon without losing money, without damaging assets etc.

Running and owning a salon?
You have to know what to order, how long the lead time is across various suppliers, what the lotions and merchandise do and how they do it.

You have to decide what beds to get, how your going to finance them or pay for them (a salon full of good beds will cost you the same as at least two new cars), what timers you will use, what lamps to use to keep up with your competition, who will wire your beds up, whether or not the electric supply is configured for your needs (it can cost thousands and thousands to upgrade your elcetric supply depending on the site you are setting up in, what power is available there etc.)

You have to price your sessions and packages right, to optimize sales and cover variable and fixed costs and whatever profit margin you configure.

Don't expect too much profit to start with, it can take years of re-investment before you can reasonably take pay from your salon. Decide how hard you want to work versus payroll expenditure. This is the tricky bit, if you want staff to run it for you while you work its gonna cost you and your salary may be thrown into your salon to cover payroll and other tangible and non tangible costs. If you don;t work another job your basically counting on your salon to put bread on the table, AFTER expenses have been paid..very scary.

Advertising
Don't mean to be a hypocrit as we didnt do enough of it, so I'm talking from experience. Make sure you ADVERTISE...Saturate the market with your name if you can..I'm sure Gary from Grip Marketing wil do a better job of convinicing you than I can.

Expect LONNGGG hours...you really have to throw yourself into it, be prepared, in this industry there are many many things to go wrong that keep you busy in your first two years and then some. There are the little things too like whether you want internet access, getting it sorted, getting a phone / fax line sorted, calling suppliers and satocking up on starters and other essentials. Your dossing about clubbing and drinking time will be nullified if you want to make it work...

these are only a few factors that go into RUNNING a salon. If your really not sure DON'T DO IT. Your best bet is to see if you can get a job at a salon, maybe even shadowing someone for a while to see what is involved and expected of you, and remember even doing that won't guaruntee your ready for your own salon..there is always a risk...assess the strength of the industry as a whole, check the market need to see if in your area salons ae doing good or how many are closing down or getting out. LOCATION IS KEY. If one salon in texas is doing brilliant it doesn't mean the one you open in New Jersey will perform the same. Check the location for competitors, distance between you and them, how long they have been established etc.

Make sure the landlord you pay is half decent. Many are wolves, we got a criminally minded one. Some are decent people. It all depends so when you choose your location go round the stores and ask the owners how the landlord is as a person to do business with. Preapration is essential, mandatory. Without it you will lose.

If this hasn't made you think more seriously about opening then good luck you..your gonna need it.

If it has made you grumpy because its putting you off then I'm sorry, but that's why we say its not easy. Tanning Salons are not toys!

If you have read and still wanna make a go of it, good luck and I hope one day you will be featured in many Tanning magazines.

Darren and Toni
Cyber-Tan

This is a FABULOUS POST! Educating and Selling to Joe Tanner is the 2nd step--You -as a salon owner better make sure the 1st step is to educate yourself and your staff ---or ---get out and be gone.

[kimmer]

yeah that is a great post.

on another note.... i cant imagine being in the restaurant/bar/nightclub industry. that has to be QUITE a bit of work.

[missmojorising]

Have Bartender Will Travel. I'm available for all private parties--but my fees are outrageous!!

[cybertanned]

He he he...thank you very much for your appraisals. One bit did get humourously converted from the point. but I think I'll leave everyone to take their own meaning from it.

Thank you once again and hey, lets hope prospects listen. lol



Darren and Toni

Originally Posted by missmojorising

Have Bartender Will Travel. I'm available for all private parties--but my fees are outrageous!!

[missmojorising]

If they don't listen they'll prospect their butts in to bankruptcy court.

[Pink]

One of the big changes in the past couple of years, do not buy or start a tanning salon to just "buy yourself a job" !
If you just want to earn a moderate living and think tanning is an easy was to "buy a job", run do not walk!
I do not think you should risk everything you have in life and sign your name on a ton of papers if you are trying to earn 30k, there are a ton of easier ways to make a living !

[missmojorising]

Originally Posted by Pink

One of the big changes in the past couple of years, do not buy or start a tanning salon to just "buy yourself a job" !
If you just want to earn a moderate living and think tanning is an easy was to "buy a job", run do not walk!
I do not think you should risk everything you have in life and sign your name on a ton of papers if you are trying to earn 30k, there are a ton of easier ways to make a living !

An Easy Job?--hummmm--I thought about being the skateguard at the local rollerskating rink today--I'd be in shape at least.

[norman]

You mean you don't just buy beds and turn them on?

[tanning24]

Man I wish I would've had this input 8 months ago!! I am new to the industry as of last November. I thought I had done all the research and was on top of it until I got in and was living the reality. We bought an existing business with 5 units and a whole lot of room to grow. Well now we are paying rent on a space way to large for what we need right now and it's hurting us. Any suggestions on what to do? I quit my job and I am working at the salon almost 24/7. I have one girl who works 8 hours a week, because that is all I can afford, and I am here the rest. It is draining and I am losing interest. I don't want to give up but, how do I get it back! Any help would be appreciated. I still feel that we have a chance to make it, but I am not sure what direction to go at this point!!


Thanks for any input
Danielle

[Alan @ TanToday]

The days of just opening the doors and making it have been over for years.

The hobby owners will eventually sell out, burn out or fail. Those who treat it like a real business will be left standing to fight the franchises which are not unstoppable as some may think.

Either way, good luck to you all!

[mr belvedere]

This is worse than a "real business", we have fewer customers to count on. Lazer hair removal salons have more customers than us!

[Alan @ TanToday]

Thats because lazer hair removal has the stamp of approval from the medical profession.

We have lobbyist groups working for us but the public doesnt see that.

Change the public perception and each one of us will be a millionaire (on tanning alone). Get the ITA to spend some of that industry funneled money on public ads and we will be better off. I wonder how many employees we, salon owners, are paying for in DC???

[Dirty Harry]

It’s a business just like any other. It amazes me how many salon owners seem to have to justify or try and tell others how "hard" it is to operate a tanning salon.

On a scale of 1-10 of the difficulty of owning and running a business a tanning salon rates about a 5 or 6 at best. If you don’t believe me try running a restaurant, or a construction company, or a manufacturing business. This is one of the easer businesses to operate on a day-to-day basis.

[tanning24]

I never said it was hard to run, I just said I was misguided getting into it and am at a crossroads. It is easy to run the day to day for sure!! I guess it's mostly being new to owning a busines. I was looking for some wisdom from those out there that are veterans to the industry. Thanks anyway!

[Alan @ TanToday]

I'm not sure anyone was saying it was "hard" to run a tanning salon. I think running any business takes knowledge, capital and a deep down desire to be self employed. All of that is hard. Being an entrepreneur isnt easy. If it was then the 95% of the work force would own their own business instead of working for someone else.

One of my favorite quotes related to business is this: "Being an extrepreneur is easy because you get to pick the 70 hours a week you want to work."

[Pink]

Owning any business is difficult.
It is only easy if you are buying yourself a job, and looking for a small paycheck.