When Opening a New Salon Or Buying An Existing Salon

[Stephen Underhill]

If you want to give yourself the best opportunity to be successful, you must give a great deal of consideration about controlling your operating expenses. While there are certain cost that are an absolute must to be successful such as advertising, payroll, lamp replacement, salon up-keep, there are a number of things that should be considered in the early stages.

Space preparation: If the salon is designed properly you can get by with less AC than is typically recommended by equipment manufacturers.

Lease negotiations: When negotiating the lease give a great deal of thought to annual increases, Ti allowances, and term options.

Equipment purchase: Don't over do it. While prices of equipment keeps going up especially with outrageously priced up-grade equipment. Get the mix that will best support your price structure and marketing program and don't put in more up-grade equipment than is needed for your market and salon size. Remember that with up grade equipment you can tan twice as many people as a base bed in the same amount of time. Dept service, lamp replacement, electrical cost can eat up profits quickly. An equipment mix that will maximize income potential while controlling cost will send more to the bottom line.

Payroll: Control your payroll expenses, create pay scales that will encourage sales. Hire quality people and give them the continuous sales train that will allow them to be productive.

Advertise: The amount of business you do is in direct relationship to the amount of advertising you do. Do the proper type of advertising at the appropriate time of year. Put great emphasis on email advertising. Your specials and when you offer them is important.

Create a relationship with each and every tanner, this is the foundation for great customer service and customer retention.

[Brian Oshman]

...and do your research and negotiations before you sign a lease and purchase equipment.

[EliteMike]

Don't get anxious to sign the lease. My landlord said he had other people looking to bring tanning into the plaza and I hurried to sign before everything was worked out. Needless to say, this plaza is still fairly empty!

[Stephen Underhill]

It is just as easy to succeed as it is to fail. Get qualified assistance

[zakieh becker]

What is the best advertising for my 2 month old only tanning salon? Population is 60k in high season and Ive done flyers in the paper twice a week Any one has any great ideas?

[Din]

If you want it to be as affordable cuz you are strapped for cash...do this.

Direct Mail to every 1 mile radius every month until you have reached all 60k homes. Could be 10k homes each mile until you've reached a 6mile radius and covering all 60k homes. You will advertise a great offer....like Buy a package and we'll give you an additional 50% for FREE.

10k homes each month at lets say 5cents a flyer is $500/month. Within 6 months you've covered all the houses.

Once you've built your database up, you do Birthday Cards offering them a discount on a package purchased on the month of their birthday....don't give a free tan, cuz they'll just come and tan for free and not come back. If you want to give them a free tan....do it with buy any package at 15% off and we'll also throw in a free tan. make them pay to get a free tan.

There are many offers and promotions you can do to boost your database and income.

I'd be more than happy to go through some of the different marketing strategies with you.

www.ChronosMarketing.com

With the busy season coming up fast, i recommend sooner than later for the x-mas holidays. Capitalize on the holiday season fast approaching....don't wait too long or you'll miss out.

Your flyers should be mailed out by end of November to give time for delivery and them checking their mail to buy before the 25th of December or to be tanned for x-mas or new years...one of the busiest times of the year.

If you don't draw them in to your place with advertisement....your competition will.

[smileysnob]

Originally Posted by Brian Oshman

...and do your research and negotiations before you sign a lease and purchase equipment.

I agree Brian and thank you for all your words! I finally listened! now just saving saving and I will keep lookign for that great opp that has my name on it!

I know I was stubborn, I just wanted to stop working for the "man" but I appreciate it all!

[InternationalTan]

Originally Posted by Din

If you want it to be as affordable cuz you are strapped for cash...do this.

Direct Mail to every 1 mile radius every month until you have reached all 60k homes. Could be 10k homes each mile until you've reached a 6mile radius and covering all 60k homes. You will advertise a great offer....like Buy a package and we'll give you an additional 50% for FREE.

10k homes each month at lets say 5cents a flyer is $500/month. Within 6 months you've covered all the houses.

Once you've built your database up, you do Birthday Cards offering them a discount on a package purchased on the month of their birthday....don't give a free tan, cuz they'll just come and tan for free and not come back. If you want to give them a free tan....do it with buy any package at 15% off and we'll also throw in a free tan. make them pay to get a free tan.

There are many offers and promotions you can do to boost your database and income.

I'd be more than happy to go through some of the different marketing strategies with you.

www.ChronosMarketing.com

With the busy season coming up fast, i recommend sooner than later for the x-mas holidays. Capitalize on the holiday season fast approaching....don't wait too long or you'll miss out.

Your flyers should be mailed out by end of November to give time for delivery and them checking their mail to buy before the 25th of December or to be tanned for x-mas or new years...one of the busiest times of the year.

If you don't draw them in to your place with advertisement....your competition will.

din what kindof flyers do you send out at christmas? also what promotions do u offer to get them in for the holidays

[Din]

Postcards is what i send out. I do it direct mail, not in a mailer envelope with other coupons or in a bundle or anything like that. Postcards ON MY OWN, to their mailbox via post office.

I'd do a detachable gift voucher that they can tear off (perforated) and bring in for X amount off of a package at regular price. (no combining with other specials)

I also offer some other bonus specials that if they do redeem that tear off voucher, they have the option at both 40% off lotions and 40% off Moisturizers. (must be done in same transaction.....no rain checks!)

You can also do Spray tan specials or spa services specials.....etc...

Lots of different things you can do. Depends on what you have and how you sell it. Let me know if you need any postcards done up for you and i'd be happy to go through different ideas with you.

All our contact info is online

http://www.chronosmarketing.com/index-6.html


Dean

[enuf]

Din, no wonder you have great ideas. How long have you been doing this.

[Din]

Me personally, i've been designing and marketing for about 15 years. I've also managed some of Canada's largest airlines....i've done many things, but design and marketing has always been my baby. But i don't want to go off topic on someones thread here.

[Stephen Underhill]

In order to build a client base fast always offer Tan For a Week FREE, new tanners only or tan for less than $5 a week. See store for details.
This will bring all tanners to your salon. What happens after they get there is up to you. Always get email addresses and explain that you send special offers and coupons to your clients by email.

This is just one of many ways to reach and build a client base. There are three different marketing seasons. The right offer at the right time of year is important. This just brings the tanner in. To maximize income potential and build strong relationships with your tanners is important. If your salon is not packaged properly and your staff not properly trained the sales and tanner retention will be weak. Strong numbers do not happen by accident.

[Stephen Underhill]

I am getting a great many inquires regarding the purchase of existing salons. Just remember it should be approached as though you are opening a new salon.