going to buy a distressed salon

[Glowtanning530]

I am not going to sit here and say I dont make any money, however I can tell you that if I started today and not 3 yrs ago I would not survive the JASON that is too come.

[hiii98]

Originally Posted by Glowtanning530

Better not ever have a bad day and get ready for everyone to ask you to make an exception cuz your buddies. Your kids play one the same teams, and they saw you once at a resturant and you said hi, so whats $5 off an package (this right her the number one reason 2ndary market salons fold) lack of a back bone and the ability to explain that you can't do that and why in a nice non threatening way.

Depends how cute the girl is! lol j/k. also i just spoke with Steve. I will hopefully have some demographics here shortly and his professional opinion regarding the business (may take a few days as i need to respond to detailed questioner)'

[palmstanning]

Well like you have said if the tanning industry was that bad there wouldnt be 7 salons in our area that have been up and running for almost 15 years ! It has alot to do with marketing and how you are as a person! you are dealing with people everyday who think they are right , sometimes you need to bit your lip and agree.

[Glowtanning530]

I bought an existing and it had a horrible rep.
I knew that some major changes had to take place RIGHT away to create "buzz" only 2 beds from the orginal owners are still here. I replaced one leve 1 and got an upgrade which no one here had ever dealt with. I then added spray and 2 more upgrade beds that were a 12 min max. Since expanding at that time wasn't and option this allowed me to still accomadate the growing volume without a HUGE expense. Expanding is now a reality for us.
I also changed the name and worked 7 days a wk with some pretty crazy hours till I got it all figured out as far as what days were busy, what hours were working etc.
Then I hired bed cleaners and hired staff from that. I made a lot of mistakes that could have saved me thousands had I known better.

[hiii98]

What mistakes? Sounds like you did exactly what i plan on doing.

[Glowtanning530]

Originally Posted by palmstanning

Well like you have said if the tanning industry was that bad there wouldnt be 7 salons in our area that have been up and running for almost 15 years ! It has alot to do with marketing and how you are as a person! you are dealing with people everyday who think they are right , sometimes you need to bit your lip and agree.

That being said you also have to protect your reptuation and your business.
In many states you are the professional and responsible for setting that time to the bed, therefore liable.
You also dont want some lobster walking around say they got their "tan" from you and man those "bulbs" were hot. That doesn't look good either.

[Glowtanning530]

I had the right a/c electrical and all that for expansion. I remodeled myself. Laid the tile, painted etc, and only closed for 2 days to get it done.
I can't really tell you that my mistakes would be mistakes for you. Wrong methods of marketing, this is trial and error anyway. What works in one market wont work in an other.


The beds that were here worth nothing... they went to the dump. They were that bad. I was wanting the electrical, lease, and A/C. I also wanted the existing clientele. I was buying right into JASON and wanted to replace some beds and I wasnt going to have a ton of funds to spend on marketing till season.
I walked in the owners were absentee and left a very low offer (basically what I knew it would cost me) they calle d said I was crazy. I said well I will jut open one down the street with all new beds. It went into escrow and it was mine. I was 24.
That being said I knew at 24 if it failed I would still recover.

[Brian Oshman]

Originally Posted by Glowtanning530

You also dont want some lobster walking around say they got their "tan" from you and man those "bulbs" were hot. That doesn't look good either.

[Glowtanning530]

Lmao!!!!!

[palmstanning]

Was it very costly to due the tile ? we are thinking of tile or a hardwood laminat floor . Sorry for spelling lol Sounds like you bought what we just did , but we only have 9 beds and have room for expansion to 14 , our a/c was just upgraded last year and electric is more than enough. we also low balled and they excepted , they didnt even try to counter .

[Glowtanning530]

I wouldnt do laminent I have had it in my house for 6 yrs and it has not handled us, I can only imagine what i would do in a commercial enviornment.
I got the tile on clearence at lowes. It was nutral color and we laid it ourselves which is the main expense.

[Glowtanning530]

The salon had carpet. It was bright pink with green coyotes painted on all the walls. Huge Sun on the window wearing sunglasses, that was chipping off. All wicker furniture... told the old owners to take it and they were offended.

HORRIBLE!!!!

[Brian Oshman]

Originally Posted by Glowtanning530

The salon had carpet. It was bright pink with green coyotes painted on all the walls. Huge Sun on the window wearing sunglasses, that was chipping off. All wicker furniture... told the old owners to take it and they were offended.

HORRIBLE!!!!

Hahahaha!!!

They probably had it listed for $250K too.

[SandiGirl]

I like green coyotes. Very popular.

[hiii98]

1 Miles: 2 Miles: 3 Miles: 5 Miles:


Basic Variables 1990
Population 8,787 22,499 39,131 57,443
Basic Variables 2000
Population 8,750 22,584 39,933 64,452
Basic Variables 2007
Population 8,624 22,336 39,868 66,963
Basic Variables 2007 Age:Female (Pop)
Age 18 59 138 225 409
Age 19 59 158 266 421
Age 20 to 24 241 764 1,241 2,079
Age 25 to 29 250 762 1,345 2,232
Age 30 to 34 282 743 1,300 2,248
Age 35 to 39 288 736 1,329 2,243
Age 40 to 44 310 792 1,416 2,511
Age 45 to 49 341 848 1,492 2,606
Age 50 to 54 277 694 1,324 2,391
Basic Variables 2007 Age:Male (Pop)
Age 18 60 164 280 464
Age 19 65 160 265 425
Age 20 to 24 328 863 1,434 2,412
Age 25 to 29 288 853 1,460 2,412
Age 30 to 34 264 775 1,365 2,292
Age 35 to 39 324 781 1,382 2,302
Age 40 to 44 299 813 1,480 2,540
Age 45 to 49 343 846 1,415 2,503
Age 50 to 54 288 688 1,290 2,347
Basic Variables 2007 Age:Total (Pop)
Total Population Median Age 38.24 36.49 37.66 37.63
Basic Variables 2007 Income:Household Income
Household Average Income $62,587 $55,919 $59,094 $64,684
Basic Variables 2007 Race and Ethnicity:Population
White Population 8,071 20,646 37,288 62,951
Basic Variables 2007 Race and Ethnicity:Population:By Percent
% White Population 93.58% 92.43% 93.53% 94.01%
Basic Variables 2012
Population 8,555 22,210 39,884 68,705

[Glowtanning530]

The first owner (not the 8th one that I bought from), that decorated this place (so sure she thought the decor was the cats meow) came in yesterday insisting on getting a 30 min bed...
I dont have one.... but Norcal waste might still have the one I took to the dump

[Tanning Queen]

Oh I get it now!!!! Only STEVE is the professional here and you will only listen to him. Got it.

I never said no one is makin money in this business. BUt the salon you are talking about doesnt seem to be one that you CAN make money. You abloslutely can make money if the demo's are right, you have a large salon, and have money to invest. I personally dont think small (under 12 units) really make enough to deal with the drama.

I cant believe you think that this is more profitable then flipping or renting out homes. HAHAHA!

[Tanning Queen]

Looks like you have about 4377 females from 18-35. Take the fact that it is 94.53% white, gives you about 4093 to attempt to target. Now that only 10% of the population tan, you are down to 409. If ALL came to you, you cant pay your bills.

What did Steve say?

[hiii98]

Steve said the demographics "look strong"

[Tanning Queen]

Ok, then you better hire him cuz he will guide you better on that then anyone here ever will.

LOOK at those numbers and be realistic. MOST people will come from the 3 mile radius. WOmen over 35 start worrying more about their skin and dont tan as much. Men are just a bonus for income so I wouldnt count them at all in your planning. WOMEN are your target. Your median age is close to 40.

Look, your own numbers are close to mine. YOu said it had 500 or so active clients in teh database. Pretty close to my number eh?