going to buy a distressed salon

[Tanning Queen]

I dont think you can deal with HP in that area. I dont think the demo's support it. You dont want to give it away like another salon on here for $10 or $15 a session when it demands and gets $35 a session. You need more room, ac and electric for just ONE HP unit. Start with nice VHR's and go from there. Get some self tanner or spray unit in there. Keep your base beds basic. NO facials or anything fancy. Your money is in the big beds so make them want to use them. Have one maybe two 100w base beds and the rest upgrades.

[Brian Oshman]

Keep the beds you have now for base beds since they are already there. There is no reason to change them out if they work. You will not make any more money with adding new base beds, just waste. They are as basic as they get now.

However, you will need to add upgrade beds to make a go of it. There is enough power there now to add some upgrade units. The A/C is a little light unless you have all of the space and can duct those home units in there for now.

Don't go for HP right off the bat. THis place has been a loss leader since its inception so don't go overboard at first. Spruce it up, add a couple bitchen VHR units, and advertise new ownership.

Yeah, the place may be set up, have the percieved potential, but lacks the demos and the past history of failure to dump large amounts into it all at once, especially at this time of year. Season is over. You will be counting ceiling tiles from this point out until Feb. next year.

[hiii98]

I'm listening Brain.. your saying keep 4 or so base beds and ditch/sell the standups and other 4 beds? Replace with about 2 VHR beds and 2 newer standups ? Also add a tan spray booth?

[Tanning Queen]

eventually have only 2 MAYBE 3 base beds. You dont need more than ONE standup. Get another VHR bed instead. Or add a Formostar. I would have a spray tan booth or have someone doing airbrush. Brian hates spray tanning in general.

[Tanning Queen]

Oh, and change the name of the salon. Dont have anything associated with the old salon if you can. I changed the name of my salon since I only purchased the assets of the biz. That way I didnt assume any of the liability of the old salon. I did choose to honor the old/current packages for a certain amount of time. Other than that, SunCapsule was GONE.

Having a new name will create a buzz anyway, plus it lets people know that is it totally new management. Things will change, prices will be different, equipment will be different, the way things are handled will be different.

Make sure you pick a name that isnt a franchise already that can come back and sue you.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by Tanning Queen

I dont think you can deal with HP in that area. I dont think the demo's support it. You dont want to give it away like another salon on here for $10 or $15 a session when it demands and gets $35 a session.

You say HP demands and gets $35 a session, but you don’t think his demographics would support it. I’m not sure I’m following you fully… If HP demands and gets $35 a session, why won’t his demographics support it? Could it possibly be HP doesn’t demand and get $35 a session in all demographics??

Brian had (has?) a mattress HP bed for sale for $1000. Shipping is another $1000 or $1500. Then add another $500 to wire the bed up and you’re sitting at $3000 or less for an HP bed. If the room is already wired correctly and you can pick the bed up yourself you are looking at far less.

We have the same type of bed in our salon and charge $10 - $15 sessions. It’s been in for about two weeks now and it’s paid for itself. Our prices are actually going up on the bed today, but only by a few dollars.

So if his/her demographics won’t support an HP at $35 a session, they might support $15 sessions. This idea that you must charge a specific price for an HP is silly. Every area is different.

We’ll continue to sell our HP way below $35 a session because it makes us money and gives our customers something to talk about. We also don’t have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in a new HP unit that we must make lease payments on. That gives us a lot more wiggle room in pricing.

[Tanning Queen]

Because that is what VHR should be priced at.

If Salons dont charge what the equipment is worth it brings down the whole industry. Are you going to start charging $19.99 unlimited use on it next? Price the bed according to what it deserves. Even in a depresssed market, that bed should get $25+ a session. YOu brought it in as a basic bed and will be difficult to raise prices on it. Have you relamped it yet? DO you know how much it will cost for that? Parts on those beds are more expensive and it costs more to run it than an avg bed. Need more electric and AC. Both additional costs. YOu are losing money if you dont price it right.

HOw long have you been in business?

[SandiGirl]

Maybe people are turned off my the mattress. I wouldn't want to tan in one. I'm not a flipper and have no desire to lie there for that long.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by Tanning Queen

Because that is what VHR should be priced at.

If Salons dont charge what the equipment is worth it brings down the whole industry. Are you going to start charging $19.99 unlimited use on it next? Price the bed according to what it deserves. Even in a depresssed market, that bed should get $25+ a session. YOu brought it in as a basic bed and will be difficult to raise prices on it. Have you relamped it yet? DO you know how much it will cost for that? Parts on those beds are more expensive and it costs more to run it than an avg bed. Need more electric and AC. Both additional costs. YOu are losing money if you dont price it right.

HOw long have you been in business?

At least we're getting down to the real issue here... You're fear that we're bringing down prices.

I don't need to raise prices on the bed to the level you’re talking about because I know what my profits are. When I factor in electric, maintenance and lamps I am content with what the bed brings in per use. I couldn't care less how it affects the salon down the street. If the bed requires maintenance that is to costly I'll trash it and buy another one just like it.

We price our products at reasonable rates. Our members know they get value when buying from us. I see no reason to change it. And before I hear about JASON… The salon has already brought in enough to save for nearly 6 months of overhead. This is on top if re-lamping every bed, purchasing the HP, buying several thousands of dollars worth of lotions, tools and meters, paying part time help, and advertising. We’re concerned about JASON so we’re looking at other things that will help bring in additional income, but it isn’t going to break us.>>

We’ve owned the salon since March of this year. It was opened December of last year.

Do you own a salon?

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by SandiGirl

Maybe people are turned off my the mattress. I wouldn't want to tan in one. I'm not a flipper and have no desire to lie there for that long.

Lucky for us we haven’t run in to that problem. I’m sure there are some out there that won’t lay in the bed, but we have many that do. We put a sheet over the mattress that is changed with every use. We also added a separate AC to the room that the tanner can control. The sessions are long at 30 minutes, but most of our tanners enjoy it. This is their alone time away from work and family.

[hiii98]

so are you suggesting getting one HP unit theislandtan? Or should i just get a few VHR beds? Also i'm still not sure what the advice is about the current standups.

[Tanning Queen]

Of course I am concerned that it will affect the price of EVERYONE. That is what is wrong with our industry. PEople like you that come in here with no history with the industry and just slash prices. It pisses me off to no end!

Here is the thing. Tanning prices have NOT kept up with the cost of doing business. Instead, it has DROPPED. 10-20 years ago, it was easy to get $40-50 a month unlimited on base beds. Those beds cost a helluva lot less than they do now. Lotions were inexpensive to sell. Now beds are 3x as much, cost way more to service, lotions are thru the roof and we now charge $18.88 a month to tan. DOes that make sense??????

And no, I dont have a salon anymore. Had one for many years and have seen the decline of this industry and for no good reason. Other than saturation, too many price wars, and people that are clueless about this industry. Add to that the negative bashing that now is year round, this is a shaky industry. Not at all what it was pre 9/11.

[Tanning Queen]

Again, dump the standups and only get ONE in its place. Most people prefer to lay down. Having 2 is wasted space. Get a nice Suncapsule that will tan the hell out of people and will keep them cool. YEs they have the grates instead of acrylic but I never had a problem with that. They tan better since no light is blocked by the acrylic. The fan is amazing too. One of the BEST standup units out there. There are a few on Ebay right now at a great price.


DONT do HP unless you understand it. IT is a totally different beast than any other bed out there. You are just learning. Learn about the basics before you go high end. If not, you wont know how to sell it let alone service it correctly.

[Tanning Queen]

Also, you dont have the room or electric or AC for an HP right now. Maybe if you expand...

[SandiGirl]

Originally Posted by hiii98

so are you suggesting getting one HP unit theislandtan? Or should i just get a few VHR beds? Also i'm still not sure what the advice is about the current standups.

Start with the VHRs. Keep a room open near the front of the salon for an HP. Let them learn about and try out the VHRs and then tell them about the new high faloootin' bed you'll be getting. Show them pics and get them excited. Put the base beds to the back of the salon and the better ones to the front. Most people showcase their HPs with double doors that can be seen from the lobby. No need to rush into getting one right now.

[JustTans23]

Isn't there a difference between a mattress HP and a 360 HP too? I would think a 360 would demand more money than a mattress. For the reason that Sandi said, most people aren't flippers. Nor do they have the time to tan for 30 minutes.

[SandiGirl]

And yes, lose a stand up. My stand up is the least used. People will wait for the big VHRs while the stand up is open. But there are some that still want it.

[SandiGirl]

Originally Posted by JustTans23

Isn't there a difference between a mattress HP and a 360 HP too? I would think a 360 would demand more money than a mattress. For the reason that Sandi said, most people aren't flippers. Nor do they have the time to tan for 30 minutes.

$10-$15 still seems cheap for those that would use it. I wouldn't do it for free though.

[Island Cove]

I dont think you can deal with HP in that area. I dont think the demo's support it.

are you freaking joking? one of my salons has the exact same demographics, the 2 hp units are booked solid, and i had to start advertising that i have traditional units too because no one wants the lp units.

my original salon has only 12,000 demographics, with an income below poverty. I have 3 HP units in that salon, booked solid. I need to expand that salon, AGAIN.

My third salon is in a university/college/highschool district and although HP was slow to start, its now the most used.

theIslandtan you should easily be able to get at least $25 drop in on that unit, and instead of looking for things to help you through Jason, just bump up the price on that unit. PM me and i'd love to show you how to sell it that people wouldn't even bat an eye at that price.

Maybe people are turned off my the mattress. I wouldn't want to tan in one. I'm not a flipper and have no desire to lie there for that long

Just like YOU didnt like the smell of cypher? you should pop by any of my salons and see my customer lotion shelf FULL of cypher. People love the long session! they also LOVE the comfort of that matress. no pressure points on your back either.

lasty, if you know how to do it, you can make that AC work for you. I have a 3 ton unit in original salon, with 3 hp units, i have a 5 ton unit in salon #2 with 2 HP units, and salon #3, i don't know, but it sucks. lol. but all my salons stay cool.

Hill98 you can make this work, and id be adding HP as fast as I could. the sooner you do the more $$ you will have for Jason, and you don't have alot of time to dick around with the LP units. it will slow down, you won't be running all those base beds anyway. My perfect salon, 2 base beds, 2 vhr, 1 stand up, 2-3 HP units. and thats the resipe to success. along with a good strong pricing structure.

I had to get on here and say something. I think some people on here want him to fail so your purposly misleading him!

[Island Cove]

Isn't there a difference between a mattress HP and a 360 HP too? I would think a 360 would demand more money than a mattress. For the reason that Sandi said, most people aren't flippers. Nor do they have the time to tan for 30 minutes.

no they demand the EXACT same price! and how do you know most people aren't flippers unless you have a matress unit! they will happily become flippers when they try and see how comfortable that unit is and the increadable long lasting tan they get. and it feels like the real sun. like your lying on the beach. If you don't have this unit, don't presume what people will or will not do.