Poll: Factors That Affected Your '08 Season

[STC1996]

The economy/gas prices are affecting us. We are in small towns and people are really holding on to their money. The stimulus package was a crock of sh!t. It is all going to go into the gas tanks of the taxpayers! I think that this will be possibly the worst JASON to come.

I am going to make a prediction....If the economy and gas prices continue in the direction they are going, I don't think half of us will be here on TanToday as salon owners next May. It's sucks to even think that way, but you gotta look at the reality of the situation.

We were going to remodel and upgrade all the equipment at one of our stores this fall. But now with everything that is going on, we may just close it. Investing in tanning (a luxury expense) when the economy is tanking is not a very smart move. I think our industry is really beginning to see the effects of the high fuel prices/sluggish economy. I believe it is just going to continue to get worse.

I hope and pray that I am wrong. I hope next May, you all say "STC - you were so off the mark with your prediction last year! The tanning industy is stronger than ever, and we all are having the best season ever!"

Good luck to everyone this JASON.

[cfindley]

Employees (not promoting the business which equals sales)
Customer base not seeing the value of our services (Apartments offering free tanning, Everyone charging a low price for tanning but a higher price for lotion(customers cant see the value of lotion costing more than tanning)

[northtanman]

We are "up" for the year each month...don't really have a reasoning why? Maybe some "new" new customer specials i've been running to get new clients in the door?

[JustTans23]

What if things have effected our season for the good? All the choices are things that would have badly affected me. I'm not sure if anything did. I had a better season since last year (first season I owned) and the best season the salon has had since '04 which was the best year the salon had. I don't know why. I think it was because I invested more time in being there, I cared more about sales, I was more experienced than last year, sent out a big mailer and did more promotions. I dont want to jinx myself because I have a feeling JASON is going to suck big time, BUT if any of those things did affect me I didn't notice. Can't wait until the economy doesn't suck so I can see what my season is like

Of course, I am in an area where gas isn't $4 yet except right off the expressway. I can still get gas at $3.89 for regular. So I'm lucky in that respect, hopefully my area won't get hit as hard as most.

[indulgence]

i have 10 salons within 3 miles of my salon. 11 total. there are 3 of us doing 100 sessions a day, another 3 doing 50-70 and the last 5 are doing 30-50. My employees have friends that work at the other salons who tell us the volume. Im not ashamed of my volume considering the competition and im sure my ee's share it with their friends. that's 600 sessions to almost 800 daily tanners in my area. I would say considering the choices for this pole that competition is my greatest concern.

[uv2021]

I say negative publicity.I have been at this 23 yrs and I have clients who I thought knew better feeling that this is a bad thing.I hear it more and more ,especially lately.It is being taught in schools ,all over the doctors office,ect ect ect ect.In any down economy there are still a lot of people with money.Also I notice around here that despite high gas prices ,that everyone is still driving at 120-140 kmh,so if everyone is freaking about gas why are they still doing such high speeds?.Becuase they don't give a crap about the price of gas.They just bitch about for something to do.

[phattmatt]

Foreclousers is not an option in the above poll....so I can't vote