Closing…

[EliteMike]

"We could trim our hours, but we think that would cause more of an impact than closing. "

Yea, that makes a lot of sense.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by EliteMike

"We could trim our hours, but we think that would cause more of an impact than closing. "

Yea, that makes a lot of sense.

I can dumb it down for you if needed...

[EliteMike]

Whatever, you haven't put up a valid reason why this would be good. You actually tell me otherwise.
"
Quote:
Originally Posted by shelleytn1
i am curious to know how many customers are you seeing on your tues and thurs right now?

About the same as the rest of the week. There is no set pattern right now. Some days are busy, some we'll see very few."

WTF MAN, it doesn't take a really smart person to realize that you will be ticking off clients.

[JeffK]

Originally Posted by theislandtan

I can dumb it down for you if needed...

I'll dumb it down for you, instead..

How many "That's a GREAT idea"s do you see in this thread?

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by EliteMike

WTF MAN, it doesn't take a really smart person to realize that you will be ticking off clients.

And scaling hours back won't tick them off? We have clients that come in early and after 7pm.

Which is better:
1. Have 3 days a client can tan before 11am and after 7pm
2. Have 0 days a client can tan before 11am and after 7pm

If we scale our open hours down 6 - 8pm, we are basically telling everyone who wants and needs to tan after those hours we don't care. If we keep our same hours, but close two days a week those customer can continue to tan at the same time during the days we're open.

I don't know about you, but there are a lot people here who can't tan before 7pm.

You scaled back a total of 20 hours a week. We'll scale back 22.
You impacted every days available tanning time. We'll impact two.
You still pay for A/C during the hottest part of the day every day. We'll pay for two days less.
You still have to work every day. We'll work two less.

The total number of hours we cut are very close, but our benefits far out weigh yours.

Everyone seems to think the client will suck up the cut back of open hours. That is exactly what we're doing, just in a different way...

[Glowtanning530]

Let us know how it goes. Maybe you will be a pioneer

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by JeffK

I'll dumb it down for you, instead..

How many "That's a GREAT idea"s do you see in this thread?

How many do I see doing the same thing day after day and complaining how the industry has changed...

Thats the beauty of owning your own business; you can do what you want with it. I'm not here looking for approval. I'm here for discussion and ideas. For the most part, there are few new ideas posted here.

You don't like my idea. Fine... I'm ok with anyone responding to it, but don't expect me to sit back when you or anyone else responds with a smartass comment that adds nothing to the topic.

We have the freedom to try different things with our salon and we intend to do just that.

[SBT 501]

What are you gonna do in Oct. and Nov. when your sales are half of what they are right now(if open similar hours). I would suggest you need to be raising capital now. Yes look at ways to cut expenses but tanners tan when they want to, most don't have a set schedule of when they are going to tan. They come in when it is convenient for them.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by SBT 501

What are you gonna do in Oct. and Nov. when your sales are half of what they are right now(if open similar hours). I would suggest you need to be raising capital now. Yes look at ways to cut expenses but tanners tan when they want to, most don't have a set schedule of when they are going to tan. They come in when it is convenient for them.

We have saved enough from the busy season to pay the rest of this years bills if needed. We could basically shut the doors today and pay the fixed costs up to December and still walk away with a profit.

We know money will continue to drop for the next few months. We don't have a previous year to go by, but our monthly goals have been pretty close the past few months. We will use these to judge the next few months as well.

[tam_marie]

When do you start using this schedule?

[JeffK]

Originally Posted by theislandtan

We have the freedom to try different things with our salon and we intend to do just that.

Fight the power.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by tam_marie

When do you start using this schedule?

Beginning of next month. We want to give everyone enough time to be well aware of the change. This will give everyone the ability to talk it over with us and give some feedback.

[EliteMike]

you might only be worried about the poeple tanning NOW, but those people you tick off can and will talk to others and before you know it, your peak season client base is smaller because word got out that you are only open 4 days a week.

If you can cover the expenses already if you are closed, why are you considering this in the first place. I'd be more focused on getting more clients in the door.

Good luck

[Kathe]

This isn't making any sense to me. This is a customer service business and we have to make things convenient for our customer, not ourselves. If you have enough money banked to make it through I don't know why you are risking your business this way.

I understand you want to work less for the same income but I don't think it's going to work out that way. Tanners can be very fickle.

I truly hope this works out for you because I think you are determined to do it. I'm just not sure that it will. I'm rooting for you though.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by EliteMike

your peak season client base is smaller because word got out that you are only open 4 days a week.

Will your peak season base drop since you opened later and closed earlier? Same pinciple...

I'm doing the same thing you did, just applying it differently.

[enuf]

Islandtan good luck. I wish you would reconsider. If you have to make a change cut yours hours. Open at 10 am close earlier. Cut your Saturday hours. Good Luck.

[EliteMike]

changing hours a bit is COMPLETELY differnt than CLOSING

I didn't alienate many either, I watched the tanning history for weeks before I changed

[SBT 501]

I just got off the phone with a potential customer her main concern were our hours. The salon she is currently tanning at and has been for the last 4 years has decided to cut their hours and close on Sunday. She said it wasn't working with her schedule and that she would be in tonight. I have actually had 3 calls today asking salon hours. All of my competition cuts their hours after July 4 except the chain stores.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by Kathe

This isn't making any sense to me. This is a customer service business and we have to make things convenient for our customer, not ourselves. If you have enough money banked to make it through I don't know why you are risking your business this way.

I understand you want to work less for the same income but I don't think it's going to work out that way. Tanners can be very fickle.

I truly hope this works out for you because I think you are determined to do it. I'm just not sure that it will. I'm rooting for you though.

I don't think I agree that this is a customer service business. We sell a product. Customer service is part of the business, but its not going to make us any money if we don't sell tans.

How many times has it been demonstrated that people will give up quality and comfort for a cheaper price? We'll be offering the same level of customer service and equipment. We'll be offering the same available hours during the days we're open. The only thing changing is the number of days a week available to tan.

This idea isn't much different than anyone else who trims their open hours during the slow season. We're just applying it differently. If it doesn't work, well trash it next year and move on.

[theislandtan]

Originally Posted by SBT 501

I just got off the phone with a potential customer her main concern were our hours. The salon she is currently tanning at and has been for the last 4 years has decided to cut their hours and close on Sunday. She said it wasn't working with her schedule and that she would be in tonight. I have actually had 3 calls today asking salon hours. All of my competition cuts their hours after July 4 except the chain stores.

That is pretty much our thoughts for doing this. By cutting hours we'll be ticking off someone. We might as well try and accommodate as many as we can when we do it as well as benefit the most we can from it.

Most peoples schedule remains the same. People can work around a day, they can't work around an earlier closing time...