How much did adding a new bed to your mix increase sales?

[The Freshness]

I feel like I'm at a pinnicle moment as a tanning salon owner. I've been in business for 7 good years with the same UltraSun beds. They're in great shape and deliver great results. My first 5 years were stellar, however, the last 2 years have been break-even. Not sure if it's the economy or my equipment losing its wow factor. It's exciting to think about getting a new tanning bed, but I'm scared I'll invest all this money in a new tanning bed and my gross sales won't cover the cost of the bed payment.

Should I stick with the same beds I've had for 7 years and hope for the economy to get better, or should I take out a loan for a bigger, badder tanning bed and hope that it increases sale enough to pay off the bed and give me a chunk of change?

Anyone with a recent, similar experience? Did it help or hurt you financially?

[eyecandytanning]

I put in 2 additional level 2 beds earlier this year and increased my level 2 usage from 12% to 48%.

not sure if that really helps or not.

[Drew]

When you first add new equipment for the WOW factor you will increase sales.So long as the beds are tanning better than your ultrasuns which rules out Ergoline and most other VHR beds as Ultrasuns tan quite well. Look at a Magic or a King for strong output High Pressure, or a Saturn HP verticle if space is a consideration.

[phattmatt]

Big Bang = Big Bucks...... 2 level 2's won't do squat.
I want 70k-100k gross sales added for 1 bed.......
Anything less is a waste of money

[Drew]

those days may well be over

[Island Cove]

I doubled sales the first year I put in an HP unit. and kept increasing in leaps and bounds.

[Beach Bum]

The serious money comes with large VHR units and HP units. And perhaps a sunless booth. All depends on your location, demographics, and your abilities. But base level units can only do so much.

[alps]

Suggestion..Check out your competition. What are they doing? Are they offering something better the customer wants? Do some Secret Shopping.
I sold 16 used ETS beds to four different buyers and brought in 16 New ETS beds after 5 years of biz. A lot changes with the equipment each year and everyone wants the newest/best thing!At the time of our opening we had 20, 15, and 10 min beds. Now we have 12, 10, and 8. Which generates more turnover & more money!! I say do it! Currently I am in the process of contacting those same buyers and trying to sell them our older capsules, to get new ones. So to answer you, yes it will make you money. Go for it.
Have you ever considered Leasing your equipment? I don't, but that might be an option for you.

[Drew]

doesn't sound like upgrading to me...but who knows.

Good luck leasing. Better have STELLAR credit. God knows I don't anymore.

And Island Cove...are you really some freaky carnival psychic or palm reader ..OR was your mama just a hippy name Faith and your daddy a follower of Dr. Leary?

[Island Cove]

And Island Cove...are you really some freaky carnival psychic or palm reader ..OR was your mama just a hippy name Faith and your daddy a follower of Dr. Leary?

HU? Why would you say that?

[Beach Bum]

Perhaps a reference to the avatar.

[Din]

The only way you will make more money is to replace your $5 and $10 beds with some higher end beds that can bring in $25 and $35 a session.

Big VHR's like S-Class, Sungates, KBL 7900's......
Combo units like Ergo 650, Futuresun
and HP beds

Those are the ones that will bring in more $$$ and increase revenue. You'll need more than just 1.

[theislandtan]

Our HP bed added 20% to our gross the month after we added it. Some of that growth may have been because we are new, but there was nothing else changed between those two months.

[Island Cove]

Well Drew, are you going to be in Nashville? why don't you come visit me at the sportarredo booth then and see if you still think the same thing.

[Island Cove]

so every pic I put there, the avitar option distorts it.

[Island Cove]

I found one Drew, just for you lol my ARAB in training HEHE

[Island Cove]

Our HP bed added 20% to our gross the month after we added it. Some of that growth may have been because we are new, but there was nothing else changed between those two months.

We added our first HP unit, a mattress style in June of that year, and saw a better second half of the year because of it than the first half!

[northtanman]

i had one omega HP mattress and ergo 650 as my upper end units...added another omega and am keeping both busy. now adding a 360HP next. "used"

[Drew]

drop the second omega to add the 360.

I like the horse groovy chick.

I personally made sure I looked my best when I took this avatar photo. Smoked the finest crack, and drank the best bottles of Carib I could steal.

and yes I will be in Nashville. Come see me in the Supra Booth explaining why the Sportaraedo high pressure lamps sold by sportareado or Supra or anyone cost 30$ more per lamp than any other hp lamp made. grin.

[Island Cove]

lol too funny Drew, seeing is i bought supra lamps for my 818 and they cost me about the same as the sportarredo lamps. hehe