My 7th Year Anniversary

[The Electric Beach]

Hi everyone!
October 15th marks my 7th year in business. I have to do something big because I am in sink or swim mode right now. I closed my other salon 2 1/2 years ago and got divorced at the same time. I have so much debt from both of those that I am sinking quickly.
I want to do a BIG promotion to celebrate my 7th year in business. I was maybe thinking some kind of "Lucky 7" promotion. I would love to hear ideas. I also have never raised prices, just added better equipment at a higher price. Any thoughts? This is what I have for equipment:

4 Sunvision 28LE 100w 20 minute beds $6/$45 month
1 Sundome XL48 160w 10 minute stand-up $8/$65 month
1 Cyclone 200W 9 minute stand-up $11/$99 month
1 Super Cyclone 220W HP stand-up $13/$125 month
2 Catalina 12 minute beds w/ 400w triple facials $13/$125 month
1 X-7 Suncapsule standup 52 lamps 220w HP $15/145 month
1 Mystic $25/$30

I realize I am a veteran in the business but fresh ideas can come from all levels of experience. I have 2 local competitors but my salon is cleaner and my equipment is better.

Female clients 60%
Male clients 40%

Thanks!
Lois

[Tanning Queen]

I think your prices on the Suncaps are too low. Also, NONE of them are HP so you might want to not promote it as such.

I charged $18 as a walk in on mine and they were the 160w and 200w Suncaps.


I would do a FTWE and offer deals like buy a package get 50% more for $10 or whatever you want. Or a Buy one get one free or at a discount.

For lotions I ran a deal where the first was full price, second was 50% off, and the 3rd or more were 75% off. The highest priced one was full price, the next highest was at 50%, and so on.

Everyone got a free packet of lotion, free eyewear (winkease) and a free tan in any unit they wanted (one time only. After that was $5 until the promo was done).

I had free food, prizes, and NO appointments!

[The Electric Beach]

Thanks for your input.
My X7 and Super Cyclone have 220W/HP Long lamps in them?
How would you price those out?

[Kathe]

I agree with TQ. Your prices are too low.

Go here to check out my price list as I have some comparable equipment to yours. And I've had the same single visit pricing since 1994. Absolute Tan & Spa

[Tanning Queen]

HP are small lamps. Like in your facials in the beds. If they dont look like that, they are just VHR's.

I would make them all $18 for a walk in. maybe $16 for the 160w.

Do all 3 stand ups get used alot? Most salons dont need that many. Unless you are a stand up salon like HT.

[Kathe]

I have 3 standups and they are very busy. We are a 10 unit salon.

[cfindley]

Buy one get 2 free mystics and HP
It Kills em for us!

[Tanning Queen]

They dont have HP so that deal wont work.

[Din]

Free Tan Weekend. If you are looking to do a mailout for an event on Oct 17,18,19....you should contact us soon so we can start a design for you if you want them mailed to houses about a week before the event.

Here is a direct link to what type of postcards you can do for your event promoting you 7years of success!!!

http://www.tantoday.com/forums/marke...marketing.html

Think about it....and contact us by email at info@chronosmarketing.com if you are interested. Direct Mail for your Free Tan weekend (FTW) are usually pretty successful.

[Mojave Tan]

Have a great Lotion trade in to go with your specials.
Trade in ANY indoor tanning lotion and receive 25% off new bottle
-or-
$10 for trade in and then 20% of new bottle.

Customers love this. I have never seen so many full bottles of lotion exchanged and thrown away.

You can always add - get 1/2 off your tan extender when purchase lotion increases items per sale.

[Mojave Tan]

Another idea would be to get EFT membership up.
$9.99 for first month at any level.

[aeltiger]

I did a free tan weekend and made triple each day of what I normally do and brought in a ton of new clients. I also made it a "last chance" to purchase packages at the current price and had a price increase immediatly after. I think your base beds should be about $8 a session. The stand-ups would run between $10-$18 based on the level of wattage, etc. The minimum I would have a stand up is $10 period. If you have never had a price increase you need too. We have one every year. Not usually a huge one, but a small one every year. You have to in order to survive. People understand when the cost of everything is going up.

I would also start EFT for sure! Waive any set-up fees during the free tan weekened and offer everyone who signs up a 50% discount on a lotion if purchased that weekend!

I would also do buy one get one half off on lotions.

[Jones]

I don't think a free tan weekend will work that well in October...it's more of a beginning of season type of promo. Have you thought about doing something that promotes breast cancer awareness for October? Couple that with your aniversary maybe?

I do like the Lucky 7 idea...

[Glowtanning530]

maybe have them pick a card from a deck if its a 7 of whatever give them a prize?

[The Electric Beach]

My 7th year anniversary update.
I wanted to thank all of you for your input with my specials for this month. If I can get the people in the door, I am able sell some packages and lotions. Problem is, nobody is tanning! Perhaps because it is October. Any suggestions on a CHEAP way to get more of the word out? I am in a strip mall and even put a "Tan Today for FREE" sign on the roadside which is a very busy route. I even have FREE LOTION packettes to hand out on the 17th and the 27th of the month. I had some nice postcards printed and I had placed them in the neighboring stores in the salon. Any more ideas?
Thanks, you guys have been great!