Upcoming Changes for TanToday

Hi everyone!

When Looking Fit acquired TanToday, our ultimate goal for the site was to help new and veteran salon owners grow their business and share their passion the industry. Since taking over the site, the Looking Fit team has been predominantly hands-off, which has led to a major shift in the dynamics of the community—and we apologize for that. We have realized that, in order to achieve our goal, we must be more involved with the community and that our first order of business is to change the tone of the site.

It’s our goal to put an end to unfounded gossip, arguing and blatant advertising in discussion threads, signature blocks, etc. We want to create an environment where all salon owners and industry professionals feel comfortable sharing their opinions, asking questions, and having robust debate without fear of personal attacks. Over the coming weeks, we will implement major changes on TanToday to accomplish this objective.

Please bear with us as we work to create an even better community for us all and feel free to let us know of ways you think the community could be improved!

All the best,
Mike, Stacy and Danielle

[John]

It’s our goal to put an end to unfounded gossip, arguing and blatant advertising in discussion threads, signature blocks, etc. We want to create an environment where all salon owners and industry professionals feel comfortable sharing their opinions, asking questions, and having robust debate without fear of personal attacks

Good luck with that.

Many big bed makers & lamp guys won't come on here because they are afraid to be challenged on the BS they tell salons over the phone.

I do agree that some people can get out of hand with rude comments, (sometimes funny) colorful language or comments.

I think TanTalk tried this also & it hasn't worked out to well for them!

[eshanfelt]

Robust discussion, fact-based challenges, and some "colorful" comments are part of a good discussion forum. We don't want those to go away. But unfounded personal or professional attacks, blatent advertising, and flat out obscene language makes for a very unwelcoming environment.

For example, you have a great logo in your signature block that is totally appropriate, but other people have full blown banner ads and obscene gestures in their signature block. That's the difference.

BTW, love the MJ tribute! :-)

[John]

Trust me I would love to see Ergo, UWE, ETS & others come out & play. I don't know what they are afraid of?

I agree there is no need for obscene gestures.
(unless it is MJ grabbing crotch)

[TonyG]

I think this means the era of calling things 'boat anchors' is over.

[kpowr82]

FAKEM © isn't going to be *****© is it?

[eshanfelt]

LOL! No worries.

[Din]

I agree that we need to get the manufacturers on here talking about their product. They need to have a presence and have maybe 1 person from their team, coming online and answering. We all know that every manufacturer reads on here, but they don't post.

I'd personally like to get it directly from the manufacturers what's going on in the industry, but i think they are scared to get bashed.

Not that the people on here are bad, but because if someone has a beef with their product/service, they will say it how it is and tell their bad experience with it. Which turns into bad publicity for the manufacturer. You can't block bad experience, the manufacturers need to see it. It's the only way they will improve their products. But i think they just don't want bad press.

I think it will help them. To confront the issues and deal with them, not to hide and pretend it didn't exist and hope it goes away. It's the only way they will be seen as a company that cares and is doing something about it.

Everyone on here is their customer, if they hide from their customers, the ones that are open and public about their product will reap the benefits.

Devoted Creations, MRI, i see them on here the most. People express their opinions, good or bad...but they listen, they answer to it and they fix what people complain about.

We know nobody can make the perfect lotion or perfect bed, but without participating and asking what their customers want, they will suffer in the end. The end result, the salon owner suffers.

To all manufacturers, lotions, beds, accessories.....i want to see participation on here answering questions that people have. Good or bad, in the end, it will all turn to good.

That's what i'd like to see most on here.

Change is good.......Drastic Overhauls can sometimes bite you in the butt.

[Kathe]

I agree with Dean. Some changes can be good. One thing to keep in mind is this is not just some message board. We are business owners and most of us are in business for ourselves because we don't like being managed.

Building traffic to the site is important and keeping that traffic is also important. I like the idea of less vulgarity but also keeping some spice so the place doesn't get like a graveyard.

[solman]

Originally Posted by Kathe

I like the idea of less vulgarity but also keeping some spice so the place doesn't get like a graveyard.

That's just **** crazy talk there woman.

[eshanfelt]

LOL! Definitely need to keep the spice!

We definitely all want the manufacturers on here. I agree that we don't need to sugar coat things for them, but it's a matter of balance and keeping the conversation productive. In other professional forums I've been part of, I've seen really smart manufacturers use the forums as a great market research tool. They can address customer concerns and get incredible market insight. But they don't want to be insulted or attacked ... and shouldn't be. I've got a great story I can tell you sometime if you're ever really bored.

[kpowr82]

I've been really bored since 9am, lets hear it!

[frankie]

I have been here for a long time. I have seen some come and seen some go. Most manufactures don`t have the time to come here and post all the time. Do they read the boards? You bet they do. I also bet if I post something about Rick Norvell, Bill Pipp, Max Recone, Lewis Henry, John Abate, just to name a few they will here about it in the morning. I guess what I am saying is we have a lot of lurkers and they will always be lurkers. Maybe the ones who are just starting and trying to build their business will post but the big guys I just don`t see it happening. Would I like to be wrong? You bet I would.

[Din]

I completely agree. They don't need to be insulted or attacked. But sometimes when people dump their life savings and invest in a company and the company leads them on, like many do...they end up losing their life savings and more sometimes.

A lot of people are in it for a quick buck and it hurts a lot of people.

If manufacturers actually came on here and faced the good and the bad, people would respect them. As long as the manuf. actually listen to what their customers want. it would be amazing to get them to do that.

They have no reason to be scared. They should be posting...even right now! Everyone should welcome positive and negative feedback...always. If it was all positive that they expected and didn't want to hear the bad stuff, they wouldn't improve. Just like salon owners need to face reality, the manufacturers do too. It's not always going to be awards and praises...there is bad stuff too.

Even the best equipment has problems and issues. As long as they are addressed, everyone is happy.

Acknowledging the bad publicity and working through it, will gain the respect of many on here and will probably make them a better pick as they are reachable and the public can communicate with them like an everyday person.

[frankie]

Dean I agree 100% with everything you are saying but I don`t think some look at this as a major problem or issue. Posting on Tantoday or any other tanning board is the last thing on their mind.

[Din]

it should be the first!!!!

[frankie]

What I am saying is I don`t think they see what it can do for them. I agree it should be but I just don`t seem them changing after all these years. Again I hope I am wrong.

[solarmeter®]

I've seen really smart manufacturers use the forums as a great market research tool.

Everyone should welcome positive and negative feedback...always. If it was all positive that they expected and didn't want to hear the bad stuff, they wouldn't improve.

Agreed.

[Jones]

I have very little time to spend on tantoday when I am working on my business...i read a bit...but dont type very much...i would never allow my employees to speak on here for me..i can see why they wouldnt have time to type.

[eshanfelt]

OK, so here's my boring story ... I'll try to keep it short. I once ran a pro site for welders (talk about your spicy crowd!) and we had a manufacturer that advertised on it. Someone posted something pretty negative about this advertiser's welding units and the advertiser told us he was going to pull his ad. We convinced him that before he did, just ask the guy what the problem was. He took us up on it, asked the guy right there in the forum letting him know he was the CEO of the company. The guy told him that the angle of the welding head didn't allow a common size welding rod to be used in certain situations and that if they'd only change the angle it would do what he needed it to. Long story short, they wound up using this feedback and verified that indeed it was at the wrong angle. They changed it and the next year it was the best selling pro welding unit on the market. The CEO was convinced that the forum was the best place he could be to do some real end-user market research and wound up being a perennial sponsor.

Our forum members learned that if they brought up not only product problems or customer service issues, but also provided constructive suggestions and product improvements, that the manufacturers were much more likely to directly participate. Of course some manufacturers never did want to participate or hear anything negative and that was too bad because they missed out on some great opportunities!

OK, boring story over, time to go back on the deck, watch the Colorado sunset, and have something with Tequila in it...