Ask a Tanning Salon Business Consultant

Q: “I used to pay $9/hour plus commissions but it’s hard to recruit new employees. Should I raise the hourly to $13-$14/hour and cut back on commissions?” A: The short answer to your question is yes...

Q: “Trying to plan our Valentine’s Day Specials. This is our first year for it, so I need some ideas! For example, when do you start your specials?” A: As much as it makes sense to do specials...

Q: “I am hiring help right now. I need your advice on what to you ask on interviews? I am thinking about doing some role playing as a group interview? What do you think? I want someone who can think...

Q: “Help! We’re going to a wedding expo and we’re the only tanning business exhibiting there. Do you have any ideas for displays, games, giveaways, etc.?”A: Tanning salon owners and spray tan techs...

Q: “We have an employee who sometimes flakes in her duties, so much so that she once lost her employee privileges.  She earned them back two weeks later and everything was good for a while. ...

Q: “I usually do radio ads at the beginning of the peak tanning season. I’m very torn over whether this is a good form of advertising or not. I’m strongly considering doing some radio advertising...

Q: “I’m debating on making my single tan $45 or unlimited for $25.99 to attract more clients.  I’m trying to get volume and sell aftercare products.  Do you really feel that lowering it to that rate...

Q: “We recently fired an employee who was asking tanners for money… and some of them gave it to her! Then they stopped coming in to tan because they knew she would be there, asking them for money. I...

Q: “Besides cash and commissions, what are some other effective salon employee awards? I want to do everything I can to motivate my staff to keep doing the great jobs that each of the is doing. I...

Q: “What are the best salon marketing tools for a one-location tanning salon owner in a fairly big Midwestern city?  I’m all for trying different approaches, but I want to get the most bang for my...

Q: “My question is about employee handbooks/agreements. I’ve heard of one tanning salon owner losing an unemployment challenge because the reason she terminated the staff member’s employment – not...

Q: “Besides cash and commissions, what are some other effective salon employee awards? I want to do everything I can to motivate my staff to keep doing the great jobs that each of the is doing. I...

Q: “Tanning salon owners like me get so much conflicting information about commissions.  I’d like to know your take on offering commissions to salon employees, both in principle and how much you...

Q: “I have a customer that said she cancelled a year ago and is still being charged for her monthly tanning membership. She said she came in and signed a form. We have no cancellation form signed,...

Q: “What would you say to tanning salon owners who are offering the $9.99 EFT membership based upon the theory of selling quantity to the masses instead of pricing the service for what they believe...

Q: “So many times, I haven’t recognized a problem until it becomes a ‘forest fire.’  With the next employee, I end up stressing over every little ember.  This doesn’t create a fun workplace for...

Q: “As a tanning salon owner and service provider, I’m very motivated by goals both big and small.  The problem is that I can’t get one of my salon employees to understand why goals are so...

“What are the best promotions for a tanning salon owner to offer during J.A.S.O.N.?  I continue to build up my EFT memberships, but I still feel like I might be missing out on other money makers.  I...

“One thing that I’ve never fully understood is how to calculate per client averages.  Can you show me the process to obtain that figure?  Once I have this number, how can I use it to improve things...

“My salon has a daily duties list which includes picking up small sticker pieces on floor, replacing client use items before they are out, etc.  Unfortunately, most of my staff isn’t replacing or...