Blog Entries for Ron Wilson

How to Conduct a Direct Mail Campaign for Your Tanning Salon

rwilson@etstan.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Direct mail is a great way to find new customers for your tanning salon. But if you're not careful, you'll end up wasting money by paying too much postage, reaching the wrong customers, and even wasting money on printing. Here are a few ways you can make sure your direct mail campaign is the most effective.
It starts with the right mailing list. Most people will buy a mailing list for a specific ZIP code, thinking "people with a lot of money live in that area," or "that's a young [...]

Social Media Marketing for Tanning Salons

rwilson@etstan.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0100

If the only web presence your tanning salon has is a static web page that hasn't changed in three years, you're missing out on the power of social media marketing. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or even just simple email, please do me a favor and get out there and start connecting with your clients. Go to where they are. Here's where you can find them.

Facebook Most of the successful tanning salons I know have a Facebook presence. They use their Facebook salon profile as a way t [...]

Rhode Island Seeks to Further Limit Teen Tanning

rwilson@etstan.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Parents generally have some serious say-so in their children�s lives up to age 18, when they legally become adults. And as such, many states require parental permission to allow teens to tan at an indoor tanning salon.

However, now in Massachusetts, state lawmakers are proposing to go a step further, and require a complete ban on indoor tanning for anyone under the age of 16 � and Rhode Island is likely to follow. This is leaving many tanning salon proprietors scratching their heads i [...]

Important Steps in Opening a Tanning Salon

rwilson@etstan.com — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Salon ownership doesn't begin with planning an opening. There are steps to opening a tanning salon, both behind the scenes and front-and-center. And where does it begin? With choosing a location, of course.
1. Choose the best location.You can't overcome a bad location, that's just the way it is. So, here at ETS Tan , we help new tanning salons do demographic studies and competition analysis on a particular area to help them find the best location.

We look at the population, the [...]

Missouri Wants to Ban Teen Tanning

rwilson@etstan.com — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Missouri will be joining the ranks of 16 states that are considering legislation to limit or ban teens’ use of indoor tanning salons . Legislative proposals range from requiring parental consent, to requiring a doctor’s note, to outright banning of minors.

This is in addition to the 29 states which already have restrictive indoor tanning laws for teens on the lawbooks.

Proponents of such limitations say it’s for the protection of minors, much like [...]

Shining a Light on Tanning Bed Bulbs

rwilson@etstan.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Tanning bed bulbs are probably one of the most critical components of your business. You may have the slickest indoor tanning facilities, the best tanning beds and the hottest lotions, but if your bulbs aren't up to scratch, your customers simply won't get the tan they want.

That said, tanning lamps are a huge investment, so how do you choose the right tanning bed bulbs? And once you've made your choice, how do you care for and maintain them? It's not that easy, which is why I've [...]

What if They Ask: Can I Tan With Baby Oil?

rwilson@etstan.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

It’s almost the stuff of urban legends – the famous (or infamous) baby oil tan.

For years people on beaches and in backyards slathered themselves down with baby oil to get a deep, dark tan. And it worked. People who could tan would find they did tan when they “laid out” coated with baby oil.

Those were also the days of some pretty serious bikini lines.

But as always, times have changed, and so have people’s tanning accout [...]

What if They Ask: Can I Tan On a Cloudy or Cool Day?

rwilson@etstan.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Seasons come and seasons go, and along with them, warm weather. Clearly it’s more desirable to lay in the sun during the warm, balmy temperatures of summer than during the more chilly temperatures of spring and fall.

Still, personal comfort aside, does the temperature affect the ability to tan? Do you get goose-bump patterns if you’re cold? (The answer is, of course, no.) What about laying out on a cloudy day – is that a waste of time, or is there a silver lining [...]

How to Protect Your. . . uh, Self While Indoor Tanning

rwilson@etstan.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

In past posts, we've talked about how you can tan naked to eliminate tan lines , and to make sure you're getting a healthy-looking tan all over.

What we haven't talked about is how to protect your. . . uh, personal areas while you're spending time in a tanning bed.

Why? Well, apparently, over-exposure to UV rays can actually cause sterility. And because the tip of the male penis is ac [...]

Who Should NOT Use Tanning Beds

rwilson@etstan.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Not everyone can enjoy the benefits of indoor tanning. People who have an exceptionally fair skin type, are pregnant, have a photosensitivity to light, or are currently taking medications that may cause photosensitivity, then tanning may not be for them.

As a tanning salon owner, you need to check with your customers to see if they fall into any of the following categories. This can help you avoid angry customers, or worse, legal trouble.

People With a Type 1/Fair S [...]

Indoor Tanning Tips

rwilson@etstan.com — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Indoor tanning works, but how well it works often depends on you, the tanner. Follow these tips to get a golden tan with serious staying power:
Avoid the Shower Before and After you TanYou shouldn't shower right before you tan. Showering can actually strip the body of its natural oils and you want your skin to be as moist as possible to both help the tan develop and prevent your skin from drying out.

Showering right after a visit to the tanning salon is also going to wreak h [...]

The Four (or Six) Skin Types for Indoor Tanning

rwilson@etstan.com — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

If you're going to start indoor tanning, you should begin with at least an understanding of the different skin types and where you fall within that spectrum. Why? Because the tanning needs and restrictions for Type 2 skin are going to vary compared to, say, Type 4 skin.

We provide all of this information to our tanning salon owners. If you're new to tanning, any salon owner can (and should) be able to provide you with this information.

Simon Cowell Putting a Tan Salon in his $22 Million Mansion

rwilson@etstan.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0100

For stars like American Idol judge Simon Cowell, true privacy means having their own indoor tanning beds right in their homes. Instead of a trip to the tanning salon (think Britney Spears), it's a trip down the hall.

Cowell is currently building an 11,550 sq ft dream home in Beverly Hills . The opulent mansion includes a solarium off the master bedroom equipped with a full-size tanning bed and [...]

Protect Your Eyes During Tanning

rwilson@etstan.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Whether it�s outdoors or indoors, tanning is a very relaxing and a great way to escape the everyday problems and stresses life throws at you. But safety must be followed, not only for the skin, but the eyes. Like outdoor tanning, you must protect your eyes while using a tanning bed . It�s very important to use some sort of protection and closing your eyes isn�t the answer.

�Why? What�s wrong if I just [...]

The Importance of Moisturizing

rwilson@etstan.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Salon owners, are you educating your customers on the importance of a good moisturizer as a part of their tanning regimen?

Like tanning lotion, moisturizing lotion is an important part of the indoor tanning process.

It's important because the UV lights can dry out your skin. Moisturizing preserves and extends tanning results, enhances the appearance of an existing tan, and moisturizes the skin so it looks and feels better. Moisturizing makes the skin soft, smooth [...]