ETS Tanning Bed Blog

DENVER — It’s prime season for tanning beds, when proms and spring beach vacations prompt young women to pack indoor salons in search of bronze skin to go with their new bikinis. But business is slow this spring. Health warnings about the skin cancer risks of tanning beds, combined with consumers forgoing nonessentials in this recession, have the nation’s estimated 18,000 tanning salons on hard times. Now they’re bracing for another hit: A 10 percent tax on tanning bed use starts nationwide this July, part of the federal health care overhaul.

“Will I be here next year? I don’t know,” said Kristi Alpers, owner of Cherry Creek Tans in Denver.

The tax will add 90 cents to a few dollars for a single tanning session, depending on the machine. It’s a fee she thinks will bankrupt her.

Many tanning salon owners have been confused about how the tax will be implemented.

It’s not yet clear how tanning booth revenue must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service or how the law will affect combination packages, which salons use to provide a range of services — including tanning bed use — for a flat fee.

Whether or not the law will affect gyms and spas that provide the option of using tanning beds as part of their membership fees is also uncertain.

On Friday, a tax attorney for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP finally reached the attorney at the U.S. Treasury responsible for drafting regulations concerning the tan tax. Below is the most recent information on implementation of the tan tax.

The Treasury official basically said that she was not able to say much because the guidance was still moving through the system, which implies that recommendations on the major policy decisions have been made by staff but that the ultimate decision makers have not yet reached a final decision. She said that the treasury department plans to issue temporary and proposed regulations in the near future, which means the guidance will be effective immediately upon issuance.

The Treasury official was not willing to estimate the time until the guidance would be issued but that is when she said that treasury department definitely understands that the delay is having an adverse affect on business in the indoor tanning industry.

The results of a new study reported today in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention are contradictory.

A study out just two weeks ago from the MD Anderson Cancer Center found that UVA light does not cause melanoma. Another study out this week claims that most sunscreens could actually promote the growth of skin cancers because they contain Vitamin A. A study from a research affiliate of the Harvard medical school found that tanning offers protection against melanomas. And, a number of other studies and experts also tout the cancer-fighting benefits of Vitamin D, which is produced by the skin with moderate UV exposure.

NXT plc, a provider of unique sound solutions, best known for its flat panel loudspeaker technology, is pleased to confirm the launch of a new series of state of the art NXT-equipped tanning beds from ETS, featuring the revolutionary E3 technology – energy saving, ergonomic design, and easy maintenance.

The use of NXT technology in ETS’ new E3 tanning beds is a testimony to the wide ranging application of NXT’s award-winning technologies. NXT speakers are built into the canopy, transforming it to a loudspeaker and providing a surround sound user experience while reducing the noise pollution throughout the tanning salon. Compatible with MP3, DMX, or other sound sources, the built-in NXT speakers also eliminate the need for costly and bulky sound systems, allowing for a more spacious environment. A keypad remote control is located just in front of the bed for easy access to the multiple functions of the beds, which are also equipped with illuminating ‘mood mode’ light effects that change colors and can be customized to fit the salon theme or personal preferences.

E3 tanning bed featuring built-in NXT speakers

Easy to maintain, the compact tanning beds feature wipe-clean panels, promoting a hygienic environment within the tanning bed. NXT has granted ETS Tan exclusive access to its technology and intellectual property for the tanning bed market and the E3 series product range is now available in the US, priced from $7,999.

For further information, please contact:
James Bullen
Head of Marketing
NXT plc
t: +852 6821 1651

About NXT

NXT’s commitment to inventiveness in sound and touch has enabled it to deliver new technologies already deployed in audio systems, TVs, PCs and laptops, mobile phones, PA systems, cars, aircraft and in public buildings and facilities around the world. With its unique portfolio of patented technologies and unparalleled expertise in the field of bending wave physics, NXT helps its partners invent, create and market innovative sound solutions that offer sustainable differentiation.

NXT is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol NTX) and has operations in Hong Kong, Japan and the USA as well as the UK. Further information is available from www.nxtsound.com.

About ETS

Born on a small Indiana farm and grown into an industry leader with international reach, ETS Tan this year reaches perhaps its most significant milestone ever.

ETS Tan celebrates 25 years of providing superior indoor tanning beds, tanning equipment and supplies, unmatched customer support and an unwavering commitment to consumers who use its products and tanning salon owners who decide to offer ETS equipment to their clients.

The humble beginnings of the world’s largest manufacturer of tanning beds, tanning equipment and supplies is interesting.

Indoor tanning was a rather new and unchartered industry when Trevor and Edna Gray were exploring new business opportunities back in 1984. From their small Indiana farm, the Grays incorporated European Tanning Systems Inc. and became a distributor of what were then called sun beds and related tanning products. What made the couple successful was their clear focus on providing highly personalised service to clients. Their business quickly grew to the point that the Grays needed to hire a staff and spread their wings from existing as a regional distributor of tanning beds to a national one.

After just four years in business, ETS relocated from its rural roots to a business park in Indianapolis where its main distribution center employed 80. Regional sales and distribution facilities were soon opened in Florida and California. Explosive growth in another four years of time then prompted another physical move for ETS to an 88,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility. Quickly, another 76,000 square feet of operating space was added and ETS joined sister companies Australian Gold, Swedish Beauty and Helios under one roof. An 8,000-square-foot showroom displayed ETS’s complete tanning bed line and products produced by its sister companies and offices housed ETS’s sales, customer service and support personnel.

Today, ETS Tan is headquartered on the south side of Indianapolis in a massive 365,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center ideally located off Interstate 65 and just 15 minutes from the new Indianapolis International Airport, a convenience for prospective tanning salon owners considering ETS as their preferred tanning equipment supplier. A 5,000-square-foot showroom overlooks the factory’s assembly lines. ETS also has its own tanning salon, offering customers the opportunity to try the tanning equipment during their visit. Australian Gold and Helios are located in a separate business park on the city’s westside.

ETS is under the umbrella of New Sunshine LLC, which acquired lotion companies California Tan and Designer Skin and is without a doubt the single-largest force in the international tanning industry.

Neither ETS, LLC nor its parent or affiliated companies operate or control, in any respect, any information, claims, representations, endorsements, recommendations, testimonials, products or services that third parties may provide on or through the website or on websites linked to by us. The inclusion of any link on this website does not, and shall not be construed, to imply any recommendation, approval, endorsement or testimonial of that third-party website by ETS, LLC. The views and opinions of authors expressed in any third-party website do not necessarily state or reflect those of ETS, LLC. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by ETS, LLC.

Nine new alluring, body-contouring and eco-friendly tanning beds make up a new line of commercial tanning beds that begin shipping soon from tanning equipment leader ETS Tan.

The e3(TM) line of tanning beds feature the latest in energy-saving science, ergonomic design principles and eco-friendly lamp configurations. The line includes four beds in the Ultimate Envy collection, two Epic beds and two Legend beds.

"Our new tanning beds feature the latest in energy-saving science, ergonomic design principles and eco-friendly lamp configurations," said ETS Tan CEO Bill Pipp. "I'm excited that after two years of development and testing this day is here. We're eager to see these sleek, energy-efficient tanning beds inside salons throughout the nation."

e3 tanning beds feature illuminated panels that change color and add movement, energy and ambiance to any salon. An easy-to-use control panel that includes a timer display for clear understanding of bed operations and optional voice prompts is directly in front of tanners on each bed's canopy handle. e3 beds have an integrated sound system compatible with MP3 players.

Each e3 tanning bed features electronic ballasts that reduce energy consumption and can lower a salon's operating costs by up to 30 percent. e3 beds operate at cooler temperatures, allowing salons to scale back air conditioning in the summer months, and use Wolff® System lamps that contain less mercury, making them more easily disposable than non-green lamps.

ETS Tan also upgraded its popular Rejuvasun with Omnilux spa bed with e3 technology. The Rejuvasun with Omnilux is the only tanning and skin rejuvenation bed in the marketplace that offers FDA-cleared, medically proven light therapy panels that can reduce fine lines and wrinkles in the face and neck areas by up to 75 percent.

"We kept the investment that salons make when they choose ETS tanning beds at the forefront of our design plans," Pipp said. "e3 beds are higher output beds that require less space and feature smart access panels that allow easy access to all internal components without removing any bulky covers. All beds feature impact-resistant covers that look great and will stand the test of time."

For more about the new e3 line of tanning beds from ETS Tan, visit etstan.com or the company's Facebook Fan Page.

    CONTACT
    Duane Brodt
    brodt@colesmarketing.com
    Coles Marketing Communications

http://etstan.com SOURCE ETS Tan