One of the great added benefits of using IST Magazine’s Sun is Life® program to train and certify your team is the opportunity to be highlighted in our “Salon of Distinction” feature. Not only does the training enhance your operations, but you can also get FREE publicity in a national magazine! This month, we talked to Amanda and Sana Vaid about their facility, Avaas Spa and Tan. They have a great story, so read on …[gap height=”15″]
[gap height=”15″]IST: Let’s start with the usual opening question: how and when did you get into the tanning business?
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: Actually, it’s a crazy story! Before we opened our first salon, we had a few bad years and in 2016, we lost our mother in a freak accident. In 2017, we were having a tough time with all that life throws at you – we were a few bitter girls for a while. Then, in January 2018, I clicked a picture of a vacant retail space in Mirror Lake (GA) and sent it to Sana as a joke. I told her she should quit her job and open a tanning salon and spa with me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that in March of 2018, we would open the doors to Avaas Spa and Tan, let alone a second location less than two years later. We had no idea how successful our journey was going to be!
[gap height=”15″]IST: How have you been able to survive the ups and downs of the tanning industry and running a small business?
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: We have created a very tight-knit family at our salons. The Avaas staff is treated with the utmost respect and care and there is a strong sense of unity. We have trained our staff to treat our clients in the same manner and in return, our customers also feel they are part of the Avaas Family.
[gap height=”15″]IST: How important is salon education to your business?
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: We strive to keep learning. We believe you can sell more successfully if you have knowledge of your services and products. Proudly, our entire team is Sun is Life certified. We have usually taken our entire team to the National Tanning Expo every year (all expenses paid) just to educate them with Sun is Life.
[gap height=”15″]IST: Amanda, you told me that service diversification has really added to your business. Fill us in on the details.
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: We offer the premium “Tanning & Glam” experience! Not only do we have elite tanning beds, but we also offer many beauty services, such as microblading, lash extensions, permanent makeup, luxurious facials and skin treatments, Botox parties and I.V. infusion therapy, just to name a few. They have been a great compliment to our UV service menu.
[gap height=”15″]IST: How has the tanning industry changed since you became a salon owner?
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: Well, I would obviously have to mention the pandemic fiasco. With people so afraid of getting back out into the world due to “COVID,” we had to reset our salon environment and assure our clients that we take the utmost precaution in preventing spread of the virus.
[gap height=”15″]IST: Yes, COVID has certainly changed many business models. How have you contoured your operations?
Amanda:It’s unchartered water for all of us, for sure. Although we have always operated a clean facility, we’re taking extra precautions to keep the salon and tanning beds super-sanitized and disinfected.
[gap height=”15″]IST: Knowing what you know now and if you had the chance to do it all again, would you pursue a tanning salon business?
[gap height=”15″]Amanda: 1,000 times YES! Sana and I absolutely love what we do and couldn’t imagine a life without it. We love everything from tanning products to the new tanning bed technology, to the trade shows, new beauty techniques, all the cool people we have met along our journey and most importantly, our clients!
[gap height=”15″]IST: Well, it sure looks like Avaas is well-positioned for success!
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Owners: Amanda Vaid and Sana Vaid
Location: Villa Rica and Dallas, GA
Years in Business: 2.5 Years
Staff: 8
UV Tanning Units: 18 (total)
Lotions: Devoted Creations, Tanovations, Designer Skin, JWOWW,
Salon Software: SunLync
Other Services: Microblading, Lash Extensions, Facials, Botox Parties, Custom Sprays, Spray-Tans, Red-Light Sessions, Teeth Whitening
Distribution Partner: Four Seasons and JK Products
Best-selling Lotion: Misbehaved by Designer Skin
Most Popular: Sunbed Ergoline Open Sun 1050
Most Popular Package: Platinum V.I.T. (Very Imporant Tanner) EFT Membership
Website: avassvibes.com
