The American Suntanning Association gave a one-hour presentation at the Four Seasons National Tanning Expo on October 22 in St. Charles, MO. ASA President Melinda Norton and ASA Executive Director Matt Russell updated more than 100 ASA session attendees on the critical issues currently facing tanning salon operators. The session covered the different levels of attack orchestrated by anti-sun groups over the past ten years, outlining the motivating factors and how the industry was caught off guard. “We have certainly come a long way since ASA’s inception in 2012,” said Norton. “With more than five years and over 3,000 meetings on Capitol Hill under our belts, we won’t be caught off guard again.”
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The presentation was designed for business owners who are reinvesting into the indoor tanning industry, so they can understand how the industry is positioned today and what the future looks like from here. Industry players need to understand the details of potential regulations and attacks that may impact how they advance their respective businesses. “ASA has our eye on the ball for the U.S. indoor tanning industry,” said Russell. “We are involved in every detail of state and federal regulatory issues, UV-related science, and even global issues. If something is going on that could possibly impact the U.S. indoor tanning market, we hear about it immediately.”
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After more than five years and thousands of meetings, the ASA team has interacted with every government group that has the potential to impact the U.S. market. The hundreds of relationships that have been built over the past 5-6 years have been very constructive and involve working with agencies and other groups to help build an indoor tanning environment that is best suited for U.S. consumers who choose to tan indoors. These relationships have also created a communication network that alerts ASA if there is something tanning related in the works. “We have set up an extremely efficient communication network that allows our team to track, learn and react to anything that comes at the market,” said Norton.
During her many meetings in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the industry, ASA President Melinda Norton has had opportunities to make contact with President Trump, Senator Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan.
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One of the most effective ways to impact the future of the industry is in the hands of the thousands of businesses that make up the market. More and more tanning salons are becoming involved with the ASA, making the network that much stronger when it comes to getting our collective voices heard. “Having business owners from home districts contact their members of Congress or Senators is the single most important tool for influencing change in our industry,” said Norton. “Today, I’m hearing from more legislators that they are being contacted by retail business owners back home, and they react to those messages on a much higher level than other types of communications.”
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The most impactful thing that can be accomplished for our industry today is to get more tanning salon owners involved with the ASA. ASA’s strategy, experience and infrastructure are well-positioned to defend and promote the US market better than any other time in our history. “I’m hoping operators come to appreciate how powerful their voices can become if they’re working with our well-organized team. By joining the ASA, a salon owner can help determine the future of their business by providing the necessary resources to build a stronger market,” said Norton.
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ASA will give their presentation at these 2019 industry events:
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America’s Tanning Expo
presented by Heartland
February 1-2, 2019
Blue Springs, MO
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PC Tan Expo
February 9, 2019
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
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For more information, email info@americansuntanning.org or call 855.879.7678.
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