For years, ist Magazine has highlighted the efforts of hard-working salon owners across the country; but, there’s more than one way to get a tan. Currently, there are many “sunless-only” salons whose owners are doing their part to help keep America bronzed and beautiful. In this occasional series, we endeavor to see how “the other half” lives… and goes about the business of delivering tanned skin to those who seek it.
- Salon Name: BodiBronze Sunless Spa
- Location: Champaign, IL
- Stores: Two
- Date Opened: July 20, 2009
- Owners: Kristin Little & Terri Mongillo
- Equipment: BodiBronze BB5000 & Overspray Reduction Booth
- Products: BodiBronze Original, BodiBronze Quick Spray & BodiBronze Collection
- Staff: Six
- Training: BodiBronze Sunless Training
A year after Kristin Little and her mother, Terri Mongillo, opened their tanning salon – The Beach in Champaign, IL – they decided to offer custom airbrush tanning, too. From there, Kristin contracted with a chemist and manufacturer to create her BodiBronze Sunless line of spray-tan equipment, solution and products. “We started using BodiBronze at The Beach in 2007 and it caught on so well that we were able to open our first BodiBronze stand-alone salon in 2009, and another one in Naperville a year later.” To create long-term clients, Kristin offers a 12-month EFT package that costs $69 per month for one spray-tan each week. BodiBronze also utilizes a rewards program that offers one percent back on all successful EFT drafts, two percent back on product purchases and three percent back on all sunless package purchases. “It all adds up to give our clients more reasons to come back,” she said.
Today, Kristin continues to operate her two thriving BodiBronze facilities while she also works to help expand the brand. “We’re happy with the two stores we have, so we’re putting more of our efforts into introducing BodiBronze products and equipment to other salons,” she said. “We’ve recently certified two salons, and we plan to certify more while also increasing sales of our products to tanning professionals who already have a successful spray-tanning business. This is where I see our business growing in the years to come.”
Thanks for taking the time to meet Kristin Little. In the months to come, we’ll introduce many more sunless-only entrepreneurs and highlight their unique takes on the tanning biz. After all, we’re all in this together!
