A Dark Cloud
It’s been a challenging year. What an understatement in so many … positive ways! That’s right, you read that correctly: POSITIVE!
We need to stop and take a minute to change focus and look at things from a positive perspective. As a nation and as an industry, we have made it through tough times this year. We have shown amazing inner strength throughout our industry, as a whole. Though we have gone through challenges in the past, the very non-discerning nature of the pandemic made it different. The aftermath hit our industry globally, leaving few unscathed and during our most lucrative time of year – a dark cloud, indeed.
There is strength in numbers, and I see and feel a unity that makes me proud to be a part of it.
The Rainbow
It is true, weathering the storm has been a challenge. We must remain true to what we do each and every day. Tanning equipment providers and salon operators take pride in making others look and feel better about themselves. We care about our customers’ wellbeing. So, we dust ourselves off and adjust what we need to keep moving forward. Being a resourceful group, we take the time to catch up on remodeling projects, update retail space, upgrade and maintain equipment, train our teams, deep clean and paint. We find many ways to keep moving forward in search of a break in the clouds. Then, our inner strength kicks in and we remember that WE are the light! With barriers in place and salons open once again, we are more ready than ever to take our businesses to the next level. Finally, the rainbow appears!
Pot of Gold
As I read the trade magazines, surf the web and troll the tanning industry forums and blogs, I see a network of salon owners both old and new continuing to come together in a manner I have not seen before. Sure, it has always been there on the surface, a certain camaraderie with others in the industry. Networking, sharing stories and talking about how well you do things in your salon have always been part of that surface unity. This is a deeper connection. Now, I see real advice being given, technical support, updates and actual mentorship within our community. We’ve grown stronger, more supportive and more cohesive as a group. There is strength in numbers, and I see and feel a unity that makes me proud to be a part of it. That is why salons had a surge in people rushing in to tan again post-shutdown, reporting record-breaking days and weeks. Things are looking up for 2021 and the future, in general.
I’d say that qualifies as the gold at the end of the rainbow.
