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- Locations: 2 (Rockledge & Melbourne, FL)
- Date Opened: Melbourne 12/ 2007; Rockledge 10/2009
- Owner: Bette Dawdy
- Staff: 12
- Tanning Systems: 18 (KBL, Klafsun, SunCapsule & Sun Italia)
- Tanning Levels: 6
- Lotion Brands: Cal Tan, Devoted Creations, Rio & Supre Tan
- Software: SalonTouch
- Other services: Body wraps (Sudatonic), Facials, Norvell Custom Spray-Tans, Teeth-Whitening (Bleach Brite), Waxing
- Training: Sun Is Life®
- Distribution Partner: Four Seasons Sales & Service; Island Sunburst
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Easy Tan Salon has proven to be fun, fulfilling and successful for one Florida woman who decided to take a chance on a new career.
Six years ago, Bette Dawdy was homeschooling her children – Kelsey and Sean – after having left a job in commercial real estate. Then one day in December 2007, her then-husband Glenn told her he wanted to purchase a tanning salon in their Melbourne, FL community. Not much of a tanner at that time, Bette was unsure of this new opportunity but decided to give it her best. Bette discovered that she loved to be “behind the counter,” adding, “I was working from open to close, seven days a week! I enjoy helping people, and I identified with the tired, overworked working women in our community, and vowed to make Easy Tan Salon a place that would make them look and feel beautiful.”
New to indoor tanning and the industry, Bette learned about the tanning process, added new tanning units and spa services, and did everything else to make Easy Tan Salon a success. Her efforts paid off, so much so that she opened a second location in Rockledge and then, four months later, relocated her original store to a more modern shopping plaza across the street. “Our Rockledge location is about 11 minutes away from our first, and it caters to the 35 and older demographic,” Bette explained. “Because of this, we tend to do a lot more sunless tanning there. It also helps that we’re located next to a gym.” Bette is happy to report that both Easy Tan facilities have a robust client database, and she enjoys splitting her time between the two stores.
Bette is making education a current priority. Naturally, she’s turned to the Sun is Life® Training and Certification program, both for herself and her staff of 11. She added, “My daughter Kelsey helps me out at the salons now and she enjoys the Sun is Life Webinars hosted by John Farr. This has helped us see the need for our entire team, and Sun is Life is definitely the training we want to use.” As things slow down in the off-peak months, Bette says that she, Kelsey and the rest of the Easy Tan staff will soon be earning their salon operator certification.
With seven years and two salons under her belt, Bette says she’s excited about her future in indoor tanning, and admits to having expansion on her mind. As she explained, “I’m strongly considering opening a third location about 10-11 miles away from the other two. We have clients in that area who are willing to make the drive to our current stores, but that drive can take up to 30 minutes on the highway. Having an Easy Tan nearer to them would be more convenient for them; I’ll just have to figure out how to split my time between all three locations!” ■
