Dear Readers,
I’ve written many letters “From the Publisher” in IST’s 28 years; and the anniversary issue still seems to sneak up on me! I try to avoid cliché – but, I will say that publishing this magazine has been an eventful, ever-changing and enjoyable journey that I look forward to continuing.
The tan biz is still a great place to be and Team IST still works hard each month to create a valuable business resource. We particularly enjoy highlighting salons all over the country, sharing their stories. It’s been encouraging to see many new operators attending trade events, thirsty for knowledge and advice provided by industry veterans. Back in the day, all you had to do (basically) was hang a “TANNING” sign and open your doors; today, small businesses everywhere are facing huge challenges and many have not survived – it’s definitely not for the faint of heart!
While the challenges abound, tanning industry leaders continue to innovate and bring exciting products to market. Many of you are made aware of these new products when you see them in your IST Magazine and we’re proud to have advertising support from industry leaders who see the value in our publication. When you reach out for more info, be sure to tell ‘em you saw it in IST!
Yep, a tanning salon is a fun business – I’ll admit that when I opened my first facility in 1979, I was having the time of my life! But, while I had natural business acumen and was getting a great education (at the University of Michigan GO BLUE!), the industry was in its infancy and there was a lot to learn. IST was born nearly 20 years later when I decided to help others achieve the success I had found. Our goal has always been to help you work smarter and thanks to the contributions of many tan biz experts, industry support and my great team, we’re still making it happen.
I hope you’re getting ready to make it happen this busy season! A great way to prepare is by creating a well-trained team of professionals who will help you provide a premium salon experience for all your guests. Sun is Life® is a super-affordable, user-friendly training and certification program that’s available 24/7. Check out sunislife.com today to set your staff AND your salon up for success.
Thanks for reading!
