Dear Readers,
As the seasons continue to change, it’s hard to ignore the metaphor that nature presents to us: In life, the only thing that remains constant is change. If you can’t adapt to change, you will get left out in the cold. In both nature and business, adapting is the law of life.
Right now, there is something incredible happening in the tanning industry – a change that many never quite saw coming. Tanning salons have gone beyond bringing a healthful glow to people’s faces. Salon owners are expanding their territory into wellness.
As the founder of a tanning franchise, I knew there would be a day when tanning salons wouldn’t simply offer tanning services. Our society is increasingly focused on wellness; spending on services like massages, skincare, relaxation sessions, saunas and red-light therapy has exploded.
What does this mean? It’s simple. Health is wealth. Health is the new (yet old) status symbol and people are not just searching for a healthy-looking tan. They want real wellness and they’re ready to pay for it.
Many salon owners and operators remember the days when tanning salons only offered UV sunbed tanning. Then, spray-tans were introduced and sunless tanning became a staple of a standard tanning salon service menu. We are witnessing yet another inflection point in our industry – a moment when expectations will change.
Health and wellness is the marker of a luxury tanning salon right now, but it won’t be for long. Eventually, it will be a part of the status quo. Just as our seasons do, the face of the industry is transforming. That’s why IST will be expanding our focus into wellness, as well. Stay tuned for upcoming news!
Until next time,
