Last month, ist Magazine made the Sun Is Life® “Got Sunless?” salon operator education module free for all tanning salon professionals. During that time, more than 60 operators successfully completed this educational module and they all benefited from the program’s detailed explanation of how to highlight sunless tanning services as well as how to identify those interested in sunless tanning. The following is what some of them had to say about it…
Susan Lebb, co-owner of Bronze Bodies in W. Berlin, NJ, says she got much from her “Got Sunless?” experience. “I learned so much about offering sunless tanning from this module,” she said, “and the biggest take-away was the importance of highlighting our spray-tan services as a separate entity so potential clients realize we have it. It also taught me the importance of sunless tanning products and how profitable they can be for me as a salon owner.” After earning her certificate of completion for the Sun Is Life “Got Sunless?” module, Susan says having her staff take the module is the next thing on her agenda. “I’m also very interested in taking the entire Sun Is Life program,” she added.
“This was a great refresher course in sunless tanning,” said Ashley Close, manager at Tan 360º in Pittsburgh, PA. “It did a great job explaining things properly and was very easy to follow. It also provided a great step-by-step for answering the common questions most customers have about sunless tanning.” After having taken the “Got Sunless?” module, she plans to recommend other Sun Is Life training programs for the staff at Tan 360º. She also recommends “Got Sunless?” for any salon operator considering adding this service to their menu.
Although she’s spray-tanned thousands of people in the past six years, Donna Freed knows there’s always room for improvement. When she read that ist Magazine was allowing salon pros to take the Sun Is Life “Got Sunless?” module for free, she jumped at the opportunity to learn more to help her improve operations at Southern Exposure Tan Spa & Boutique in Vernon Hills, IL. “I’ve hired people in the past who were a little intimidated about doing custom spray-tans,” said Donna, “and this is a great tool for training new employees who have no experience with sunless tanning. It was also a good refresher course for me, and I had my daughter Tonya, who works as the salon’s manager, take it as well. I’d be excited to see some advanced courses for Sun Is Life.”
Even owners of mobile custom spray-tanning businesses found the “Got Sunless?” module valuable. Sheri Peck, owner of Sunless Seduction in Asheville, SC, particularly enjoyed the module’s approach to marketing and promoting sunless services. “I loved it!” she exclaimed. “I especially liked the ‘Market of One’ philosophy. It inspired me to start asking questions of our guests instead of just guessing or telling them what they want, and it’s spiked my sales of upgrade solutions and retail products.”
Debuting to the industry in 2011, Sun Is Life Training and Certification continues to help salon operators raise the level of professionalism they display in the marketplace. The interactive online modules address a variety of issues pertinent to salon owners and their staff, including changing the way they inform their guests about tanning, promoting responsibility and moderation with UV sessions and exhibiting a professional image within their communities. The Sun Is Life online salon operator training program consists of 25 user-friendly modules and offers a Guest Experience Medallion (GEM) certificate upon completion. The course satisfies state tanning facility requirements. For more information, visit sunislife.com.
