Dear Readers,
I’ve always been a “glass half-full” kind of guy – I’d say I got that from my dear mother. But it’s no secret that over the last couple of years, continued economic challenges have not promoted much optimism, especially among small business owners. Through its four-plus decades of existence, the tanning business has been considered to be “recession-proof” and salons manage to make it through the roughest of times. Today, many operators are struggling with hopes that this year brings the change many of us desperately need.
That said, we’re seeing the tanning business continue to change and evolve; salon service menus are expanding into the wellness sector. This is a good thing! New IST advertisers are offering cryo chambers (Mecotec US) and sauna/salt therapy units (Halotherapy) while JK Products continues to innovate in the red-light equipment category and industry leader Devoted Creations offers red-light enhancement products to further boost your revenue. Reach out and find out more about these products that can fit seamlessly into your business model. (Don’t forget to tell them you saw it in IST!)
Success in the tan biz takes an “all in” mentality – through my 42 years in business, I met many operators who were making a great living and having fun while always working to take their success to the next level. Last November, a group of salon owners got together for a Caribbean cruise that combined plenty of sun and fun with valuable networking – brings back fond memories of IST’s popular “Solar Seminar at Sea” cruises. Check out the details from our friend Jerry Deveney on p.18.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive in our industry with new salon operators coming aboard, and many are investing in our Sun is Life® Training & Certification program. The New Year is a great time to add this valuable business tool to your collection – resolve to equip your team for success and hit the ground running ready to kick butt this busy season. Visit sunislife.com for details.
We appreciate our readers and wish all of you a healthy, safe and happy 2024!
Thanks for reading!
