Location: Martinsburg, WV
Number of Stores: 1
Years in Business: 10
Owner: Judy Wright
Staff: 3
Tanning Units: 15 (Ergoline, I.So Italia, PC Tan, SunCapsule & SunVision)
Lotions: Devoted Creations (5-Star Diamond)
Software: Sun Lync
Other Services: Body-vibration Machine, Custom Spray-tans (Norvell Skin Solutions) & Retail Jewelry
Training: Sun is Life®
Distributor Partner: Four Seasons Sales & Service
A unique tanning facility, Indian Sun & Silver serves up the look good/feel good lifestyle to eager sun-worshippers in and around Martinsburg, WV.
After many years as an addiction therapist and part-time jewelry salesperson, Judy Wright knew she needed a career change. Having enjoyed indoor tanning since she was a teen, she reasoned that opening a salon could be her career while still offering her a place to sell her Native American silver jewelry. As a result, Indian Sun and Silver was born. Judy explained, “I’m the kind of person who needs to love what they do for a living in order to be happy. I’ve always enjoyed tanning indoors so I knew that operating a salon would be a very personally rewarding career, plus it meant that I could stop travelling to various jewelry shows each weekend to sell my designs.”
Indian Sun and Silver was up and running as soon as Judy found a suitable location in a nearby shopping plaza. At the time, there were at least 12 other tanning salons in and around Martinsburg, WV, but this didn’t deter her from pursuing her dream. “I truly believe our tanners remain loyal because we’re educated, knowledgeable and we stress the importance of moderation,” she said. “We take the time to explain to them why overexposure is bad and they not only understand it, they appreciate the fact that we took the time to educate them.”
To step up her game as a salon operator, Judy recently completed Sun is Life® training. “I found the program extremely helpful,” She explained, “I want educated people working in my salon and Sun is Life was an excellent way for my staff to learn everything they needed to know to be able to work here with confidence. It was also a great refresher course for me and it even taught me a few things that I didn’t learn in other tanning training programs I’d taken in the past!”
Judy’s plans for Indian Sun and Silver are simple: she’ll continue educating her tanners about moderate UV exposure while helping them look and feel good. “I’d like to add some space to our current location,” she said, “and replace some of our older tanning units. I’d also like to add more body-vibration machines, since the one we have is rather popular with our salon guests. Basically, I’m all about doing whatever it takes to make sure everyone enjoys their experience at Indian Sun and Silver so they’ll keep telling their friends good things about us!” ■
