Location: North Mankato, MN
Web: indulgesalonandtanning.com
Owners: Nick & Tiffany Ward
Years in Business: 6 (16 total for the salon)
Staff: 14
UV Tanning Units: 5
Lotions: Designer Skin, Devoted Creations, Supre
Salon Software: Millennium
Other Services: Sunless Booth, Hair, Skin, NailMassage & Spa Services
Salon Operator Training: Sun is Life®
Distributor: Partner Heartland Tan
Best-selling Lotion: JWOWW
Most Popular Tanning Package: Medium Month Unlimited
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This month’s Salon of Distinction is located in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” ice fishing, hockey and Vikings … ahhh, Minnesota. In all of my travels, I had never heard snow “crunch” under my feet until I went for a run there (bad choice) on an early January, four-degree morning several years ago. It actually hurt to breathe the air. That evening, a tanning salon customer treated me to some college hockey – the University of Minnesota vs Mankato State. On a raw, winter evening, I joined some 18,000 fans for a loud and raucous sporting event. It was a crazy outing for sure! But, I digress. For the last six years, Nick and Tiffany Ward have owned and operated Indulge Salon & Tanning and bring a ton of enthusiasm to their venture. I checked in with Tiffany near summer’s end to chat about the tan biz.
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IST: Tiffany, Indulge has been operating for the last 16 years, but you and Nick came in about six years ago. What prompted your decision?
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TW: I became a hairstylist in 2001 and an accountant in 2008. I always knew I wanted to own a salon! My aunt had a salon and was ready to retire in 2012, so I was able to buy her salon. Having backgrounds in beauty and business has been very helpful, along with the support of my husband, who is in finance. The salon was set up to offer all of the services including tanning, so it was a beautiful footprint for us to start with, but still had enough room to make it our own.
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IST: You’ve completed our Sun is Life Certification. How important is having a trained staff?
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TW: Extremely Important! We want to make sure we can give recommendations to every guest that are specific to their skin type and needs. It is also a rewarding feeling to be able to help someone achieve the tanning results they desire in a responsible way.
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IST: Our industry (like many small businesses) has had growing pains and struggles. What would you say has been your biggest obstacle?
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TW: We live near the Mayo Clinic, so it’s important to be able to educate our guests on the truths about indoor tanning, as opposed to all of the negatives that the media seem to focus on. Also, the under-18 ban has been tough. I believe that minors should have parental consent – do the research with their parents and read information on both sides of the discussion, and then make an educated choice. They should be able to make the choice for themselves, not have others make it for them. I know we cannot promote the health benefits of indoor tanning, but many of the teens in our (Minnesota) area could benefit from controlled UV exposures. It’s unfortunate that we can’t market it that way.
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IST: Yes, the information (and sometimes, misinformation) from the media can be overwhelming at times. However, your Sun is Life education is a solid platform to offer factual info to your guests and prospective customers. So, what do you feel is the tanning industry’s biggest obstacle?
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TW: Joe, I would say that correcting all of the misinformation given to the public by the politicians and the medical field would be a good start. Anything can be unhealthy if you abuse it! It should be about moderation. But, if you follow recommended guidelines, indoor tanning can offer many benefits.
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IST: Although experienced industry veterans take our Sun is Life training, many have been in the industry for a year or less. Regardless of when you started, where do you want to be in the next five years?
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TW: I would love to expand to a second location and offer more med spa services. So many people today just don’t take care of themselves enough or take time to relax, and I would love to provide a place for them to do so.
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IST: I wholeheartedly agree! Let’s find some time to relax! Alright, Tiffany – let’s wrap up this interview with a “Quick-Hit Q & A.”
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- Favorite food: Anything with chocolate or avocado
- Favorite music group or singer: Aerosmith or Prince
- Favorite vacation spot: Southern California
- Favorite NFL or college football team: Skol, Vikings!
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IST: If you were not running a salon, what would you be doing?
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TW: I would be an educator or consultant in the tanning or beauty industry.
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