In April, the New York Attorney General filed suit against two New York salon businesses alleging false advertising related to health claims about tanning. Without getting into the specifics of what the business operator said or what the attorney general claimed they said, every indoor tanning salon should take note and take action.

The lesson here is that the people who don’t like this industry are constantly looking for ways to make trouble, and once again the government is a willing ally with a frightening amount of power and resources. As the ITA learned in its multi-year run-in with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2008-2009, you are guilty until proven innocent and government has the resources to spend you into submission. Every state has its own “FTC” as a part of its attorney general’s office. Since 2009, we have seen this type of suit filed in a number of states, and winning a lawsuit against the government is very difficult.

The second lesson: don’t be tempted to make health claims to your salon guests and the people of your community about tanning, even if you think you have the data to back up the claim! The government will likely disagree and there are many people in and out of government monitoring everything we say.

In Iowa, the hard work of local business owners seems to have paid off. An under-18 ban passed the Senate but it now seems likely the Iowa House will not take up the bill and it will die for this year. Credit for stopping this bill goes to business owners Steve Scott and Wade Ranard who fought an uphill battle and turned the tide in the House.

In New Hampshire, we were not as fortunate. In early April, the Senate Health Committee voted that the ban “ought not to pass.” While not killing the bill outright, the legislator with whom we were working to defeat the ban said it would be very unusual for the full Senate to vote against the recommendation of a committee. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “It aint over til it’s over” and the full Senate did just that in late April, clearing the ban for the governor’s signature. Two business owners, Bob Ashe and Dana Pierce worked tirelessly in an attempt to defeat the bill.

In California, legislation to create a licensing and inspection program under the Health Department appears to have stalled, likely because the California Health Department is already overburdened and under-staffed.

In North Carolina, an under-18 ban was rammed through the House with practically no notice and is pending in the Senate Rules Committee. With the help of the ITA, North Carolina businesses led by Jill Donovan and Jim Mastronardi are aggressively fighting this ban.

Finally, in New York, on the heels of the attorney general’s actions, an under-18 ban was introduced in the New York Senate.

Here is a list of all 2015 bills in the state legislatures. For additional info or if you want to get involved, email admin@theita.com.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

I am pleased to report that our roster of exhibitors for the show continues to grow daily. As of May 1t, we have 45 exhibitors/product lines slated for the exhibition hall, and we are just getting started!

All the major lotion companies will be represented – Bodicare Cosmetics, Devoted Creations, MR International, New Sunshine and SunEvolutions. As for equipment, we will have Heartland, ProSun International, Sun Capsule and Sun Ergoline. We have major distributors from across the country coming, including All Hours, Heartland, Suntan Supply and Ultraviolet Resources International … an impressive lineup, indeed.

On Friday, September 25 from 11am-3pm, salon operator training and certification will be offered by the indoor tanning industry’s premier program, Sun is Life. This is a program created by tanning professionals for tanning professionals. Be sure to sign up your staff. In addition, specifically for Ohio businesses, Train Ohio will be available.

Our education program on Saturday and Sunday mornings is shaping up, as well. We have a talented group of salon owners charged with creating presentations and discussions that focus on topics designed to provide tools to help you better manage and run your businesses. Admission to these discussion forums will be free with your show floor badge.

Reasonable hotel accommodations should not be a problem if you act early. We have reserved 650 rooms at two hotels connected to the Columbus convention center – the Hyatt ($142/double occupancy) and the Crown Plaza ($130/night double occupancy). However, we know that the Buckeyes of Ohio State have a home game that weekend and rooms outside the block will be hard to find. Please go ahead and reserve your rooms right away.

We are looking forward to a great fall weekend in Columbus. Don’t forget, the 50th Annual Columbus Oktoberfest will be at the Ohio State Fairgrounds only 2.5 miles from the show.

Please join us!