Two big events come to mind as I write. The first: it’s just over a week away from the U.S. Presidential Election – I wonder how that panned out? Our news here in Europe often features U.S. politics and events, but undoubtedly, coverage of this Presidential Election has captured the imagination of the European media and public alike. Love or hate the candidates, there’s so much to discuss and debate about them as individuals, it really seems as though the party politics don’t actually need to feature. Well, that’s certainly the impression we are getting here from our media!
Am I looking forward to 2017 for our industry? Yes!
Without a doubt.
The second event – although in no way comparable with a Presidential Election – is the fact that this is the last issue of IST Magazine for 2016. Can you believe another year is already coming to a close? I certainly cannot!
It has indeed been an eventful 2016, with many highlights and the inevitable one or two that left me feeling as though the dimmer switch had been turned down, although thankfully not for long. So, as we head forward into the back end of the second decade of the Millennium, will 2017 be good for the indoor tanning industry? I wonder …
For a number of reasons, I think that it will be. There’s no doubt that Brexit, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, did unsettle the markets with a resultant economic impact that financial experts predict will continue. But this is a peculiar situation and we are in unchartered waters. I am a firm believer there will be markets and industries that will benefit. As I have said before, the smart indoor tanning operator will take advantage of the opportunities any financial uncertainty may present, as consumers potentially tighten their belts on, for example, holidays, and therefore look closer to home for the “feel good/look good” factors – i.e. a tan! And of course, those looking to keep up appearances will also need to be tanned. Either scenario potentially looks good for an indoor tanning business.
In recent times, we have seen the number of indoor tanning chains grow and the size of the portfolios of those chains increase as they look to buy up single-site operators, many of whom have actually been in the tanning business for the last couple of decades or longer and are now looking toward retirement. Not for one moment am I saying there’s no longer a place for single-site operators in the market; indeed, they still represent the majority of our industry. It’s also great to see from our own market intelligence, a growing number of new start-ups scheduled for 2017. We have been fortunate to see and in some cases assist with a number of these new salon business plans, and they certainly are very professional approaches. A professionally run salon whether as part of a chain or as a single entity is always, for me, the priority.
So, as the indoor tanning market continues on its journey to new heights of professionalism, this can only be good for the industry as a whole, whichever way you to choose to look at it. Am I looking forward to 2017 for our industry? Yes! Without a doubt, and I have it on good authority that a lot of other people are, too.
