After more than 30 years in the indoor tanning industry, I still find it incredibly refreshing to encounter new experiences and new ideas. I am extremely proud to be part of a company that regularly breaks new ground in technology and performance with the products it brings to market. Equally, I am privileged to see how these products go on to inspire and support the ideas and innovation of so many excellent salon operators.
In business, there can be few greater feelings of satisfaction than being part of a successful relationship with a customer. We at Ergoline have always presented ourselves as so much more than “just a supplier.” Time and time again, we find access to our knowledge and experience can be just as important to our customer as the products we supply.
These are the areas that we work on day in, day out, month in, month out, and the reward for us is the knowledge that this commitment repeatedly benefits our customers, who go on to use the elements they select to help develop the success of their business.
When you are working alongside so many great people who are committed to making their business a success, not least by providing a first-class, professional service, the irritation – to put it mildly – of regular negative media activity targeted at our industry is all the more galling.
This is just one of the reasons why I strive to ensure that whenever possible, the industry has its “side of the story” represented because if we didn’t, the constant attack would no doubt have a greater impact.
I have often wondered how great it would be to have the budgets or perhaps more importantly, the type of spokespeople for our industry that would tick all the pre-requisite boxes for the media: scientifically and/or medically qualified, independent from our industry, a resume of published research, and if I were going for the “full monty” with a cherry on top – a dermatologist.
So imagine my absolute delight when, in a completely unrelated context, I came across someone who potentially ticks every box. This person is taking a completely new angle in sticking his head above the parapet on the subject of tanning beds.
I was taking a look at The Edinburgh Festival line-up, the world’s largest arts festival, which takes place annually for three weeks in August. Thousands of performers entertain on hundreds of stages, from big names to unknown artists and since 1947, the Edinburgh Fringe, the official “unofficial” element has run alongside the festival.
The Fringe offers many diverse presentations and performances. Returning again this year is a group called The Cabaret of Dangerous Minds, in which some of Scotland’s finest minds invite the audience to share their opinions about a speaker’s controversial research.
Amongst the presenters this year is Dr. Richard Weller, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, who will have the platform to present his research and theory that sunlight deprivation might explain the notoriously poor health of people in Scotland, often referred to as the “sick nation of Europe.” He will discuss how close Scotland is to providing medical prescriptions for tanning bed sessions! I have booked my ticket; the only challenge now is to find some accommodation!
Dr. Weller has already ruffled the feathers of his peers with his lack of conformity to his profession’s position on UV exposure and tanning beds. He sounds like the perfect chap for me to try and build another successful business relationship with. Wish me luck! ■
I strive to ensure that whenever possible, our industry has its “side of the story” represented because if we didn’t, the constant attack would no doubt have a greater impact.
