Owners: Shawn & Tonya Bosworth
Location: Pendleton, OR
Number of Stores: 1
Years in Business: 1.5
UV Units: 4
Lotions Brands: SunEvolutions, Millennium, New Sunshine
Other Services: Massage Bed, AdvoCare Products
Salon Operator Training: Sun is Life®
Lotion Best-Seller: Paint it Black by Millennium Tanning
Most Popular Package: 7 Tans for $28
This month’s featured salon comes in from the West Coast. Located in Pendleton, OR, Sun Kissed Tanning is owned and operated by Tonya and Shawn Bosworth. A quick peek at their Facebook page will tell you that the Bosworths believe in social media to “get the word out” and create a positive vibe in their community. The second item that pops out is the way that their level of customer service drives the business, backed by some really awesome reviews posted by the locals!
The Bosworth’s began their tan biz careers in December, 2014. As regular tanners at Sun Kissed, they had gotten to know the owners quite well. When those owners decided to sell the business, the couple jumped at the opportunity to buy it and made plans to take the facility to the next level of success. According to Tonya, they wanted to take advantage of the upcoming tanning season and didn’t want to delay their opening. “One of the first items on our list was to immediately take the online version of Sun is Life Training & Certification,” she said. Sometimes living on the West Coast has a time zone disadvantage – add the fact that Tonya was a new owner working significant daily hours and it seemed quite a challenge for her to get trained. She loved that Sun is Life is offered 24/7 and could take it at her convenience. “Sun is Life Training brought me immediately up to speed on factual information on indoor tanning,” she said. “Some things I knew, but many things that I thought were true, are not! Factual information is what I depend on to educate my salon guests, and Sun is Life put me in the right direction.” She continued, “Sun is Life is really easy to comprehend and it made me want to learn more.”
I had the pleasure of speaking with Tonya’s daughter, Jenelle, who is in the U.S. Navy and stationed in San Diego, but was recently home on leave. She says that Sun Kissed is a great diversion from the military life. “Selling lotions to our guests is quite a change from my duties in the Navy!” said Jenelle. The salon highlights several strong-selling products from Australian Gold, including some from the “JWOWW” line, Supre’s popular “Snookie” products, and from the Millennium product group, Paint it Black Hemp.
Just because it’s summer, that doesn’t mean the tanning season is over in Oregon. “The morning temperatures dive in to the high 50s in Pendleton and many of our tanners like to shake off the chill with a warm sunbed session,” said Tonya. In July, the salon promoted a “7 Tans for $28” special to create some added value for current tanners and newbies alike. “It’s a really popular plan,” said Tonya, “and who knows, we may even continue it for a few more months.”
The Bosworths say they would love to grow their business in the future. On behalf of IST Magazine and Sun is Life, we thank Jenelle for her service to our country and wish the Bosworths all the best for success and hope to see them at a future tanning expo!
