- Locations: 1
- Years in Business: 5
- Tanning Systems: 12 (Ergoline, Heartland Tanning, Inc. & SunDash)
- Tanning Levels: 4
- Staff: 6
- Lotions: Australian Gold, Designer Skin, Devoted Creations, Ed Hardy
- Tanning & ProTan
- Software: TanTrack
- Other Services: Bodywraps (FIT), Sunless Tanning (VersaSpa) &
- Teeth-Whitening (Bleach Bright)
- Distribution Partner: Heartland Tanning, Inc.
A salon as young and hip as its owner, SunKissed Tanning continues to be popular among tanners in and around Poplar Bluff, MO.
When Kristen Haga was 17 years old, she didn’t think like the average teen. While most kids that age ask their parents to buy them a car, she asked her mom and dad to co-sign for a loan so she could buy a tanning salon. “I tanned at SunKissed Tanning all through high school because it was located in my parents’ shopping plaza, and I heard that the owners wanted to sell,” said Kristen. “I knew I was asking my parents to take a big risk but I just knew I would do a good job running the business. When they agreed, I worked as hard as I could to prove to them that trusting me was the right decision.”
In August 2008, Kristen purchased a salon with six tanning units, roughly 200 clients and no computer system, and she kick-started an aggressive rehabilitation plan. “My dad is a contractor and an architect, so I asked him to remodel an empty storefront in his plaza,” she said. “In the meantime, I did everything I could to get clients through our doors because I knew our customer service would get them to stay. We closed the original location in February 2009 and re-opened in the new one with twice as many units, and it seemed like everyone from the area came to our grand opening celebration!” These days, SunKissed is practically bursting at the seams with 8,000 clients in its database and roughly 400 people served per day during the peak months.
Like many people in their 20s, Kristen enjoys being on Facebook… but she uses it to promote her business. “It’s free, it engages our clients and we can have a lot of fun with it,” she said. “Each year, we host a sale in conjunction with my birthday, and this year we’ll be celebrating my 22nd by offering 22 percent off all tanning lotion and membership purchases, and my favorite lotion for just $22. We also offer half-off bodywraps.” To encourage clients to “check in” to SunKissed Tanning through social media, Kristen has contests designed to award those who do.
As salon owners go, Kristen is young, ambitious and eager to succeed, and she has big plans for SunKissed Tanning. “We’re adding a Soltron Velocity bed later this year and it will be our biggest upgrade unit,” she said. “I’m also looking into red-light therapy and other spa services to provide even more options for our clients.” Kristen sees even bigger things on the horizon, namely the potential of opening another SunKissed Tanning in a nearby town. “I love the feeling I get from knowing that I’ve helped change someone’s life for the better,” she added. “Seeing that kind of happiness on a client’s face is a beautiful thing.”
