Sunrise Tanning | Salon & Spa

Located in the small town of Rising Sun, MD our “Salon of Distinction” offers their guests a warm and inviting atmosphere in a full-service tanning and spa facility.

Sunrise has a great social media presence and on their website, customers can access tips for getting optimal results – both UV and spray – as well as a list of medications and other substances that can cause a negative reaction to UV rays. The salon offers online appointment booking for tanning and spa services, as well as online shopping for a variety of cute (and many local!) boutique items they also sell in-store.

Maryland native Laura Bouchelle is a hands-on operator who truly enjoys making her salon guests feel at home. She took some time to tell us about her journey to success in the tan biz, her thoughts about Sun is Life® Training, and what she has planned for the future.

IST: Tell us about how you got started in the tanning business.

LB: I have been tanning indoors since I was 16 years old, way back before they changed the legal age to tan in Maryland to 18+ only! In January of 2017, I decided to reach out to my friend Erin who managed Sunrise Tanning at the time to ask if they needed part-time help, and they did. So, I became an employee that month and worked there on and off until January 1, 2023 when I purchased the business and became sole owner. We then became Sunrise Tanning Salon & Spa and since then have undergone many, many changes including a complete renovation. I added a luxury spa space, custom airbrush spray-tanning and two brand new hybrid tanning systems. We have made a lot of huge changes to Sunrise in the last year and it has been amazing!

IST: What challenges have you faced as a salon owner?

LB: So far, the only challenge has been trying to change the way people view indoor tanning. So many, especially in our small town, still have the mindset that tanning is bad for you. So, we have been approaching it and advertising our services with a message of responsible tanning. Along with the small-town setback, so many people don’t know who we are or where we are located because until last year, our beloved salon never really had any social media reach or advertising. So, we have also been making it a priority to get our name out there!

IST: What sets Sunrise apart from your competitors?

LB: Our salon literally feels like HOME. We often joke that when you come to the salon, you usually only plan to tan, maybe chat for a few minutes and then leave. But at Sunrise, there is just something about the place that makes you wanna stay. You could literally hang out here all day long! Our salon is warm, welcoming, inviting, relaxing – you literally won’t ever wanna leave!

IST: How do you support your local community?

LB: We love, love, love to give back to the community in any way we can! Whether it be supporting local fundraisers, supporting local sports teams or charities, anything we can do to help. We host an annual “FREE TAN Weekend” and our loyal customers have been tossing around the idea of doing a SUNRISE 5K fundraiser for a local charity. We also love to support other local businesses whenever we can, such as carrying local products like candles, Freshies etc.

IST: What was your biggest takeaway from the Sun is Life Salon Operator Training?

LB: My girls and I have benefitted so much from the SIL Training. Prior to the class we took at the 2024 National Tanning Expo in Nashville, NONE of us had ever had any formal tanning training, industry knowledge, etc. We learned so much – not just about tanning and basic UV knowledge, but about salon operation and customer management. It was a real eye-opener for us that we needed to make some big changes and become a reputable, knowledgeable salon! After my manager Liv and I returned home from the expo, we immediately scheduled to have EVERY salon employee take the course, as well.

IST: What are your goals for Sunrise Tanning Salon & Spa in the next 1-3 years?

LB: My goal is to continue growing the business – we will be offering some new services very soon which we are super excited to reveal! We would love to continue to promote responsible tanning options for customers, focus on skincare and the benefits of hybrid tanning, and also upgrade some of our older equipment. Then, who knows? Maybe one day, we will expand and open a second location!

IST: All the best for continued success!

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