Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertising Information
  • Subscribe
  • ist Live
ist Magazine
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features

    Letter From The Publisher – March 2025

    SunCatchers, Boutique – Sun – Spa | Phenix City, AL

    Shining a Light: My Experience at the Heartland Tanning VIBE Expo

    sunbed

    Compliance Reliance

    sunbed

    Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

  • Health
    • All
    • Health Newsletter
    • Nutrition Corner
    red light therapy

    The Science of Light: Why It’s the Next Big Thing in Wellness

    “Love The Skin You’re In”

    3 Ways to Keep Your Bones Healthy & Strong

    The Truth About Retinol Confirmed by a Dermatologist

  • News
    • All
    • In The News
    • Industry Happenings
    • News Extra
    • Special Interest
    linked in as a sales platform

    The Rise of Short-Form Content on LinkedIn: A Game Changer for Business Growth

    Dmitry Tsvetkov / stock.adobe.com

    Revolutionizing The Industry: Why Tanning Is The New Full-Body Skincare

    heartland tan

    Talking About Heartland Tan’s January 2025 VIBE Event 

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

  • Spotlight
    tanned smiling woman teeth

    PSA: Delivering Bronze Skin Is Not Enough Anymore

    April 6, 2025
    glo tanning arkansas paragould

    Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

    April 4, 2025
    When focus flows, energy goes

    “Where Focus Goes Energy Flows”

    April 1, 2025
    The Secrets of Visionary Thinkers: 10 Rules For Brainstorming Success

    Warren Buffett Hates EBITDA. Here’s Why You Should Too

    March 18, 2025
    salon of distinction

    Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

    March 17, 2025
    jchizhe / stock.adobe.com

    Keep It Simple Sales – K.I.S.S.

    March 17, 2025
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition
No Result
View All Result
ist Magazine
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features

    Letter From The Publisher – March 2025

    SunCatchers, Boutique – Sun – Spa | Phenix City, AL

    Shining a Light: My Experience at the Heartland Tanning VIBE Expo

    sunbed

    Compliance Reliance

    sunbed

    Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

  • Health
    • All
    • Health Newsletter
    • Nutrition Corner
    red light therapy

    The Science of Light: Why It’s the Next Big Thing in Wellness

    “Love The Skin You’re In”

    3 Ways to Keep Your Bones Healthy & Strong

    The Truth About Retinol Confirmed by a Dermatologist

  • News
    • All
    • In The News
    • Industry Happenings
    • News Extra
    • Special Interest
    linked in as a sales platform

    The Rise of Short-Form Content on LinkedIn: A Game Changer for Business Growth

    Dmitry Tsvetkov / stock.adobe.com

    Revolutionizing The Industry: Why Tanning Is The New Full-Body Skincare

    heartland tan

    Talking About Heartland Tan’s January 2025 VIBE Event 

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

    IST Industry Choice Awards Winners 2024

  • Spotlight
    tanned smiling woman teeth

    PSA: Delivering Bronze Skin Is Not Enough Anymore

    April 6, 2025
    glo tanning arkansas paragould

    Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

    April 4, 2025
    When focus flows, energy goes

    “Where Focus Goes Energy Flows”

    April 1, 2025
    The Secrets of Visionary Thinkers: 10 Rules For Brainstorming Success

    Warren Buffett Hates EBITDA. Here’s Why You Should Too

    March 18, 2025
    salon of distinction

    Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

    March 17, 2025
    jchizhe / stock.adobe.com

    Keep It Simple Sales – K.I.S.S.

    March 17, 2025
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition
No Result
View All Result
ist Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Spotlight Salon of Distinction

Tantalizing Tanning & Spray

Joe Schuster by Joe Schuster
July 1, 2021
in Salon of Distinction
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Tweeter

In late spring, I had the opportunity to visit one of the nicest areas of coastal South Carolina, Murrells Inlet – great beaches and awesome seafood. As if tanning salon operators don’t have enough challenges, I often contemplate the hurdles faced by a salon located at the beach. Well, Tantalizing Tanning & Spray clears those hurdles and more! The last time I checked in with them, they were just getting things back together after their area was ravaged by a hurricane. Here’s a look at overcoming adversity with owner Nikki Capps … read on!

You might also like

Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

Sunlife Tanning Studio | Waunakee, WI

Owner Nikki Capps
Locations0 3
Year Established 2010
Staff 12
UV Tanning Units 27
Lotion Brands Designer Skin, Australian Gold
JWOWW, California Tan, Swedish Beauty
Software Tan-Link
Other Services Custom Spray-tans, Red Light Sessions, Infrared Sauna, FIT Bodywrap
Distributor Partner Four Seasons
Bestselling Package Level 3 VIP Membership

 


IST: Nikki, it’s nice to catch up with you again! Remind our readers how and when you got your start in the tan biz.

NC: I often helped a friend at her salon and thought that it was quite an intriguing business. In the midst of helping her, I found a salon for sale and in January 2010, decided to dive in! At first, I thought it would just be fun, but I had no idea I had so much to learn – I knew nothing! But we got certified with sun is life® training, started attending industry expos and just kept learning. We bought the second facility the next year and another in 2014. Although we ended up closing the second salon, we opened a fourth in march 2020 and I’m proud to report it’s going strong!

IST: Is being located in a beach town an added challenge for your business?

NC: Joe, it really isn’t as hard as you would think. People here are always wearing minimal clothing and of course, they want to be tan! Most don’t want tan lines and don’t have time to lay out in the sun every day. There are those who cancel or want to freeze their accounts in the summer because they say they will just go to the beach. To keep them using their memberships, we try to focus on the benefits of our add-on services, such as red light and infrared sessions. We also stress the importance of skin care and sunburn prevention. Many of our customers even enjoy getting spray-tans in addition to a day in the sun.

IST: You and your team have completed Sun is Life Training – how important is it to have a fully trained staff?

NC: Education and certification are extremely important and it is South Carolina law. I can’t leave an employee alone in the salon until they have passed the sun is life course. It also assures that we’re all on the same page with factual information. It’s an absolute for my staff to educate our salon guests about our services the right way. They also get a sense of accomplishment and pride when they see they have passed the test and get their sun is life certificates! We usually do a social media post and let everyone know that we have newly-certified employees and we hang all their certificates on the wall.

IST: I was vacationing in your area recently, just as COVID mask restrictions were being eased. Certainly, the virus impacted many small businesses. How did you survive over the last year? Was the hurricane a couple of years ago harder or easier to recover from?

NC: I am sure you have heard “covid blessing” stories from others and we are definitely one of them! I have never felt so blessed to live in the south! We were asked to close for the month of April, and in May, people just ran through the doors! Our guests have told us that we are their “escape back to reality.” My staff have never worn masks, we have never required our guests to wear masks, yet we continued to keep a clean salon and business as usual and our customers appreciate that. Actually, 2020 was one of our best years and 2021 is projecting to be the best year ever for TANtalizing. Coming back from hurricanes was definitely harder – the clean-up time, extra expenses – people are just preoccupied before and after the storm. I also kept my staff on payroll the entire time, so I didn’t lose anyone because of the temporary shutdown. Now, hiring this spring was a challenge! I have hired more younger girls than ever before because so many adults are still on unemployment. I love mentoring and teaching them life skills, so it has been fun to watch them grow and learn. I know not all salons have been as fortunate and my heart goes out to them.

IST: Nicole, that’s really admirable. So let’s move on to goals. Where do you want to be in the next 1-3 years?

NC: God willing, I have plans to open a wellness spa focusing on red light, infrared and some other preventative care services. I also plan to open one or two more tanning facilities. I believe that finding the right staff is key to keeping the culture and excellent customer service we are known for in our area.

Nikki, thanks for taking time out for our interview and we wish you all the best in the future!

 

Previous Post

WINK-EASE Dark Provides Protection for Red Light, Hybrid Beds & More!

Next Post

The Electronic Team Member

Joe Schuster

Joe Schuster

A 26-year industry veteran, Joe has taught certified salon operator training for the last 15 years, as well as advocating indoor tanning in many capacities. Joe is a sought-after speaker and presenter at both national & regional trade events, also interacting with the FDA, state & local regulatory agencies. During his most recent tenure with the ITA, he served as director of membership.

Related Posts

glo tanning arkansas paragould
Features

Glo Tanning: New Salon Opening Spotlight

by Quinn Cooper
April 4, 2025
salon of distinction
Salon of Distinction

Salon of Distinction: Bear Naked Tanning

by Joe Schuster
March 17, 2025
Sunlife Tanning Studio | Waunakee, WI
Salon of Distinction

Sunlife Tanning Studio | Waunakee, WI

by Sherron Barden
December 2, 2024
The Beach House Tanning Salon | Olean, NY
Salon of Distinction

The Beach House Tanning Salon | Olean, NY

by Sherron Barden
November 1, 2024
Tropical Obsession, Tanning Salon & Spa | Sebring, FL
Salon of Distinction

Tropical Obsession, Tanning Salon & Spa | Sebring, FL

by IST Magazine
October 1, 2024
Next Post

The Electronic Team Member

Recommended

ist-july-2025 cover

July 2025 – IST Digital Edition

July 7, 2025
IST June 2025 Cover

June 2025 – IST Digital Edition

June 2, 2025
Ist-may-2025 cover

May 2025 – IST Digital Edition

May 5, 2025
credit cards stacked on each other

Planning For Trouble With Merchant Advances

April 7, 2025

Popular Posts

  • The Heat Is On Sun Protection Lotions

    10 Tips To Abolish Raccoon Eyes

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Peak Season 2025 Success: Proven Strategies to Boost Profits

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A TOWEL IS NOT ENOUGH!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Red-Light Therapy: Do Skincare Products Help or Hinder?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Let’s Talk About Stripes, White Patches & White Spots.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Don't Miss It

ist-july-2025 cover
Digital Edition

July 2025 – IST Digital Edition

July 7, 2025
IST June 2025 Cover
Digital Edition

June 2025 – IST Digital Edition

June 2, 2025
Ist-may-2025 cover
Digital Edition

May 2025 – IST Digital Edition

May 5, 2025
credit cards stacked on each other
Epic Sales

Planning For Trouble With Merchant Advances

April 7, 2025

IST Magazine is the premiere, multi-award-winning business-to-business publication for the indoor tanning industry, providing valuable business articles and industry information in a fun, professional format.

Information

  • Advertising Information
  • Contact
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use

Categories

  • Columns
  • Features
  • Health
  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Digital Edition

© 2024 ist Magazine.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
    • ASA News
    • Ask Wolff
    • Epic Sales
    • Ergoline Focus
    • Eye to Eye
    • Lamp Talk with Leif
    • Lync IT
    • Notes from the Road
    • Trending @DevotedCreations
    • UK View
    • Monthly Motivation
  • Features
  • Health
  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Resources
    • Industry Links
    • Sun is Life
  • Lamp Talk
  • Digital Edition

© 2024 ist Magazine.