Let’s welcome Jessica Anctil and B-Tan to IST’s Salon of Distinction list! As the season was about to kick off earlier this spring, I had a great chat with Jessica. Engaging, energized and passionate about her business, she leaves little doubt that she is a successful small business owner.[gap height=”20″]
[gap height=”20″]Owner: Jessica Anctil
Locations: (2)Dacula, GA (That’s “Da-Cue-La”, not pronounced like Dracula)
Years in Business: 4.5
Staff: 9
UV Units: 10
Lotions: Australian Gold, Designer Skin, Devoted Creations, Ed Hardy (Tanovations), Hempz, Playboy, Supre Tan, Swedish Beauty,
Software Program: Tan Track
Other Services: VersaSpa Sunless, Infinity Sun Airbrush, Teeth-Whitening
Salon Operator Training: Sun Is Life®, and The Ultimate Tanning Experience created by owner Jessica Anctil
Distributor Partner: Heartland
Most Popular Package: Tanning Package VIP Platinum (EFT) Benefits include: Free birthday spray-tan, 25% off all products, $10 spray-tans, free bring-a-friend Fridays, free upgrade or packet of lotion on Saturdays, and 50% off teeth-whitening services.
[gap height=”20″]IST: B-Tan, huh? Okay, how did you get inspired to get into the tanning business?[gap height=”20″]
JA: Well, my husband runs a successful business and he’s happy (most of the time!) doing it. I thought, that’s what I want to do; run a business and be happy doing it. Easy formula; but I thought it would be hard to achieve. It wasn’t! It hit me in the middle of the night: Tanning Salon Owner. I woke up and went after it.
[gap height=”20″]IST: Well, Jessica, I have to admit that’s a little different than most. How long have you been at it?[gap height=”20″]
JA: It’s been 4½ years – got my second location about a year ago. It’s less than ten miles away, but attracts a different customer demographic. It needed some work when I bought it, and I’m still contouring it to give it the B-Tan touch.
[gap height=”20″]IST: The B-Tan touch? Explain.[gap height=”20″]
JA: That’s easy! Customer service and quality equipment. We try to make each guest feel special. Then, I lead off with Ergoline’s top-of-the-line Open Sun sunbed and the popular Avantgarde, among other sunbeds we offer. But it’s really hard to surpass those two.
[gap height=”20″]IST: I get it. Let’s move on. What’s been your biggest hurdle as a salon operator?[gap height=”20″]
JA: Learning equipment maintenance! I’m really impatient and cannot stand for any of my units to be down. Customers get irritated and we can’t have that! So, I learned how to do not only common things like replace lamps and other internal sunbed components, but also do preventive maintenance and cleaning on my sunless units. If a unit is down, I’m not making money.
[gap height=”20″]IST: You recently took our Sun is Life® Training & Certification program. What did you think about it?[gap height=”20″]
JA: Joe, my background has been in Corporate America. Training is everything. I’ve got to tell you, Sun is Life training rocks! The more training and education that my staff gets, the more empowered they feel. The more empowered, the more confident they feel. The more confident, the better salespeople they become. When they can answer our customer’s questions, they feel almost bulletproof.
[gap height=”20″]IST: What’s the roadmap to your future look like?[gap height=”20″]
JA: I plan to create the “Ultimate Tanning Experience!” If I create that, I can duplicate it. If I can do that, I have something with staying power. Which leads to my goal: franchising the B
Tan concept.
[gap height=”20″]IST: Wow, that’s awesome. Give me something to round out our interview.[gap height=”20″]
JA: We feel that to some degree, salon operators are like therapists. Our guests come to us for a slice of relaxation, a mini-vacation. And they do like to unload on us and share what’s going on in their lives. A lot of it is “not for everyone’s ears,” if you know what I mean. But we listen, they air it out a little and get to chill in our salons. It’s all good!
[gap height=”20″]IST: Jessica, that’s a wrap. Thanks for the time and all the best to you in 2017 … and beyond!
