[gap height=”15″]
We’ve just had one of the biggest trade shows for our industry in the UK, and because of the time of year, it usually proffers a pretty good barometer for what we can expect over the next few months as we head into the tanning season. And I’m delighted to say that the outlook appears bright!
[gap height=”15″]
There is a real positivity bouncing around at the moment, and the number of enquiries from new business start-ups is as much of a “feel good factor” as UV exposure itself! It’s actually been quite a while since I have experienced this level of new business interest from start-ups, and I have to say it’s a very good feeling, indeed. And not just from the sales perspective, but also, importantly, the fact that a regular tranche of new people see our industry as one they believe in and want to invest in – which quite frankly, given the years of attack we have endured, is quite an amazing feat.
[gap height=”15″]
So, the timing of last month’s scientific publication of a rebuttal to the research used by IARC and the WHO to dictate public health policy regarding tanning beds really could not have come at a better time. The indoor tanning industry response has been fantastic; but, of course, that’s to be expected. To my mind, what speaks absolute volumes is the lack of any real noise from all those organisations, agencies and companies that have taken such great delight in using the skewed statistics to attack us. To be fair to them, I guess they probably have no idea what to say or do. Maybe they genuinely believed the data and not just because it suited their objectives; after all, IARC, WHO, the EU and others – these are all immensely credible organisations. It’s been in all the interests of the anti-tanning lobby to use the skewed data and after all, coming from such eminent organisations, one can perhaps understand why they, the media and in turn, the public, have bought into the myths.
[gap height=”15″]
Why there was ever a need or intention to skew data, we will all have our own conspiracy theories on that. The fact is that it happened, and not just on one occasion, and somehow the checks and balances were not in place to prevent it. To my mind, that is really quite scary. The job at hand now is to keep pushing this information out because the naysayers don’t want to hear it and absolutely will not want to accept it or indeed act upon it. Think of all the campaigns, policies, products and businesses that have grown up around these inaccuracies and subsequent myths – we absolutely have a job on our hands to change the status quo, but we have the ammunition to make a start.
[gap height=”15″]
The global collaborative efforts of our industry organisations will no doubt have a strategy in mind; but, nonetheless, we all have a role to play in helping support these efforts on a daily basis in our own businesses. Responsible tanning is as important now as it has ever been. Everything we do in our facilities should be about delivering the best – from technology in products to advice to our customers.
[gap height=”15″]
People love to tan, and for those without any contra-indications, we need to ensure that when they choose indoor tanning, their experience is one they will keep coming back for – responsibly, of course!
[gap height=”15″]
There is a real positivity bouncing around at the moment, and the number of enquiries from new business start-ups is as much of a “feel good factor” as UV exposure itself!
