Location: Greencastle & Waynesboro, PA; Hagerstown, MD
Owners: Shane Myers & James Azar
Years in Business: 7
Staff: 8
UV Systems: 54
Other Services: Norvell Spary Booth, Leg-Tanners, Red-Light Therapy & Aqua Frixio Massage
Salon Operator Training: Sun if Life!
Lotions: Devoted Creations, Ed Hardy, John Abate, Designer Skin & Australian Gold
Best-Selling Lotion: Devoted Creations Black Tulip
Salon Software Program: Tan Track by Nichesoft
Distribution Partner: Four Seasons
Most Popular Membership: Year ‘Round EFT for $19/month
Website: uvbronze.com
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Our choice for this month’s Salon of Distinction profile is UV Bronze, owned by Shane Myers and James Azar. I got to know them during the Sun is Life® class I taught at the Four Seasons Expo. The guys opened up during a recent interview to let us know what makes UV Bronze “run.” Their daily motivation and passion for the business are clearly driving their success.
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IST: How did you get your start in the industry?
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S/J: Shane started in 2002 as manager of a local tanning salon (now a competitor) and then, we branched out on our own and opened our first facility in 2012. Soon after, we opened our second in 2013 and our third and biggest location in 2017.
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IST: You’ve invested in Sun is Life salon certification – how important is having a trained staff?
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S/J: Joe, we can attest that it’s very important! We need to provide our guests with the proper knowledge of the tanning process and how to tan responsibly. There’s a lot more to salon operation than just telling the customer what bed to use.
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IST: What would say has been your biggest business obstacle?
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S/J: We’ve had to deal with the bad reputations of other local salon operators who have overexposed their customers resulting in sunburn, or salons that have closed abruptly without refunding customers. This makes some people hesitant about purchasing a package with us, but it’s nothing that we have not been able to overcome.
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IST: What is the tanning industry’s biggest obstacle?
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S/J: As many of your SOD subjects have indicated, the Tan Tax and the misleading advertisements from dermatologists about skin cancer have made significant impacts on the industry.
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IST: Shane and James, feel free to send those misleading comments to me! I may choose one to feature in an upcoming “Industry Watchdog” column! You know that many in the Sun is Life class you took have been in the industry for one year or less. You’ve been around for five years – where do you want to be in the next five?
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S/J: We are in the process of looking to expand with more premier facilities within the next few years, currently considering locations in the Chambersburg, PA area.
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IST: Well guys, you’re heading in the right direction. Good luck now and in the future to you and UV Bronze!
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