Location: Norfolk, NE
Owners: Brett & April Wisnieski
Years in Business: 2.5
UV Units: 14
Sunless: Mystic HD Booth
Lotions: Devoted Creations, Ed Hardy, MR International, Supre Tan, Hempz, Tan Inc., Designer Skin, Swedish Beauty
Salon Software: Helios 12
Other Services: Red-light Therapy
Salon Operator Training: Sun is Life®
Distributor Partner: Heartland Tan
Lotion Best-seller: Tan Inc. Brown Sugar, Devoted Creations Crazy Sexy Beautiful and Ed Hardy Upgrade to Black
Most Popular Package: One Month Gold Unlimited
As we turn the corner from summer to fall, it’s time to recognize our September 2016 Salon of Distinction; Velocity Tan of Norfolk, NE and its co-owner, April Wisnieski.
When I heard “Norfolk,” I thought I’d be placing a call to Virginia – who knew that there was more than one Norfolk? Now, I know!
As many salon operators might also admit, April kind of “fell” into the tan biz. She is a full-time nurse and her husband Brett runs his own company. Why on earth would they want to open a tanning salon?
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Well, that was the very first question I asked April during our recent interview. She was an indoor tanner, and when she found out her favorite salon was for sale, she thought it would be fun to run it. April loved to tan, loved the salon environment … just a few quick moves, and voila! The Wisnieskis became the new owners. Within a short timeframe, they upgraded the facility with new equipment and moved to a new location. Velocity Tan was moving at high speed!
[gap height=”20″]IST: April, what do you enjoy the most about running Velocity Tan?
[gap height=”15″]April: It’s the people! Everyone has a choice where they spend their discretionary income. We want to make sure all our guests have a fantastic experience.
[gap height=”20″]IST: What’s the key ingredient for delivering that “fantastic” experience?
[gap height=”15″]April: Undoubtedly Joe, it’s our staff. I’m blessed to have some wonderful people on board who share my commitment to providing that experience.
[gap height=”20″]IST: April, you’re a nurse. Does anybody find that being a salon owner and a nurse is a slightly odd combo?
[gap height=”15″]April: For sure! I get that question a lot. But, I feel that it also gives me a unique perspective when sharing the facts about UV exposure.
[gap height=”20″]IST: You and Brett attended the Sun is Life® Salon Operator Certification class that I taught at one of the Heartland Tan regional seminars a while back. As I recall, you were just getting into the business at that time. How did the class help you prepare?
[gap height=”15″]April: It was quite a lot of information in one day, but we were so glad that we took your class! It really gave us the facts about indoor tanning as we began the process of opening our salon. I immediately realized how important it would be to share that type of information with our salon guests.
[gap height=”20″]IST: What has been your most difficult obstacle?
[gap height=”15″]April: Misinformation. My gosh, so many negatives have been spread to the public about indoor tanning! Now that I’m informed about the facts, I really enjoy sharing those facts – not myths and false claims – about our controlled tanning environment.
[gap height=”20″]IST: Where do you see Velocity Tan in five years?
[gap height=”15″]April: I really believe it’s important to offer state-of-the-art products, services and equipment. I see us continually moving forward, adding new technology and certainly, maintaining our high level of customer service. Of course, we are going to still have fun doing it!
[gap height=”15″]April, all the best to you and your team and congrats on being added to the IST Salon of Distinction list!
