With a product distributor, my first consideration is not their pricing, although price is important. But, equally important is accuracy and transit time of the order, product advice from my sales rep, freshness of the product (especially important for SPFs and self-tanning products), ease of ordering, and access to a full line of products from all the manufacturers. I am loyal to my distributor. If and when I change distributors, it is not that I’ve left them, but rather that they left me by not living up to my expectations as outlined above.
Craig Joyner, Owner
Great Tan
San Francisco, CA
An excellent tanning product distributor knows that a salon’s front line staff is key and they will spend time educating those sales associates. They, in turn, educate themselves on their customer accounts, know their salon clients by name and can even recognize their customer’s voice the moment they pick up the phone! Adhering to promised order-shipping dates and having items in stock is key. Product rotation is also of the essence: salons need fresh product! Knowledge of new items in our industry is vastly important, as well. Every salon operator wants to have the upper hand when it comes to the latest and greatest products to offer in their market.
Christy Payne, Salon Manager/Spray-Tan Artist
The Sun Deck Tanning & Airbrush Salon
Cumming, GA
I think a great tanning product distributor is someone who is passionate about the industry and the products they are providing. As a salon operator, it is really helpful if our distributor has tested the products first and has reached out to their clients for feedback to get an idea of the product’s popularity. Any distributor representative can pitch a product, but someone who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable is great to work with. Sometimes, I cannot think of a good ‘slow season’ sale and a great distributor not only sells lotions, but their team is also helpful and has creative ideas. A great product distributor becomes part of your team, someone you build a relationship with and trust to know what will best suit your salon and your needs.
Cami Hondel, Owner
Local Acapulco
South Portland, ME
I would say that the most important aspect that I look for in a distributor is how they offer communication via an ongoing Internet presence, especially through social media outlets such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and private forums. Clearly, an Internet presence is vital to marketing and running a business for most salons. In today’s fast paced world, I prefer email on my smart phone to a phone call. When we’re busy, it’s so much easier to share the ad provided to us by our distributor. It’s also VERY important to me that my distributor representative respond to my emails! I also take special note when my distributor participates with comments on my salon web page in a timely manner. To me, that means they are staying in touch with my business model … communication at its best!
Eileen Morris, Owner
Body Images
Wilmington, DE
