Columbus, Ohio. Well, for starters, it’s the home of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, reigning NCAA Division I football champs. Okay, that should get every salon operator in Ohio pumped up for this fall’s biggest tanning event, for sure! Now, let’s see what else makes Columbus shake and move.
Named after Christopher Columbus in 1812, it was quickly named the state’s capital in 1816. Recently listed in BusinessWeek as one of the 50 “best cities,” Forbes gave it an “A” rating as one of the top cities in the U.S. for business and named it the No.1 up-and-coming tech city in 2008. In 2006, CNN Money listed Columbus as the 8th best big city to live in. If you have some spare time before or after the Expo, remember that the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are excellent and has been rated No.1 by USA Travel Guide.
Let’s not forget that the majority of salons in the U.S. are located within 300 miles of this thriving city! Seasonably nice fall weather should be in store for us there as our show slides into town September 26-28 – we’re talking typical highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-50s. I’m thinking a light jacket will be in order, at most.
Indoor Tanning Association Executive Director, John Overstreet, is a veteran of many tanning industry shows. He was the perfect starting point for discussing why Columbus was chosen for the site of this year’s TWE. “When the Board decided to pick up the reins and reenergize the Tanning World Expo, Columbus was one of the first cities we looked at,” Overstreet said. “Honestly, the Board was immediately sold! Columbus is sophisticated but at the same time incredibly affordable, both from the exhibitor’s perspective as well as for the attendee. It’s a new venue for our industry in one of the biggest indoor tanning states in the nation – there are thousands of salons within driving distance of Columbus.” He added that the facilities are first rate, with three major hotels either in the Convention Center or attached by skywalks with rates as low as $130/night. “Finally,” said Overstreet, “the Convention Center is just one or two blocks from a number of restaurants and nightspots.” At the end of the discussion, the question was, “Why NOT Columbus?”
As a veteran of many indoor tanning expos, I agree with John. Cities such as Atlanta, Reno, San Francisco, Dallas, Orlando, Chicago and Nashville have all been locations for our industry events. What do they have in common? Us. That’s right. Overcoming the problems of seasonality, negative publicity, staff continuity, under-capitalization and an uneven regulatory climate, we have survived since the mid-1970s. Good ‘ol American Entrepreneurism at its best.
So, if you have chosen this industry as your profession, you owe it to yourself to go – and bring your team – to the TWE in Columbus. Keep up on the latest and greatest the industry has to offer, and take advantage of networking with other salon operators to find out what works/what doesn’t in their neck of the woods. Visit each exhibit on the trade show floor to see all the exciting new products that are ready to be introduced for the upcoming season. Sign up for the Sun is Life® Salon Operator Certification class and prepare yourself and your staff with what I believe you will agree is arguably the industry’s best training program. Last but not least, profits from the Tanning World Expo will be reinvested in promoting and protecting our industry … and YOUR livelihood.
I hope to see you in Columbus!
