For over a decade, IST magazine has recognized our industry’s best with our Industry Choice Awards. Every year, tanning professionals from all around the globe choose their “favorites” in categories including beds and lamps, sunless systems, lotions, eyewear and more. The industry member chosen “Person of the Year” for 2015 is one of my favorites: Susan Carlton. Susan has devoted years of her life and racked up plenty of frequent flyer and hotel points as she’s traveled throughout the U.S. providing expert training on behalf of Australian Gold. Perhaps you are among those who have been educated by Susan; if so, you are certainly the better for it! Her style of personalized training has created incredible success for the company and products she represents, as well as driving lotion sales for a multitude of salons. Susan, job well done and congratulations of the recognition that you’ve certainly earned! Congrats, as well, to each and every winner in our product and services categories. Special recognition to those who were not only multiple winners this year, but nominees and winners over several years. Job well done! So, let’s hear from some of our winners:
[gap]Person of the Year
Susan Carlton, Australian Gold
“I was incredibly surprised when Chris Shaffer, my boss at Australian Gold, called to congratulate me for being voted the tanning industry’s Person of the Year. I was immediately humbled and grateful to all the friends, coworkers and salon clients who took the time to vote for me. I truly don’t know what to say! Somehow, I thought this particular award was decided by a panel of ‘judges’ who got together and decided who had contributed the most to the industry. I never had a clue that salon owners, employees, etc. voted on who would be selected. You can be sure that I will encourage people to go online and vote for their favorites next year. This honor is something I will always remember and cherish. Thank you all for being a part of my life in this wild and wonderful industry we all love!”
[gap]Favorite Low-Pressure Sunlamp
Cosmedico Light
“Every year, we are honored and humbled when we receive the news that the great salon operators have voted the CosmoLux 9K90 as the top tanning lamp in the industry. We work very hard to produce the best tanning lamps possible and to have salons and IST recognize us for our work is our crowning achievement every year! As for our continual drive to improve, 2016 will be no different. This year, we have expanded the 9K90 line with the new CosmoLux 9K90 Flex, and we know the result of our latest innovation will be even more satisfied tanners for our loyal CosmoLux salons! Thank you to IST and the hardworking salons throughout the U.S.; without you, there would be no CosmoLux 9K90. We are forever grateful for your support and loyalty!”
Kevin Apgar, President
[gap]Favorite Bronzer Lotion, Favorite Non-Tingle Lotion
Favorite Tingle Lotion, Favorite After-Tan Lotion
Favorite Package Design & Favorite Tanning Accessory
Designer Skin
“The Designer Skin Team and I are so honored to have won SIX Industry Choice Awards this year! From formulating the most powerful and effective tanning product technologies to pushing the limits in packaging design, it is Designer Skin’s passion to constantly bring innovation to our industry, while striving to provide best products on the market for our customers. To have our industry peers recognize those efforts means the world and keeps us motivated as we go into a new season! Thank you to all the Designer Skin devotees who took the time to vote for our products!”
Emily Qadri, Senior Brand Manager
[gap]Favorite Distributor
Four Seasons Sales & Service
“A friendly staff, impeccable customer service, attention to details and fantastic products and deals – this is what Four Seasons is all about. You just confirmed that you value our principles, and you voted Four Seasons again as your favorite distributor. We are particularly excited about the fact that you have given us your vote of confidence year after year, for 11 years running. We are thrilled about the confidence you have in us; we also recognize that it comes with a big responsibility, the responsibility to exceed our customers’ expectations. We are committed to your success, and we will continue to ascend beyond belief. From every one of us at Four Seasons, a heartfelt bear hug and a big “Thank You” for voting for us in the 2015 Industry Choice Awards. Let’s continue our successful relationship throughout 2016. All the best to you, and thanks again!”
Ed Jerger, President
[gap]Favorite Eye Protection
Eye Pro, Inc.
“Whew! We were sweating it out – and were so relieved to win “Favorite Eye Protection” again, making it six years in a row! There are a lot of great brands of eye protection out there, so we were delirious to once again be your favorite! Eye Protection is ALL we do, and it’s all we’ve done for almost 30 years. We take protecting your client’s vision seriously, so thank you for supporting our ‘Made in the USA’ Wink-Ease disposable eyewear!”
Brenda Fishbaugh, President
[gap]Favorite Airbrush System/Sunless Solution
Norvell
“What a great recognition for Norvell! It goes out to everyone on our team. Rick, Tenille and I are more visible to people in the industry, but there are a lot of people who put so much into making what we – and those who voted – feel are the finest sunless solutions on the market today. We thank all of those who voted for us, and we want to let you know that we will do everything to keep providing great products and services in 2016 and beyond.”
Brandon Cardinal, VP Sales & Marketing
[gap]Favorite UV Systems
Ergoline
“Everyone at Ergoline is thrilled to have been named the Industry Choice Award Winner in all three equipment categories! It is our goal to offer a comprehensive product line-up for salons, along with unmatched quality and performance on all levels. We strive to bring the very latest in technology and innovation to the heart of our design and to our valued customers. Thank you for making Ergoline your first choice, and your partner in success!”
Team JK America
[gap]Favorite Salon Software
Helios by New Sunshine
“What a fantastic honor to win this Industry Choice Award! A lot of hard work goes in to our products and it’s great to get the recognition, which I share with our entire team. We’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and wish everyone a fantastic and prosperous 2016 with our products and services!”
Chad Hankinson, Vice President
[gap]Favorite Salon Operation Product
T-Max Series
“We are extremely honored to receive the Industry Choice Award. Applied Digital, Inc. has been providing the T-Max Series Timers to the indoor tanning industry since 1995, and we are very happy that salon operators have enjoyed success using the T-Max products for over 20 years. We look forward to many more years serving the indoor tanning industry. Thank you very much!”
Your Friends at Applied Digital, Inc.
[gap]Favorite High-Pressure Sunlamp
Supra® Brands Group
“Supra voted best HP lamp again! The staff and associates of Supra are very humbled, and of course, also very grateful to receive the Industry Choice Award, now eight years in a row. We are also very thankful for the voting from so many salons again in 2015. We will strive to continue the pursuit of excellence in the products’ performance, longevity and availability, as they are truly our trademark. It is clear that our distributors and their salespeople are doing a great job of promoting the Supra Collection across the nation and Canada. Thank you all!”
Leif Vasstrom, Principal
[gap]Favorite Marketing Campaign
Devoted Creations
“Thank You! Thank you to all the salon owners and operators for their continuing support of Devoted Creations. We are truly blessed to have such loyal and passionate owners associated with our brand and I am grateful every day. Our entire team sends their sincere appreciation for those who took time from their busy days and schedules to vote for us. I promise that our team will continue to provide salons with the most innovative products and support for years to come.”
Lewis Henry, President
