Crystal Martin, owner of Sun Spot Atlantis of Colorado Springs, CO, is a spectacular salon owner. Her family has been in tanning for 21 years. She joined the business on full-time when she retired from the Air Force ten years ago. Sun Spot started offering sunless tans 18 years, when they purchased an early Mystic Tan blue-box auto spray-booth. The menu now includes two VersaPro spray units, two custom airbrush rooms, FIT Bodywrap, teeth-whitening, a Hydration Station, and 18 UV tanning systems. “I was a military medic for 20 years, so I’m very conscious about health and safety,” explains Crystal. “I want my guests and my staff to be healthy.” She knows that the FDA strongly recommends that mucus membranes be covered during exposure to DHA solution. “As a nurse, I understand how easily the body absorbs through mucus membranes; so, we provide every guest with nose plugs, eyewear, single-use lip balm, and disposable bikini bottoms as protection.”
Eye Pro, Inc., world leader in eyewear and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK- EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, has loaded our Pinterest with over 500 tanning posts for you to share with tanners! Post to any other social media from Wink-Ease’s Pinterest library!
“Keeping up with social media can be really time-consuming,” said Jackie DeWald, Eye Pro Office Manager. “With so many tanners on various social media apps, it is important for salons to keep tanners informed in fun and creative ways, while weaving in your own products and promotions. Having a variety of lifestyle pictures, tanning tips and relevant posts to support our tanning industry keeps it easy for salons to collect and pin quickly, and saves time,” she continued. “We strive to provide sharable posts which appeal to Continue Reading »
I only had to chat with Melissa Latimer for a few minutes to realize she is very serious about eye protection at her salon. Heck, she’s serious about every- thing that has to do with tanning! This 38-year-old has built a successful tanning salon – Soleil Tan – an elite spray-tan salon, her own sunless solution distribu- tion company, and her own high-end skin care line.
Melissa’s business is based in Carters- ville, GA. We met online, and she wowed me with her grasp of the importance of eye protection. Says Melissa, “We educate clients on the why of why eye protection is important. If guests forget or have misplaced their goggles, we give them a free pair of the deep-lash disposables. We like the style that allows for long lashes because so many of our clients wear lash extensions and they don’t fit in a normal pair of goggles or disposables. We simply say, ‘Hi Julie! We have you ready in Bed 2 – I just need to see your eye protection, please.’” Most salons do that, right? Read on for the difference!
November 2016 – EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, wants salons to take the 7-Day Facebook Challenge to show how much they’ve learned about social media!
“7-Day challenges are trending with a lot of topics – they’re quick, easy, and fun to do,” explains Brenda Fishbaugh, President of EYE PRO. “We want to be sure all our salons understand how easy it is to be more effective on Facebook, so we included a 7-Day Challenge in our 2017 salon training — “Social Media for Tanning Salons Part 1”.
“After completing our FREE 30-minute online training, we challenge you to do “Step One” seven days in a row,” Fishbaugh continued. “The salons who complete the challenge receive special gifts and EYE PRO goodies,” said Fishbaugh. Continue Reading »
Recently, a salon owner ranted in an online salon owners’ forum about how unfair it is that she has to ask her guests to show eye protection and turn them away if they won’t wear it, after they have paid for unlimited tanning. Of course, none of us wants to engage in a pitched battle over eye protection with a salon guest. There are several ways to “hint” to your tanners without saying a word, and they will be prepped when you ask to see their eyewear or suggest it’s time that they buy another pair. One way to prepare your tanners is to display a colorful window cling on your front door that says, “Eye Protection is Required.” As your tanners walk in, they will know that you’ll be asking them about it.
What are some other ways you can prepare your tanners for the “big ask?” I’d suggest using social media and your salon website. Occasionally post an eye protection message. This can be in several forms; a pic of really fun, colorful goggles with, “Free this week with any $15 purchase!” Or, you can choose from dozens of related social media posts from eye protection manufacturers or your distributor. You can share a past “Eye to Eye” article from ISTMagazine.com. Another fun way to “get the message out” is to have your staff take some selfies wearing disposables or goggles.
October 2016 – EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, wants to help tanning salons become effective with social media, so they’ve created a FREE online training to do just that!
“As a small business, we knew we needed to step into the world of social media. We tried to figure out where on social media we should be. Where should we post? What time should we post? How many posts? Personal or business page? It was all very confusing,” said Brenda Fishbaugh, President of EYE PRO. “I took a few online courses and read some blogs, but the information was aimed at a wide variety of business — big business and online business — and lots of the information didn’t apply to me or to tanning salons,” she continued.
“I decided to distill the information down to what was useful for small tanning salons who had very little time and money to struggle with social media. Our 30-minute You Tube video — “Social Media for Tanning Salons Part 1” — simplifies social media and shows what you can do with just five minutes a day,” explained Fishbaugh. Continue Reading »
Last month, I interviewed Mike DePeuw about how a salon owner should prepare for an inspection by a state authority. This month, we talk to an operator who has been inspected three times in five years and is sharing her inspection review. She hopes this will help you be ready!
“Inspectors always show up unannounced,” shared Rhonda Culligan, owner of Body Heat in Coral Springs, FL. “Inspectors want to catch you off-guard,” she added. “If you aren’t there, your staff will have to handle it,
Click here to read more or download PDF of entire article.
Want to see an inspector’s checklist & what they use to grade your salon? Email Brenda@WinkEase.com and I’ll send it to you.
September 2016 – EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, is offering salons a FREE counter mat to educate tanners on why eye protection is critical.
“Salon owners ask us all the time how to convince their clients to wear eye protection,” says Brenda Fishbaugh, president. “Our theory is simple — a picture is worth a thousand words!” With one quick glance, our laminated counter mat has helped thousands of salon owners and staff educate tanners on the importance of eye protection,” says Fishbaugh.
“We stress the importance of EDUCATING the tanner, not trying to scare them,” explains Jackie DeWald, Office Manager. “The photos of eye damage from unprotected tanning are dramatic, but it’s not meant to be viewed by itself. It’s a tool to have handy at the counter or attached to the new customer clipboard, so every new client receives information on why eye protection is required,” she continued. “As soon as tanners see what can happen to their eyes without clean eye protection, the lightbulb goes on! Tanners are now ready to wear eyewear when tanning,” DeWald concluded.
Continue Reading »
According to most salon operators who have been through inspection, you can run a very tight ship and still be flagged for violations. I talked about this subject with Mike DePuew, owner of Beach ‘N Tans in Mocksville, NC, a 21-year industry veteran who has taught salon certification classes to other operators in North Carolina.
“I spend a lot of time helping salons prepare for inspection,” Mike says. “They are always surprised by what inspectors find important.” What’s the No. 1 “hot button” issue?
Click here to read more or download PDF of entire article.
Want to see an inspector’s checklist & what they use to grade your salon? Email Brenda@WinkEase.com and I’ll send it to you.
August 2016 – EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, says summer is the perfect time to try Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE, or WINK-EASE Dark in the our pack options.
“During the slower summer season, our WINK-EASE packs allow salons to invest less or try disposable eyewear in a smaller quantity option,” says Jackie DeWald, Office Manager. “Or, if your salon only uses Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, for example, you can have tanners try Lash Room WINK-EASE for longer lashes, or WINK-EASE Dark — great for a quick nap when tanning.”
“Salon owners love our award-winning WINK-EASE eyewear because it’s disposable and provides tanners with such a comfortable, custom fit,” says Brenda Fishbaugh, president. “Salons can resell WINK-EASE to clients who like to use them at the beach, or include our 30-pair pack in a tanning package or gift with purchase,” Fishbaugh continued. “WINK-EASE disposable eyewear is the BEST choice for stand-up units because there’s no nose bridge or strings through the hair, and a medical adhesive holds WINK-EASE firmly in place.” Continue Reading »
