smart Tan Magazine is the leading source of information for indoor tanning salons, covering everything from the newest tanning technology, Vitamin D and the lastes tanning lotions to detailed ways to improve your salon's success.
Issue link: https://smarttan.epubxp.com/i/144509
member of the month Photo: E Bar K PhotograPhy business. Amy stepped up to run the store, learning along the way with the help of others. "I had no thought of shutting down while I was gone or selling the business after my stroke. I have wonderful girls who took great control," says Nikki. "It has been a learning experience and a challenge for me at times – I had to really learn to let more go." Nikki is still very involved with the business, but in an effort to seek balance and preserve her health, she's involved her staff more with the maintenance and demands of the business. In fact, she turned her experience into a philanthropic endeavor. In a one-day fundraiser, Sun Tan USA raised over $2200 for stroke awareness through a raffe. A local therapist from her rehab center educated the crowds while they enjoyed a catered spread and blowout sale. Smart & Sweet One of the major contributing factors to the salon's success through Nikki's absence was the high standard of education for all of her employees. When they are frst hired, staff members go through a lot of on-the-job training. Instead of sticking them behind a book, they feel that the best way to learn the job is to do it. In a mentorship setting, they learn everything they need to know to get through day-to-day activities. Later on, Nikki takes their education to the next level with the Smart Tan UV Tanning training. The certifcation gives clients a tangible measure of the staff's expertise while ensuring a uniform level of knowledge amongst each team member. "We don't want to put ourselves in a position to burn someone. You have to be able to explain the process and the rules of tanning," says Bob. Really, all that education boils down to giving the best service. With all that knowledge, Sun Tan USA's customers get the best tanning experience. Add the little touches like greeting customers by name and walking them to their service room, and it's easy to understand why their customers are so loyal. "The competition got stiff when ftness facilities started offering tanning beds, but what won clients over was our knowledge of tanning and the fact that we got our employees through the Smart Tan training. We take care of our customers," says Nikki. That also means caring for customers when you can't give them what they want: "We ran into a client that had tanned someplace else that day and wanted to tan again with us. I had to tell her there was no possible way we could tan her that day," says Amy. SmartTan.com ❘ SMART TAN MAGAZINE 30