Dr. Holick, Tanning Industry Speak At Massachusetts Hearing
BOSTON—Proposed legislation to increase regulations for tanning facilities in Massachusetts was the focus of a June 13 hearing before the Committee on Public Health. SB 1329 seeks to add additional regulations to an already heavily regulated industry that provides a controlled environment where individuals can receive the benefits of ultraviolet light while minimizing their risk of sunburn.
Dr. Michael Holick, one of the nation’s leading experts on vitamin D and a professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University, advocates for sensible, moderate exposure to sunlight as a key element in overall good health and testified at the hearing.
“Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in this country,” he says. “Adequate sun exposure in the earlier years of life will help guard against several major chronic diseases in adulthood such as diabetes, several forms of cancer and multiple sclerosis.”
A recent study by Holick’s laboratory revealed that healthy adults who frequented a tanning salon at least once a week had healthy levels of vitamin D at the end of the winter when compared to similar adults who often took a multivitamin but had insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Despite the flood of research, the dermatology profession and various legislators continue to back anti-tanning legislation and lobby for stricter regulations for the indoor tanning industry.
The legislation also will overburden small businesses with increased taxes and fees. The licensing fee will increase 60 percent—from $150 to $250 with no clear indication of how the additional revenue will be used. The proposed legislation also will impose a new registration fee of $25 for each employee—in addition to the cost salon owners already face to train employees to meet the existing regulations.
Many tanning salons are small businesses that are struggling with the excessive regulations already placed upon them by federal and state government.
“Together, these regulations make Massachusetts tanning salons some of the most heavily regulated in the country,” says Steve Going, owner of Sun City Tanning Salon in Worcester, Mass.
“We provide a controlled environment where people can get all the benefits of ultraviolet light while minimizing the risk.”
“The small business owners who make their living in the indoor tanning industry are like entrepreneurs in other industries; many of them have risked everything to create a better life for their families,” says Jerry Frank, a member of the Indoor Tanning Association’s board of directors.
“However, unlike the typical small business, the majority of indoor tanning salons are owned and operated by women and that is something of which we are quite proud. To add more unnecessary fees and regulations that will unfairly and disproportionately affect female small business owners is completely unwarranted.”
DALLAS—Supre is supporting breast cancer research by contributing 5 percent of the purchase price of any 18-ounce Hempz Age Defying Herbal Moisturizer or Hempz Facial Moisturizer and Eye Cream with Free Makeup Bag during September and October. Supre invites others in the indoor tanning industry to help in the effort to find a cure.
For more information, visit www.hempzproducts.com.
NTTI Summer Special
PHOENIX—The National Tanning Training Institute is offering a Summer Special to help certify all your employees online. NTTI is offering a special 5-Pack of Basic Certification for a reduced price of $164.95. That’s a savings of $130.
Visit www.tanningtraining.com/summer07 or call (800) 529-1101 to take advantage of this offer.
RIDGEFIELD, N.J.—PC Marketing’s staff participated in the Paterson Habitat for Humanity’s Corporate Challenge on June 9. Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle the significant social problem of decent housing. PC Marketing thanks the friends and family who have pledged time and money to support this cause.
2008 Top 250 Salons Surveys Available Online
Access the Top 250 Survey by visiting www.lookingfit.com/top250.
The secure site allows you and only those you share your login information with to view your information. Once you register your salon, choose a login name and password, fill out the form (or forms if you have multiple salons) and submit your entry online. The site also allows salons to amend information that changes before the Nov. 2, 2007 deadline.Salons also can download a PDF of the Top 250 Salons Survey. Simply print it out, fill in the required information and mail or fax it back. The fax number is (480) 281-6026. The Top 250 Salons will be published in a special Feb. 15, 2008 issue of LOOKING FIT magazine. Salons must be in operation by the same owner for one full year by Nov. 2, 2007 to be eligible. For more information about the Top 250 Salons listing, contact Kirsten Anttilainen at (480) 990-1101 ext. 1603 or e-mail kirsten@vpico.com.
June Webinar Available On Demand
PHOENIX--Did you miss the live Webinar—”Marketing Know-How For Today’s Tanning Salons”—held June 11? No worries ... simply download the free Webinar at www.lookingfit.com/webinars and listen to it at your leisure.
We received great feedback from participants and look forward to providing future Webinars for the indoor tanning industry. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors—Photo Therapeutics, Inc., Lumière Light Thèrapie, Tanology and NTTI—for making the event a reality.
Sign Up For LOOKING FIT’s e-Newsletter
PHOENIX—Are you current on all the top industry news, marketing tips and business solutions? Make sure of it by signing up to receive LOOKING FIT’s monthly e-newsletter. Simply log on to www.lookingfit.com and fill out the “Sign Up For Free e-News” section. This no-charge tool will arrive via e-mail every month.
Four Seasons Named New JK North America Distributor
JONESBORO, Ark.—Hans-Juergen Kreitz, CEO of JK North America, announced that Four Seasons Sales & Service, Inc. is now a distributor for Ergoline, Soltron and Sundash products.
“Four Seasons will be good for JK as well as for our customers,” Kreitz says. “Their staff has an excellent reputation, and I’m confident they will provide everyone within their territory with the utmost in satisfaction. Adding Four Seasons as one of our distributors will help strengthen JK’s No. 1 position within the Untied States.”
Ronnie Allen, chairman of the board of Four Seasons, said: “We have worked with many of the people in the JK network, including Steve Spencer of Forever Tan; Chip Stroud of American Sun Systems; Mike Vincent of Sunbed Supply; Marty and Bill Gallagher of Suntan Supply; Pete and Cyndi Slack of Electric Sun; and Jerry Deveney of JK for more than 20 years. It’s a great feeling to be part of this team again.”
Located in Paris, Tenn., Four Seasons will sell and service JK-branded equipment in Northern Alabama, Southern Indiana, Western Kentucky, Northern Mississippi and Western Tennessee.
Four Seasons is unique in that it is the only employee-owned company in the indoor tanning industry. This allows Four Seasons’ specialists and team members to share in the company’s success—which means customer satisfaction is given top priority. Four Seasons has its own showroom as well as 120,000- square-feet of warehouse space to inventory the industry’s widest selection of products.
For more information, call Four Seasons at (800) 325-2769 or JK North America at (888) 771-0996.
Tan, Inc. Announces Free Product Rebate Program Winners
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.—Tan, Inc. announces the winners of its salon Instant Free Product Rebate Program scratch-off contest. According to the company, 24,000 salons received a scratch-off card in an Instant Free Product Rebate Program mailer along with sample packets of Tan Inc.’s Urban Princess and Tan ASZ U’s 4.0 Brown.
Wendy Gossett of Wendy’s Sunport Tanning in Otisville, Mich. was the grand prize winner of $500 in products. Buffie Smith of Tan Station in Culloden, W. Va. was the second prize winner of $250 in products. Salons were required to call the number on the mailer to qualify for prizes.
For more information, call (888) 567-5630.
Four Seasons Transforms Into A Super Hero To Fight Cancer
PARIS, Tenn.— The Fantastic Four Seasons- Fighting For A Cure was one of many campsite stations participating in this year’s annual Relay for Life “Super Heroes” Fundraising event located at the Paris and Henry County Fairgrounds.
The sale of a cookbook titled, “A Taste of Paris” featuring 200 recipes contributed by Four Seasons employees, family and friends was just one fundraising example where Four Seasons’ associates banded together to win second place for total fundraising.
The Fantastic Four Seasons-Fighting For A Cure team raised more than $8,000 for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer.
For more information, call (800) 325-2769.
Sportarredo: Benvenuto Erico!
Congratulazioni from the LOOKING FIT family.
Mystic Tan Hits Milestone
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas--Mystic Tan® hit a milestone by completing 20 million tans worldwide since 1999. According to the company, this phenomenal feat validates the fact that consumers are demanding the authentic Mystic Tan experience.
The UV-free tanning leader has optimized products and revolutionized the industry with its patented and exclusive MagneTan™ technology. Its latest breakthrough, the MyMystSystem, allows consumers to customize their tanning experience.
For more information, visit www.mystictan.com.
Eurowalls Makes Recycling ‘Cents’
LOCKPORT, N.Y.—While Eurowalls always has thought recycling makes sense, President Craig Colling recently found a way to make recycling make “cents”—literally. He collected hundreds of pounds of old trade magazines, newspapers, etc. for a local school’s “Recycle Retriever” program. The school earned hundreds of dollars in cash due in part to the donation.
Making business “cents” is also important. Eurowalls locally recycles ink jet and toner cartridges. It costs much less than purchasing new ones and often, the company is paid for spent cartridges. “Print quality is important, because we sell our product through pictures.” Colling says. “The recycled quality and price is great. It makes sense all around.”
ITA Tanning World Expo Registration Open
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Online registration is available for the 8th Annual ITA Tanning World Expo that will be held Oct. 11-14 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Salons can register by visiting www.theita.com/Conference07 or calling (888) 377-0477.
This annual trade show is a must for those serious about the indoor tanning industry. Last year’s expo floor boasted more than 100 exhibitors and was host to thousands of attendees looking for the newest equipment and products.
Extra: Mid-Month Marketing e-Newsletter
PHOENIX—Sign up for the special Marketing 101 e-newsletter that provides indoor tanning salon owners with marketing tips and practical know-how to compete in today’s marketplace. This midmonth e-newsletter is sponsored by Photo Therapeutics, Inc., the makers of Lumière Light Thèrapie and Tanology. Sign up for the free newsletter by logging on to www.lookingfit.com and filling out the “Sign Up For Free e-News” section.
Body Drench Answers Casting Call
LOS ANGELES--Body Drench donated 2-ounce bottles of its original Unscented Moisturizing Lotion to the open casting call for E! Entertainment TV’s Swimwear & Spokesmodel Pageant for the new reality show “Sunset Tan”. Models will compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, along with a chance to be featured on the show.
New Color For Ergoline Open Sun 550, Free Tanning Until 2008
With no monthly payments due until 2008, JK Capital is offering “free” tanning, with approved credit, to salon owners through the end of the year. Financing via JK Capital is fast and easy and this special lease lets salon owners keep more money in their pockets while they earn money during 2007.
Restrictions apply. For complete details, contact an Ergoline representative or call JK Capital at (800) 593-2183.
Salon owners can capitalize on this lease along with the Ergoline Open Sun 550’s new color. This sunbed’s unique open-air design for the head area provides an unparalleled tanning experience for clients who dislike the “closed-in” feeling of traditional beds. Its captivating Blue Silver color joins Magenta Silver as a choice for salon owners wanting to match their bed with their décor.
For more information, call (888) 771-0996 or visit www.sunergoline.com.
Get Ready For SOLARIA 2007
COLOGNE, Germany— SOLARIA, the No. 1 international trade fair for tanning products and equipment in Europe, will be held Nov. 1-3. Approximately 160 companies from 18 countries including the “Who’s Who” of the industrial sector are expected to participate in this year’s event. The show is expected to attract some 8,000 visitors from 53 countries.
Held every other year, SOLARIA is the world’s most important platform for the tanning industry. It is where supply meets demand, where innovations are presented and trends are born.
The focus of this year’s event is a student salon design competition called “Wellness Visions: The Tanning Centre of Tomorrow” (hint: these designs can be a real source of inspiration, so take notes).
Other events include a conference program, competitions and the popular SOLARIA Chill-Out nighttime event held in Germany’s renowned Rhein-terrassen. The building also will be the site of the gala awards night, in which prizes from the various competitions will be awarded to Europe’s top tanning salon operators.
For more information, visit www.solaria-cologne.com.
Log On To TanResponsibly.com
PHOENIX—LOOKING FIT’s consumer Web site, www.tanresponsibly.com, helps your customers or potential customers find handy tanning tips, the latest trends and answers to many questions regarding sensible, moderate and responsible tanning. Judging from the tremendous response to The Bright Side Blog and our Web exclusive articles, we know we’ve designed a place where tanners and others interested in your salon’s professional services can go for information on tanning, fitness & lifestyle, health & nutrition, skincare, movie reviews, sun-sign predictions and much more.
Tell your customers about this site, where they can look up everything they want to know about the tanning process and the professional products that can help them achieve their tanning goals. There is a lot of competition for tanners’ attention in the “virtual world” and the “real world”, so make Tan Responsibly your customers’ homepage.
Eye Pro President Judges Model Search Contest In Canada
“Our 10 finalists were narrowed down from more than 100 entries from all over Ontario.” Marie Jones says. “This year, we really had stunning ladies.” Among the judges was Brenda Fishbaugh, president of Eye Pro, Inc. Other judges included Cindy Cindric, Canadian sales manager of California Tan; Mike Aguiar and Luis Rego, of Silver Solarium Distributors; and Melissa Michard, the very first tanner of Palm Beach Mega Tan from 14 years ago.
“This was my third year of judging and my fourth year of attending,” she says. “The girls competing were all very cute, and the judges all had a tough time deciding. We even had a tie.”
More than 250 guests attended the formal dinner and gala event. After a Marilyn Monroe look-alike sang and two balloon dancers brought in from England performed, the finalists competed in evening dresses and a swimsuit competition. They were judged on poise, confidence and how well they would photograph for a large print campaign throughout the province of Ontario. The finalists also may attend salon openings and key events.
The winner was Jen Turner of Peterborough. She received more than $800 in cash prizes, as well as dozens of gift certificates, California Tan lotions and Eye Pro products. The runner-up was Vanessa Tremblay of Ottawa. She received more than $300 in cash prizes and tanning products.
The sponsors were Mystic Tan Canada, Silver Solarium, California Tan, Eye Pro and Palm Beach Mega Tan.
2007 Palm Beach Mega Tan Model Search winner Jen Turner and Eye Pro President Brenda Fishbaugh.
Based on suggestions from its customers, Heraeus Noblelight (Hanau, Germany) recently updated its Original Hanau SunCare® U.S. Web site. Sections relating to Original Hanau SunCare UV tanning lamps for the U.S. market have been expanded significantly. The site also offers suggestions for suitable highpressure replacement lamps for specific types of tanning beds. On the Original Hanau SunCare pages, all tanning lamps from the product range for the replacement market can be found, as can components for the manufacturers of sunbeds. www.original-hanau-suncare.com/us
Air Cycle Corporation (Broadview, Ill.) announced new features to www.LampRecycling.com that make recycling fluorescent lamps even easier. Updated capabilities include speedy online ordering, automatic reordering, container tracking and online access to Certificates of Recycling. Each of these features attempts to make lamp recycling as simple as possible for tanning facilities nationwide. Corporate programs also can be implemented for multi-location organizations. (800) 909-9709
Custom HBC Corporation (Waconia, Minn.) was awarded a second consecutive ASI Spirit Award by the Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI), the largest media and marketing organization serving the $18.6-billion advertising specialty industry. The award was presented at the annual awards banquet in Las Vegas to Custom HBC Corporation for being the second-fastest growing supplier in the industry with more than 900 percent growth from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, Custom HBC won the ASI Spirit Award as the third-fastest growing supplier in the industry. (877) 442-9881
