How do you define cool? At LF, we define it as the people, salons and companies that are doing unique, fun and innovative things in the industry. We define it as the individuals who keep this industry alive and thriving by taking an interesting approach to business, shaking up the marketing scene and concocting brilliant plans to get ahead. We define it in terms of “The Industry’s Coolest.” Here’s who made the list:
Aruba Tan Austin
The popularity of sunless services has boomed in recent years, thanks in part to celebrity endorsements. But the sunless boom can also be attributed to innovative salons such as Aruba Tan Austin, where sunless is a focal point of its service offerings. Owner Zach Medlin attributes much of the salon’s success to cornering the city market for airbrush tanning—even though Aruba Tan opened three years ago in an area with pretty stiff competition (five salons within two miles), it is already well-known in the Austin area for quality airbrushing. “We are the absolute best in town and we offer airbrush for a reasonable price,” Medlin says. “All of our technicians are thoroughly trained and we have really streamlined the process to ensure outstanding results in an efficient manner, every time.” And, really, what’s not cool about seeing upwards of 150 airbrush clients in a week during season?
AfterGlow Tanning Salon
Though they are the new kids on the block, Jeff and Brittney Harkins are doing everything they can to make AfterGlow Tanning Salon a household name in Powder Springs, Ga. But the coolest thing about AfterGlow has to be its Lotion Promotions. For these monthly promos, the Harkins select one lotion manufacturer to feature and offer specials on that manufacturer’s products. In addition, they hold contests and giveaways of samples and merchandise to generate interest in the products. Overall, the Lotion Promotions allow AfterGlow to introduce clients to new lotions and tanning trends, and provide product education in a way that’s fun and rewarding for the customer.
Bobby Wagner (Global Sun Light)
When you hear the words “tanning lamp education,” you probably don’t think “now, there’s a good time!” But maybe that’s because you haven’t attended one of Bobby Wagner's presentations. The sales manager for Global Sun Light has a way of making what might be considered a boring subject fun and entertaining. As his co-worker, Amber Baker, eloquently puts it, “Who else can correlate tanning lamps to drinking beer?” Wagner is always thinking outside the box, looking for ways to help salon owners understand the importance of putting quality lamps in their equipment and making sure salon owners are excited about their business and engaged in learning.
Brook Taylor (All Hours International Tanning Distributors)
Brook Taylor of All Hours International Tanning Distributors is one smart cookie. Why? Because she helped create a new line of innovative skincare products called The Perfect Cookie, and the featured product in the line is a hypoallergenic, all-natural shaving gel. Many people suffer from irritated skin due to shaving and tanning within 24 hours—The Perfect Cookie is a great option for those tanners with sensitive skin and it’s a perfect up-sell for salons.
Copper Tans Salon
Between hosting its first model search (featuring a New York Giants player as a guest judge), sponsoring a demolition derby, participating in a Wiffle ball tournament for kids with cancer, having its employees act as "ring card girls" for the local police department’s full-contact kickboxing fundraiser, hosting a breast-cancer fundraiser and tans-for-cans food drive, and teaming up with local DJs to promote tanning at various events around town, it’s obvious that Copper Tans Salon has been busy. But it’s not the salon’s level of activity that makes it cool—it’s the attitude. Owner Nicole Flora sums things up by saying, “We stay competitive by offering promotions every chance we can. Even in the face of this economy and in an industry that has to deal with a lot of negative publicity, we have doubled our sales in the last two years.” Now there’s an example of a salon that’s keeping this industry alive and thriving.
Danielle Ardito (Devoted Creations)
Danielle Ardito, the national sales trainer for Devoted Creations, gets things done. Just read the glowing nomination she received from Neil Benson, account representative for Tan International: “My company wanted to carry Devoted Creations and Danielle made it happen. She was the first manufacturer to do training at our office on the 2009 products and she happened to be visiting us during my birthday. She surprised me with a cake and took me out for a drink afterwards! She works hard, goes the extra mile and is devoted to her job ... she's definitely cool.”
