You’ve got your salon name, your site, your floor plan and your décor. But none of that matters without the right selection of equipment. It’s the mix of beds, standups and tanning level variety that will keep clients loyal to your salon. Yet with the number of choices in today’s cutting-edge equipment market, it’s easy for a first-time salon owner—or even a veteran owner—to be overwhelmed in the process of deciding what units to buy.
Determine the Right Mix
Today’s manufacturers offer a wide range of equipment choices because they realize that salon clients want diversity in the appearance and function of the equipment they use. However, with prices ranging anywhere from around $2,900 for an entry-level unit to $40,000 and higher for a high-end unit, it’s important for salon owners to carefully select the equipment mix that will be successful in their salon—that is how they will ensure a return on their investment.
Be sure to factor in multiple levels of tanning capabilities— including low-, medium- and high-pressure options. This multilevel system provides an opportunity to upgrade low-pressure tanners to medium-pressure beds, and medium-pressure tanners to high-pressure beds for a minimal charge. Meanwhile, vertical units continue to offer appealing features that enhance their marketability. Modern stand-up units offer sleek new looks, novel shapes and ergonomic designs, which assist the salon staff in upgrading customers from basic units.
In addition, today’s bigger beds contain more lamps in the canopy and the base and may include varied-length lamps and shoulder or facial lamp. This allows for a more intense and quicker tan, while giving clients added value for their dollar. Equipment makers also continue to fine tune mechanical features such as piston-lift canopies and contoured acrylics to allow the tanner to tan better and more comfortably.
When choosing your mix, keep in mind that you are competing with other salons in your area. Customers not only want enhanced tanning performance, they also want visual incentives that distinguish their upgraded sessions from the basic program, so check out what equipment selection your competition has and what they are missing.
However, that’s not to say that the need for a quality basic bed isn’t there, and depending on your clientele, the conservative options may have the most appeal. The real trend is to offer three to five levels of tanning so customers can choose their tanning lifestyle. For example, a typical 10-bed salon might feature five basic units, two premium units, a standup, a high-pressure unit, a sunless stand-up unit and a handheld sunless airbrush or HVLP system.
Decide What’s Important
By investing in new equipment, tanning professionals can take advantage of cutting-edge features, ergonomic interiors and eye-appealing exterior designs. But before you start shopping, determine what will be your must-have factors in equipment and in the manufacturer or distributor. Is it performance? Lamp quality? Bells and whistles? Maintenance? Whatever those factors are, deciding them ahead of time—and sticking to them—will help you to make a decision that won’t leave you suffering from buyer’s remorse.
As for the equipment itself, performance and quality are among the top criteria for salon owners; however, their definitions of those criteria differ. For some, additional equipment enhancements such as advanced lamp and filter systems, digital stereo systems, aromatherapy, massage, cooling mist, easy-touch controls, electronic diagnostics, advanced body cooling and integrated ventilation systems are necessary components of high-performing equipment. For others, too many bells and whistles spell potential maintenance issues down the road.
Ultimately, it is up to the salon owner to research an individual unit’s durability. Ask around—other salon owners should be able to tell you a lot about their experiences with the same equipment. Similarly, test out the units yourself and see how well those bells and whistles really work. This trial is also a great way to gauge the ability of the unit to produce a tan.
Look Beyond the Purchase
Regardless of whether you buy the souped-up or the standard version, your equipment is going to need maintenance. Thanks to manufacturers that place their equipment components in trays that slide out of the bottom of the beds, general repairs and cleaning have become much easier, while specially coated finishes allow beds to be more durable and ensure their trendy look much longer.
However, it’s important to be prepared for maintenance issues that you can’t resolve yourself. Before buying a bed, you want to feel assured that the tech support and service offered by the company will suit your needs should anything happen.
You also should ask if the manufacturer or distributor selling you the bed has some type of organized technician network in your area—you don’t want to have a technician “walk you through” troubleshooting a maintenance issue long-distance.
Additionally, the initial purchase phase is the perfect time to anticipate how a company will treat you post-sale. Those companies that are interested in helping you in all areas of your business are likely to be those that will continue to help you, even after you’ve invested your money in their equipment.
