Tanning Equipment

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.

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.

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.