2008-09 Fact Book: An Evolving Industry

The U.S. indoor tanning market emerged nearly 30 years ago and has evolved into a viable and socially accepted industry with an estimated worth of more than $5 billion at the retail level. There are more than 20,000 indoor tanning facilities nationwide and another 20,000 businesses that offer indoor tanning.

Describing the U.S. indoor tanning market is an enormous task. In fact, one would be at fault if they did not refer to it as an evolution—a series of gradual changes that result in an improved product and industry.

Before we examine the U.S. market, let’s first take a look at indoor tanning’s European roots. By all accounts, the concept of indoor tanning was a German innovation. A number of companies brought forth highly engineered tanning units to the European market, which helped spur interest overseas.

Indoor tanning immigrated across the Atlantic to the United States in 1979. In fact, the first UVA tanning beds introduced in the United States were very basic and just the bottom of the beds. Yet, UVA tanning was not the first form of tanning to interest the American market.

During the late ’60s and early ’70s, UVB tanning booths had been the norm; however, by the late ’70s they gradually fell from favor. Industry experts agree that one reason for its decline was the fact that unless exposure was carefully controlled, the effect of UVB radiation was more often a sunburn than a tan.

The primary problem was UVB tanning units could not deliver what was promised by those marketing them. In addition, UVB tanning also came under attack for safety reasons by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and often was too expensive for cost-effective cosmetic use. Therefore, the major task at hand during the late ’70s was to educate the public about the differences between UVB and the newer UVA technology.

Many equipment manufacturers—past and present—have influenced or continue to influence the U.S. tanning market. Some of those companies include Sun Ergoline, SCA Wolff System, ETS, Klafsun, PC Marketing, Montego Bay, uwe, International Tanning Equipment/HEX, CMC/Sun Capsule, SMI Sontegra, SonnenBräune, Dr. Müller, AUVL, TanAmerica, UltraSun, Ultrabronz, Megasun, Royal Sun, Sunbronze, Hapro, ProSun, Celsius, Puretan® International, Alpha Industries, Future Industries, Simply Tan, ACN, Dr. Kern, Vitasun, Tanses, KBL, Sol-America, Heartland Tanning, Sportarredo, Sunvitale and International Tanning Technologies.

Advancements in equipment helped indoor tanning to gain popularity between 1981 and 1982. During these years other manufacturing companies became involved in the industry that really helped to get the word out that tanning was not just a fad. By 1983, the industry saw an explosive growth to the point of where thousands of machines were being built.

Much of indoor tanning’s initial growth resulted from its increasing popularity within the health and fitness industry, where existing facilities added a tanning unit or two to create a new profit center. It wasn’t until 1982 or 1983 that free-standing tanning salons began to become widespread nationwide.