Tanning Lamp Selection

Since the tanning lamp is one of the most crucial variables in the indoor tanning equation, salon owners must not sacrifice quality for price. So, what qualities should salon owners look for when choosing lamps for their beds?

Besides finding a lamp that is compatible with the beds in their salons, savvy owners also must consider two things:

1. What results are most important?

• Longevity of the lamp;
• Fast results; or
• Both

2. What type of lamp intensity is most often requested by tanners?

Once these factors are considered, salon owners also must figure out how many sessions of use their lamps will provide throughout their “effective life” (hours that the manufacturer attributes to a specific lamp). To demonstrate the importance of this effort, consider this example.

In examining these numbers, we can see that Brand A, while being a more expensive brand, has a longer life than Brand B, a compatible lamp. However, despite the price discrepancy, the real issue is how many hours that lamp will service the salon owner. To help prove this point, we have illustrated another equation.

Let’s say that Brand A costs $14.95 per lamp, and the compatible Brand B costs $8.95 per lamp. Multiplying those costs by 24 lamps, we arrive at:

$14.95/Brand A x 24 lamps = $358.80

$8.95/Brand B x 24 lamps = $214.80

Total Difference = $144

While Brand A costs $144 more than Brand B, in reality, Brand A will generate $8,400 more in revenues for the salon than the other brand. How does this happen?

Referring to this example, we see that the revenues generated from Brand A’s lamps equal between $15,600-$18,000 while Brand B’s lamps generate between $7,200-$9,600 in revenues.

$15,600 $18,000

- 7,200 - 9,600

______ _______

$8,400 $8,400

So, a salon owner could make as much as $8,400 with Brand A, and he or she won’t have to go through the time-consuming process of relamping (removing and cleaning the acrylics, cleaning the reflectors, removing and replacing the old lamps, putting the acrylics back in) as often. Keep in mind that these numbers would vary depending on the specific conditions of the beds and the salons. (Heat, acrylics, dust, voltage and bed manufacturer are all determining factors.)

While this example is merely representative of information that has been researched with the assistance of salon owners nationwide, it clearly demonstrates the importance of investing in high-quality lamps that will go the distance while providing the desired results for both salon owners and tanners alike.