JK Vegas Photos & Wrap-Up, Part I

What do you get when you mix about 1,500 indoor tanning professionals, 45 exhibitors, more than $100,000 in prizes and additional odds of winning on the Vegas Strip? That’s right, only the year’s hottest event, JK-North America’s 3rd Annual West Coast Tanning Expo.

Salon professionals from across the U.S. and Canada gathered at Caesar’s Palace June 14-15 to experience Ergoline’s top-notch equipment, including the incomparable Sun Angel and Beauty Angel. There was no shortage of people waiting in line to try-out or see equipment.

The Beauty Angel combines red light therapy (RLT) with platform-based vibration exercise technology for an age-defying option that will open up new revenue streams for your salon (and the service is tan-tax free!). RLT stimulates collagen and elastin production, and it appeals to all demographics. I’ve talked to salon owners who credit RLT for benefits they’ve seen firsthand, such as diminished age spots, wrinkles and scars. Besides offering clients the benefits of RLT, you can also stock specialized lotions and other related products to enhance the sessions.

JK was running some insane specials during the expo, including interest-free financing for a year. (Tip: Next time you’re even thinking about thinking about new equipment, plan to attend a JK event!)  Plus, they had representatives on hand from across the company to help meet all your salon business needs.

Some of the most knowledgeable, genuine folks in the tanning industry are in the JK family – or at a company that partners with them. When shows run as smoothly as the Vegas Expo, you can bet lots of hours go in behind-the-scenes to make it look so easy. Thanks, JK – especially Jerry, Nina and Geoff (who somehow always manages to escape without being photographed..)!

And a special thanks to Frankie Burrell and Dean Mandos, who I got to meet live and in-person at the show. Frankie and Din are two of our awesome moderators over at the TanToday.com discussion forum for salon professionals. They have years of experience owning their own salons. Frankie is also the Southeast sales executive for MR International, and Din helps salons with marketing (on any-size budget) through his company, Chronos Marketing.

More pictures and show details to come... –Karen