As a child, Modesty Labbe grew up in Germany, the birthplace of indoor tanning. She lived in Bavaria and traveled frequently between her native country and the United States. After attending an international high school in Germany, her father moved the family to the U.S. for the long haul.

Modesty went on to study anthropology and eventually decided to pursue a veterinary nursing degree and her board certification. Over the course of 13 years helping families with their beloved animals, she began taking on more of a management role at the vet hospital. In addition to assisting with everything from anesthesia to nutrition, she worked diligently to improve the foot traffic and profitability of the facility.

When she eventually decided it was time to make money for herself instead of someone else, indoor tanning felt like the right fit. She took over an existing salon location and opened the doors to Endless Summer Tanning & Wellness in January of 2012 and quickly enjoyed a profitable yet fun business of her own.

“People always seem to have a good day when they come here — even if they come in cranky, they leave happy,” says Modesty. “That’s what attracted me to this business: It’s a feel-good environment.”

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.