In a recent SmartTan.com poll, more than a quarter of indoor tanning businesses said the greatest improvement to their salon so far in 2014 involved upgrading their sunless equipment.

In comparison, under 10 percent said they had most improved their UV equipment. A substantial number of salons said their greatest improvement was in the retail products they offer (19%) and the layout and environment of their salon location (16%).

Sunless has come along way in recent history, from a trendy side service to a mainstay in the vast majority of indoor tanning businesses from coast to coast. Of course, sunless technology has and continues to advance at a rapid pace as well, so it’s vital to keep equipment up to date in order to stay relevant.

“Updating our equipment eliminated a lot of the negative aspects customers experienced with previous generations,” Rachel Mitchell, director of operations for Total Tan told Smart Tan Magazine earlier this year. “Technology takes the guesswork out of it and makes the experience feel a lot more luxurious.”

Not only does newer equipment allow you to provide a better customer experience that will draw in and keep clients coming back, it provides additional money-making opportunities. The plethora of solutions and pre- and post-treatment options available today allow salons to incorporate a complete menu of sunless services, including various upgrade opportunities, just like they would for UV.