In 2013, Ken Novak and Manuel de Silva were frequent tanners that loved making their way to the local salon. The positive atmosphere, personal relationship with the owner and relaxed feeling they received after tanning always made their days a little but brighter. Ken, suffering from seasonal depression, utilized tanning for more than cosmetic reasons and felt passionate about sharing the benefits that UV tanning provides. So when the owner was looking to sell her location, the two decided that becoming salon owners was a great fit for them.

“We both worked for major corporations, but after 15 years of working there I was let go due to the economy. Manuel was the main breadwinner and still working for a corporation, but with the shaky economy we didn’t want to put all our eggs in one basket. Having our own business would give us an expanded profile for our livelihood, so the timing couldn’t have been better,” says Novak.

Since taking over, they have christened Island Rayz Tanning Salon and made it their own. Inspired by the design and architecture of Miami, the salon is painted in three shades of blue with white accessories. They strived to create a haven where customers felt that they were in a pristine and chic environment, while still maintaining a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Outshining the major salon chains in their Lake Norman, North Carolina area, Island Rayz Tanning is a little slice of paradise.

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