The Texas Tan

At the age of 19, Amber Kitchen signed on to be an entry-level employee for the Texas Tan. She had been a regular babysitter for the owner, and they offered her a job. Seven years later, she is the manager and loves the relationships she has with her clients. She prides herself on following the rules and regulations, allowing the salon to maintain its professionalism. And it’s that professionalism that has brought them a loyal customer base. To take that customer following a step further, they’ve recently jumped on the Pokémon Go craze and utilized Pokéstops, among other things, to bring in new customers. In this Smart Tan exclusive interview, Kitchen discusses their success with Pokéstops and new, nearby additions to their customer’s routines:

Given the slow season that we are currently in, we have actually had a little bit more success with the two new Pokéstops and gym within walking distance of our second tanning location. There is also a smoothie shop next door to us, so some of our clients have adapted a slightly new routine: Gym, Pokéstop, smoothie, tanning, then they hit the Pokéstop again. I have shared the routine with other clients, and they are appreciative of the helpful advice.

I am an active member on Pokémon Go, so I usually throw out lures at our second location to attract players within the area. A lure module attracts Pokémon to a Pokéstop for 30 minutes. Other people around benefit as they can see where the Pokémon are without having to walk to discover it. Our first location does not have a Pokéstop within walking distance, but we still randomly throw out lures to attract people to the general area. We do want to add a Pokéstop in our shopping complex at the first salon.

We have a special running for Pokémon Go players that if they show us their latest Pokémon catch, they receive 10 percent off any package or indoor tanning product. For me as a Pokémon Go player, it’s fun to strike up a different conversation with other players. We all enjoy talking to our clients and making our salons feel like a comfort zone for them, so striking up new conversations is great for both parties.

We do have some clients that are not into Pokémon Go, and they have vented how silly it is, but we just chalk it up that it’s not for everybody. Out of all of the employees, I believe only one other besides myself plays the game. We do run other specials monthly and daily, so everyone has a chance to receive a percentage off. I’m curious to see where this leads and if it will draw in more and more people as the game’s success continues.

To learn more about The Texas Tan, visit their website at www.thetexastan.com