By Ashley Laabs

When Jill and Matt Rauh opened the doors to their new business for the first time, it wasn’t exactly what they had imagined. The previous owner had reassured them that her manager essentially ran the place, and that they’d be able to ease into their new roles in an industry that was equally new to them.

A relaxed transition was especially appealing to the Rauhs, who were already quite busy. Jill was still working in the billing department of a local hospital to provide health insurance for their family and help put the oldest of their three children through college. Matt already owned a time-consuming business that included 85 rental properties. This, plus their desire to travel occasionally, made a well-managed tanning salon seem like an ideal choice.

But behind the open door to their new tanning salon was a sight that rendered these promises as mere fantasy. The staff was set in their ways, but underperforming, and the space itself was unattractive and in disrepair. As they toured each of the tanning rooms, they opened one to find a dead bird resting on the floor. Like the rest of the business, this room had been neglected, and its potential left untapped. On their first day as the new owners, they brought in only $17.

Matt and Jill saw the challenge ahead and committed to their original vision, realizing their love for the business as they literally got their hands dirty in it. Their passion, along with the resounding support of their rural community, helped the pair transform the stagnant location into a business that could compete with a national franchise in its backyard. It didn’t take long for customers to see that this tanning salon would live up to its new name: Sunsational Tans.

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