JUNE 11, 2009 — A majority of indoor tanning business owners say their total lotion sales are up in 2009 from the previous year, according to the results of a new SmartTan.com poll conducted in early June.

According to the poll, 58 percent of tanning businesses are seeing higher total lotion sales this year, while just more than one-third — 35 percent — reported decreases. Just 7 percent say their results this year are unchanged thus far from 2008. These results are not scientific.

“This falls in line with our other polls — suggesting that there is business out there in indoor tanning right now for the business owners who know how to go get it, who train their staffs to provide the overall tanning experience as opposed to merely selling time in a bed,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “The conversations we’re having with tanning business owners is consistent with this latest poll finding.”

Lotion sales — both teaching employees the keys to selling in this market and teaching managers and owners better ways to track and manage retail sales programs — are major themes at Smart Tan Downtown: Smart Tan’s 14th Annual Convention and Trade Show Oct. 9-11 in Downtown Nashville. Registration information is available right now at the convention web site, which is accessible through www.SmartTan.com.

Click here for a direct link to Smart Tan Downtwon registration and convention information.