More than four out of 10 indoor tanning business owners say that 2011 got off to a better-than-expected start, according to the results of a SmartTan.com poll conducted in February.

According to the poll, 42 percent of tanning business owners said their businesses performed better-than-expected in the first six weeks of the year, with another 28 percent saying results met expectations. Only 30 percent felt business was worse than expected.

“There definitely is an uptick in consumer spending and confidence in most markets right now, and many in the tanning business are starting to see their share of that,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “There are market leaders who are poised to attract consumers who have the money to spend to come back into stores now.”

The February poll is consistent with earlier poll findings and comes on the heels of a poll conducted at the end of 2010 showing that 60 percent of the market expects larger customer bases in 2011. “The seeds of market optimism are out there,” Levy said.