More than half of indoor tanning businesses say the number of clients walking through their doors is up in 2011, according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted in late April and early May — another sign that tanning market leaders are bouncing back this year.
According to the poll, 56 percent say the number of customers in their tanning businesses is up this year. In contrast, 30 percent say traffic is down, while 14 percent say their client count is about the same as 2010. The poll is consistent with other SmartTan.com polls. Smart Tan’s first-quarter poll showed 49 percent of stores reporting better-than-expected sales in the first three months of 2011, with 26 percent reporting lower sales.
“This poll is consistent with what we’ve seen and heard this season: About half of all tanning businesses are seeing better numbers, while the other half is either flat or down,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “It’s clear that the success model in the market is changing, and some have figured out how to move forward while others are still looking.”