As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn’t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state’s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry.

“My first experience with [Smart Tan training] was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,” Jenna says.

At the time, Jenna didn’t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna’s experience and advice. “When Michael took over, I stressed that [Smart Tan training] would benefit us, and we’ve stuck with it ever since,” she says.

In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna’s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications.

“I trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,” he says. “There’s vilification of tanning in the world, but there’s a way to do it. It’s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don’t know their business, it’s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.”

In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House – another long-time Smart Tan member – choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it’s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it’s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference.

Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world’s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location ‘mom and pops,’ salons choose Smart Tan because it’s the only operator training that isn’t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures.

“As soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they’re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they’re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,” Gillen says.

“Even things as simple as is if it’s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with [a different training provider], and it’s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.”

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