Just more than half of tanning retailers say their business was the same or better this April than it was in April 2009, according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted the first 10 days of May — another indication that the market is split between gainers and businesses in decline.

According to the SmartTan.com poll, 30 percent of stores say their business was up this April compared to last year. Just under half, 46 percent, said business was down. About one in four — 24 percent — said it was about the same.

The poll results are similar to an April poll in which half of businesses said business in the first three months of 2010 was better or the same as 2009. In a February SmartTan.com poll 70 percent of tanning businesses indicated they expected customer rolls to be the same or larger than last year.

“There is still optimism in this market as the economy starts to turn,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “No one expects the glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s to return next year — but the smart business owners are gearing up to be in position when the market comes back.”

Smart Tan’s 15th Annual Convention — Smart Tan Downtown in Downtown Nashville Oct. 22-24 — will focus on the practices of the industry’s best tanning businesses and finding ways to help your tanning business prepare for the next boom in the tanning market. Visit www.SmartTan.com/conference for registration details or call Smart Tan at 800-652-3269 or 866-795-3755 in Canada. The event is the largest convention and trade show in North America, with every major tanning supplier in attendance and Smart Tan’s complete educational conference. Speaker details will be revealed on line this month.