Gerald Siano and Nina La Marca-Siano, Bodies in Heat

Passion and education define Bodies in Heat as a gem within its New Jersey community, but the devotion to portraying a professional image makes it a great example for a whole country of tanning businesses that are finding ways to heed the call of activism. As part of their efforts to reshape their politicians’ understanding of indoor tanning, owners Nina La Marca-Siano and Gerald Siano created a customer survey that asked customers why they tan. With an impressive 1359 responses, his customers effectively revealed a cross section of the many reasons people love tanning:

Cosmetic Reasons / To Look Better: 19%

To Feel Better: 16%

Base Tan: 15%

Relaxation: 13%

Vitamin D: 10%

Special Occasions: 7%

Acne: 6.5%

Arthritis / Sore Muscles: 3%

Energized: 3% Eczema

Psoriasis: 2.5%

Headaches: 2%

To Feel Warm: 2%

Doctor’s Advice: 1%