Kelly Priebe, Sun Spa Tanning Studio

Kelly Priebe, owner of Sun Spa Tanning Studio, is determined to grow her salon beyond it’s 538 square foot mall space into the city’s best. To get there, she’s making some smart decisions about networking and location.

Q: How do you network with other salon owners? 

A: I am part of a business networking group in my community. Business owners meet once a week on Mondays and have lunch. We give our little elevator speech about what our business is doing and we have one speaker give a 10-minute presentation on their business for that meeting. It’s very new, but we are basically hoping to network and build referrals through each other. So far, our group includes personal training, a travel agency, a supplement store, a legal rep and a Papered Chef rep.

I have also been more active about connecting with salons on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Q: Do you think your salon will stay in its current location?

A: Well, in October of 2012 we were going to leave for a 1,000 square-foot space, but I got a bad gut feeling when I went to sign the lease, so we decided to wait. I do want a bigger store but it’s important to find the right price for rent and to consider if my business will be able to withstand the cost of renovating a new location. That will come with the reputation of being the best in Owen Sound. Plus, if you move outside of a three-mile range, most people won’t follow you.