More than half of tanning business owners say their 2011 tanning season was stronger than the previous year, according to the results of a SmartTan.com poll conducted in August.

According to the poll, 55 percent of tanning businesses reported stronger results from their 2011 tanning season than the 2010 tanning season. The remaining 45 percent felt 2010 was stronger. By design, the poll did not include salons that failed between 2010 and 2011.

“Regardless of the confounders to this poll, when you take this in context of what we’re seeing from other polls this year and from conversations in the market, it’s clear that many businesses are finding new ways to succeed in 2011,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “And that success recipe continues to evolve. Looking at the common elements in the recipes that are working is the core of the educational conference at Smart Tan Downtown this year.”

Smart Tan Downtown — Smart Tan’s 2011 convention and trade show in Downtown Nashville — is Oct. 14-16. For more information on the event visit www.SmartTanDowntown.com or call 800-652-3269 or 866-795-3755.