Tanning business results in September appear split evenly between those who say the month was as good as they expected or better and those whose results fell short of expectations, according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted in the last week.

According to the poll, 52 percent of stores say business was as they expected or better, while 48 percent say business has been weaker than expected. Just less than 3 out of 10 — 28 percent — thought business was stronger than expected.

“There is definitely still a split in the market between those who have found ways to succeed and those who are struggling,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “While there are variables from market to market, there seem to be common elements of those we talk to in the ‘stronger than expected’ category — salon businesses that pro-actively employ strict line-level sales and service procedures, who have employed modern cost-effective marketing and who have better control of their expenses.”

The common elements of successful salons will be a strong theme at Smart Tan’s 15th Annual Convention and Conference – Oct. 22-24 in Downtown Nashville. Workshop sessions include input from professional business consultants, Smart Tan staff and consultants and salon panelists. For more information on the convention, visit www.SmartTanDowntown.com, or call 800-652-3269 or 866-795-3755 in Canada.