As the indoor tanning community continues to evolve and grow professionally, the market’s most successful operations continue to focus on key competencies.

1. Recommit Your Business to Sunburn Prevention

The science of sun care is coming back to center, as it needs to. As more and more research mounts to support balance, teaching sunburn prevention as a life-long approach to sun care makes more sense than teaching over-use of sunscreen and all-out sun avoidance, which, ironically, often leaves people more susceptible to sunburn when they inevitably do go outdoors.

With researchers now implicating over-zealous sun avoidance as a major public health mistake, as the dust continues to settle on the scientific discussion of this topic the professional sunbed salons who will succeed long-term will be the ones who truly practice sunburn prevention.

That means recommitting your stores to teaching sunburn prevention in the salon as well as teaching your clients how to prevent sunburn outdoors.

2. Measure Your Success

Commit to sunburn-prevention as a cornerstone to your overall quality. The industry’s leading salons are doing this. We suggest you take two days a year and survey your clients about their results at your store – particularly measuring your effectiveness at helping them prevent sunburn.

“The benefits of this are two-fold,” says ASA Executive Director Joseph Levy. “What you’ll learn from this is how you can improve your performance. But if you do this correctly, your clients won’t see this as an imposition. They will appreciate that you are committed to quality and to improving your service to them.”

Levy’s happy to show ASA members how to do this simply and effectively. “The data you’ll get from doing this will improve your business,” Levy said. “And it will reinforce in your employees and your clients that you are committed to quality.”

3. Get Involved with ASA

Since its inception in 2012, the American Suntanning Association:

• Has held thousands – and that’s not an exaggeration – of meetings in Washington D.C. with members of Congress and Federal agencies who oversee sun care policy – meetings that are key to demonstrating that professional sunbed facilities are playing a part in effective real-world sun care.
• Has led state lobbying initiatives in 43 states.

Our efforts are more effective when you’re involved. Your success in indoor tanning, or any business for that matter, depends largely on your willingness to work and invest in your business. “The world is watching us,” Levy said. “And much of our future will be determined by our ability to show the world that we are committed to professionalism and leading the way in real-world sunburn prevention. It’s vital for you to maintain the highest of standards, particularly regarding sunburn prevention.”

Your business will also benefit from your participation with the ASA. To join ASA today, visit www.AmericanSuntanning.org/register.