Six out of 10 indoor tanning businesses say they expect to be in the black in 2010 according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted in June — a sure sign that the tanning market continues to be a mixed-bag in the trying economy.

According to the poll, 60 percent say they expect to have positive net earnings, while 40 percent do not expect to be in the black. The poll is not scientific.

“We keep seeing signs that there are players in the tanning market who are adjusting their business models and are succeeding, and there are those who are struggling,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “Exploring what the new success models are will be a primary function of our annual conference and convention, Smart Tan Downtown, in Downtown Nashville in October.”

Smart Tan’s polls this year have continued to show that the market is fairly evenly divided into players who are up, those who are breaking even and those who are down for the year.