Despite all indications that most tanning business owners are optimistic about the future, about half of the salon market believes their overall financial position is weaker today than it was one year ago, a SmartTan.com poll conducted this month suggests.

According to the poll, 49 percent of salon owners say their tanning businesses are in a weaker overall financial position compared to this time in 2009. In contrast, 37 percent say they are in stronger position, with 14 percent seeing no difference.

“This is one more indication that there still is a good percentage of the market concerned about the economy, but that there are some success stories out there,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “Beyond the economy, we believe the cosmetic dermatology industry’s late-July attack had a measureable effect on many tanning businesses. But because that attack was based on false and misleading information, we believe its effect can ultimately be reversed.”