Faced with a tepid economy, changing business conditions, Sun Scare marketing and myriad other challenges, the tanning market continued to show its resilience and character in 2011, with an overwhelming number of tanning business leaders continuing to remain optimistic about 2012 and beyond.

An uptick in tanning equipment orders in late 2011 — first seen at Smart Tan’s Downtown Nashville convention in October — was a tangible sign that optimism is translating into continued investment into the future of the professional tanning market. And poll after poll showed that tanning business leaders agree — the market’s future is bright.

A December SmartTan.com poll cinched it: 71 percent said they feel better about the future of the market in December 2011 than they did in December 2010:

More than seven out of 10 tanning facility owners say they feel better about the future of tanning at the end of 2011 than they did a year ago, according to the results of a SmartTan.com poll conducted this month.

According to the poll, 71 percent feel more positive about the future of the tanning market today as compared to a year ago. Only 29 percent felt less-optimistic. Those results are consistent with a similar poll from June.

“The number of stores succeeding today, along with indications that tanning retailers are once again ramping up for increased business, is underscoring a real sense of optimism in the market,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “A lot of people are looking for good things from the market in 2012. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

Happy New Year
from all of us
at Smart Tan!