{"id":26619,"date":"2025-01-08T09:15:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T14:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?p=26619"},"modified":"2025-01-08T09:15:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T14:15:40","slug":"beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first experience with [Smart Tan training] was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says.<\/p>\n

At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that [Smart Tan training] would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference.<\/p>\n

Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with [a different training provider], and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26620,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nBeyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results - Smart Tan News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry. \u201cMy first experience with was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says. At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says. In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results - Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry. \u201cMy first experience with was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says. At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says. In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1180\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"smarttannews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"smarttannews\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"smarttannews\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819\"},\"headline\":\"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\"},\"wordCount\":686,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/\",\"name\":\"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results - Smart Tan News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00\",\"description\":\"\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. 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In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. 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Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry. \u201cMy first experience with was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says. At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says. In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results - Smart Tan News","og_description":"\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry. \u201cMy first experience with was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says. At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says. In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.","og_url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/","og_site_name":"Smart Tan News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","article_published_time":"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1360,"height":1180,"url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"smarttannews","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@SmartTan","twitter_site":"@SmartTan","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"smarttannews","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/"},"author":{"name":"smarttannews","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819"},"headline":"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results","datePublished":"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/"},"wordCount":686,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/","name":"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results - Smart Tan News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg","datePublished":"2025-01-08T14:15:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-01-08T14:15:40+00:00","description":"\u00a0As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn\u2019t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state\u2019s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry. \u201cMy first experience with was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,\u201d Jenna says. At the time, Jenna didn\u2019t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna\u2019s experience and advice. \u201cWhen Michael took over, I stressed that would benefit us, and we\u2019ve stuck with it ever since,\u201d she says. In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna\u2019s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications. \u201cI trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s vilification of tanning in the world, but there\u2019s a way to do it. It\u2019s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don\u2019t know their business, it\u2019s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.\u201d In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House \u2013 another long-time Smart Tan member \u2013 choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it\u2019s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference. Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world\u2019s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location \u2018mom and pops,\u2019 salons choose Smart Tan because it\u2019s the only operator training that isn\u2019t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures. \u201cAs soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they\u2019re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they\u2019re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,\u201d Gillen says. \u201cEven things as simple as is if it\u2019s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with , and it\u2019s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.\u201d Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Training-1-8-25.jpg","width":1360,"height":1180,"caption":"Female business person using digital tablet and laptop or remote working at home office, looking at digital tablet watching webinar, learning training, studying online seminar or video calling."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/beyond-certification-the-industrys-leading-operator-training-delivers-real-results\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Beyond Certification: The industry\u2019s leading operator training delivers real results"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","name":"Smart Tan News","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization","name":"Smart Tan","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","width":500,"height":164,"caption":"Smart Tan"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","https:\/\/x.com\/SmartTan"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819","name":"smarttannews","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"smarttannews"},"url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/author\/smarttannews\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26619"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26623,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26619\/revisions\/26623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}