Over the course of 15 years, Stephanie Struckhoff has graduated from part-time employee at a tanning salon, up through the ranks of the salon as assistant manager and later district manager, and into the corporate structure for Body and Mind Brands — a group that includes Xist Fitness and MassageLuXe. After 15 years with the company, her vision for marketing and the future of the industry has helped the franchises become what they are today, and will no doubt continue to shape these entities as they grow into the future.

Q: How can MassageLuXe and Xist Fitness benefit tanning salons?

A: For salons who want to diversify and grow their business, an established franchise is a great choice. Massage and fitness are sensible forms of diversification that are still in line with their tanning clients. Tanning salon clients want to look good and feel good. They come in to tan, they go somewhere to work out, and once in a while they get a massage to take care of their body. It all ties into the health, wellness and beauty. Also, most of the people we have running Xist Fitness and MassageLuX3 locations come from the tanning industry. These are also service-based businesses and a lot of the skills are transferrable.

Xist Fitness even incorporates a full-service tanning salon inside the gym, so it’s a great option for people who want to get into the gym business and/or add on a new location. MassageLuXe is particularly great for tanning salons that have an open space next door where they can expand. There are also advantages for cross promotion If they have a certain membership with you at one business they can enjoy benefits at another.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.