The recent success of Beach Bum Tanning of Lodi proves that owner Stephanie Manley has the magic touch!
Formerly a massage therapist, Stephanie wanted to expand her business, and tanning services sounded like the way to do it. Being friends with the owner of Beach Bum Tanning of Lodi in Lodi, WI, Stephanie knew the woman was looking to sell her salon. The timing was perfect for Stephanie to make a move, she says, adding, “I always enjoyed indoor tanning, and I knew it would complement my massage business.” Purchasing the salon on April 1, 2013, she proved she was nobody’s fool by training with the original owner for two weeks … in the middle of peak season! “It got hectic at times,” she said, “but it taught me a lot and I’m thankful to my friend for all her help.”
After a thriving peak season, Stephanie made use of the off-peak months by remodeling the salon. She worked nights and weekends to complete the task, adding six UV units, a custom spray-tan room and three massage rooms. She also redecorated, describing the new look as a “relaxing beach house theme that utilizes soft blues and browns, with wood trim painted white.” She also hosted a small event to introduce the new Beach Bum Tanning to her community. Offering drinks, snacks and plenty of free tanning product samples, Stephanie wowed her 200 visitors, solidifying her salon’s reputation within the community.
Sun is Life® Training & Certification is helping Stephanie increase her salon knowledge and customer service skills. She recently began taking the course modules and finds the program in-depth and informative, adding that she’s “learning a lot more about skin typing than I ever thought was possible. This is good because it will help me give the best advice to every guest.” After she finishes the program, she plans to have Beach Bum Manager Shani Russell earn her certification, too. Having Shani as well-trained as herself, Stephanie says, will be helpful when she’s doing a massage and Shani is the only one behind the counter.
Stephanie enjoys being a tanning salon owner and says that each day she wakes up feeling excited about going to work. She loves what she does so much that she says she’d like to open a second location, but not in Lodi. “The town has a little more than 3,000 people,” she added, “so opening another facility here would just mean splitting the business I already have. I’d like to open a salon in a nearby town, but I’ll have to work out how I’ll split my time between two locations. I’m sure I’ll figure it out!”
A 14-year industry veteran, John "Ribby" Ribner has written hundreds of articles for IST Magazine and, as Director of Editorial Content, has also helped guide the publication's evolution. Ribby is a graduate of Central Michigan University's journalism program and has brought many years of newspaper reporting experience to his position of Head Writer. He is also the author of three novels, "Legacy of the Bear," "Prophecy of the Bear" and "World So Dark."
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