Sunbed in salon?

[Kimmyroyalnail]

ok so I opened my salon in September and I'm still building my client base . Ups and downs but breaking even which is positive only 6 months in. I've renovated the spare room and have tried to rent it out but to no avail so my back up plan is a sunbed. Does anybody else have a sunbed in a small salon ? I'm mainly nails and eyebrows. I already offer spray tans.

I've found a well priced second hand sunbed and have been put in touch with a specialist engineer who will install and service it. I'm on a busy main road on a bank of shops with good parking so lots of passing trade. There are a few sunbed shops in my town but none within easy walking distance - I feel it's worth a try but would be nice to hear if anybody else has a sunbed and how that's working out for them ?????

 

[Jake...]

The main costs are the tubes which need changing regularly with heavy use, and the electric bill.

When I worked at the tanning shop they were all on maintenance contracts.

But you could sell lots of add on creams at 3.50/4.50 , like California Tan, to cover that. A bottle of beach bum rum for example is like 16.50.

Then they buy an hour to keep them coming back and keep it on a record card . I would push the tan courses more than ind sessions.

Go for it!

 

[Abi Smith]

I would go for it i have a friend who has them in her salon its a very good earner! She literally has to do nothing take money, sell creams, give token so she can do other appointments at the same time

 

[Beckybee]

I've played with the idea.
I got the electrician to wire the building up to receive them just in case.
We went to see peak sunbeds which isn't too far from you.. They told me a lot about running a sunbed biz.

Law states you can only have a certain strength of tube. I seen to remember the running costs are £1 an hour.
You do have to have a 3 phase power supply, so certain buildings aren't suitable, get it checked out by a electrician.

As mentioned above, it's all about up selling. Peak sunbeds have a good range of products

 

[Kimmyroyalnail]

Thanks geeks , I think I'm gonna go for it , electrics are in place and I'm getting a really good deal on the bed. It's only done 100 hours (think it's about 800 before it needs a full retube) and has American leisure twist tubes with collatan and blue light therapy - and meets the legal requirenents. The same bed on lease (but fully refurbished and with new tubes) will cost me more than 3 times as much on lease to buy over 12 months so even with a full service I've room to spend on repairs if it goes wrong - it surely can't be worth paying so much more just for the 12 month warranty.
My biggest worry (which could be unfounded and totally optimistic) is that it will be busy and I will constantly be interrupted from the day job but I need to pull in some extra income from somewhere so I'm gonna roll with it for 12 months and see where it takes me - if it's really busy I could employ someone part time and if it's that popular I'll make space for another! If it doesn't do well I can resell it , they seem to be like cars - they lose value rapidly when new but then sort of level out. I've done the maths so fingers crossed for the new venture!

 

[daydreams01]

Thanks geeks , I think I'm gonna go for it , electrics are in place and I'm getting a really good deal on the bed. It's only done 100 hours (think it's about 800 before it needs a full retube) and has American leisure twist tubes with collatan and blue light therapy - and meets the legal requirenents. The same bed on lease (but fully refurbished and with new tubes) will cost me more than 3 times as much on lease to buy over 12 months so even with a full service I've room to spend on repairs if it goes wrong - it surely can't be worth paying so much more just for the 12 month warranty.
My biggest worry (which could be unfounded and totally optimistic) is that it will be busy and I will constantly be interrupted from the day job but I need to pull in some extra income from somewhere so I'm gonna roll with it for 12 months and see where it takes me - if it's really busy I could employ someone part time and if it's that popular I'll make space for another! If it doesn't do well I can resell it , they seem to be like cars - they lose value rapidly when new but then sort of level out. I've done the maths so fingers crossed for the new venture!

I have one in my salon that I bought reconditioned. Haven't had to retune yet as not quite halfway through the 800 hours, so it's paid for itself and I get people that come I. To use it but don't use the salon so it does bring in more people. It's quite seasonal but picking up already this month. Are you aware you need a special treatment licence for it, I wasn't and had to shell out over £500 which I need to renew annually, I don't think the renewal will be quite as much but it might have put me off getting it installed if I had realised that before!

 

[Nemo]

I have one in my salon that I bought reconditioned. Haven't had to retune yet as not quite halfway through the 800 hours, so it's paid for itself and I get people that come I. To use it but don't use the salon so it does bring in more people. It's quite seasonal but picking up already this month. Are you aware you need a special treatment licence for it, I wasn't and had to shell out over £500 which I need to renew annually, I don't think the renewal will be quite as much but it might have put me off getting it installed if I had realised that before!

Hi, I'm not aware of a treatment licence. I lease my sunbed and no one has ever told me about this. Do you have a link or further information so I can look into it? x

 

[RED STAR]

I'm in Bexley Kent, and we need licences for any beauty related services.
Have a look on line, all the requirements needed will be listed there.

 

[daydreams01]

Hi, I'm not aware of a treatment licence. I lease my sunbed and no one has ever told me about this. Do you have a link or further information so I can look into it? x

Go on your local council website and search special treatment licence, all info will be on there. You also need one if you are thinking to do a nail bar or other beauty treatments. Not enough to just pay your business rates, they want to squeeze every little drop of money they can from you!

 

[Gina Ballerina]

I really hate to sound rude but don't you ever worry about the risks involved with people having sunbeds? It's their choice obviously

 

[Jake...]

Def recommend stand ups, easier and more hygenic

 

[Kimmyroyalnail]

I don't think my council require a licence but I will check.
My main worries are opening times as I can't do more than 2 late nights due to childcare (I currently work late on thurs and Friday) and I'm closed Sunday and Monday. Being on my own it also means when I'm on holiday (rare but going away end of May for 2 weeks) the salon will be closed so I worry about selling courses but I will tell everyone about that when I sell them.
ive been thinking about it for some time and had positive feedback from my clients - need to get onto getting the bits and pieces like cleaning fluid , creams / excellorators , h&s posters etc

 

[Nemo]

I really hate to sound rude but don't you ever worry about the risks involved with people having sunbeds? It's their choice obviously

No. I won't go into the real sun. There are too many variables and more often than not I burn and feel ill. When I go away, I wear a high factor and stay in the shade. In a sunbed, I can control exactly what I do so never burn and tan safely. I do however think the lotions shouldn't be permitted in my humble opinion.

 

[daydreams01]

I really hate to sound rude but don't you ever worry about the risks involved with people having sunbeds? It's their choice obviously

If used sensibly the risks are no more than being in the sun. New regulations mean at least 24 hours is required between sessions and bulbs are no higher than 0.3, where previously they were higher so if used properly the risk is much lower than before although I know some salons let clients use them every day. My friend had a course with me last year prior to her holiday and used it to prep her skin for about 6 weeks before her cruise so that she had a base colour and didn't burn. This year she didn't do it and burned in the sun so I think if you use them properly it prepares your skin for exposure to the sun which is better than getting burnt on holiday!

 

[Cindy2021]

I really hate to sound rude but don't you ever worry about the risks involved with people having sunbeds? It's their choice obviously

I would. My family have had skin cancer from exposure and we are in Scotland.
Many of my clients use sunbeds regularly but as you say it's a personal choice but it wouldn't be mine and I wouldn't go on holiday and spend all day baking in the sun either. It's common sense.

 

[Kimmyroyalnail]

I don't want this to be a debate on the risks associated with tanning as we could get into a real debate I'm sure. I intend to follow the guidelines and legal requirements. There is only me in the salon so folk won't be able to misuse them.

Anybody any recommendations where to get supplies from ? Cleaning fluid , goggles , etc? I usually use Alan Howard or Salon Services for my beauty supplies but I don't think they cater for sunbed accessories , though I could be wrong .

 

[daydreams01]

I don't want this to be a debate on the risks associated with tanning as we could get into a real debate I'm sure. I intend to follow the guidelines and legal requirements. There is only me in the salon so folk won't be able to misuse them.

Anybody any recommendations where to get supplies from ? Cleaning fluid , goggles , etc? I usually use Alan Howard or Salon Services for my beauty supplies but I don't think they cater for sunbed accessories , though I could be wrong .

Most wholesalers stock bits and bobs like goggles and tanning sachets but a company like blue will give you a better rate. They sent me their brochure and you can get everything you mentioned from them. I got a good carousel stand from them last year with loads of sachets and they can do re tubing etc when you need them done. Check out their website and if you ring them they will send you a brochure.

 

[Kimmyroyalnail]

What is the website for blue please Hun ? X

 

[daydreams01]

What is the website for blue please Hun ? X

www.bluetanning.com

 

[Beckybee]

Peak sunbeds