What has made YOU buy a package?

[potmunkey]

My salon just switched owners and I couldn't be more excited. A lot of things are going to change around here for the better. The old owner really ran this place into the ground and we lost a lot of customers because of it. The new owners don't know that much about the tanning industry, but they have good intentions and we're all working on ways to boost sales.

So I want to know what types of promotions (i.e. giveaways, raffles, extra goodies, etc) have convinced you to buy a package? Not necessarily things you think would make people buy stuff just things that your salon [or one you were visiting] has done that convinced you to buy something.

Or, for salon owners/employees, what has your salon done to boost sales and did it work?

[Tan4Life]

Free bottle of lotion!

[circi2000]

This year I made the decision to change salons and it was a pricing promotion at the new salon that was the deciding factor.

[potmunkey]

What kind of pricing promo? Did they discount the package for you?

[Bonnie]

Mine is a year long unlimited on everything, so just the need to not pay for upgrades or worry about number of sessions was great! Plus the discount on products.

[leonardal1968]

I switched salons because my new salon has better beds with HP. I signed up the day that I did because they were offering free sign up fee plus an umlimited level 2 tanning package for $24.99 a month and for an additional one time fee of $50 I get unlimited tanning in any bed until the end of the year. The usual monthly cost for unlimited in any bed is $54.99 per month.

[circi2000]

What kind of pricing promo? Did they discount the package for you?

They removed the "membership fee" that is usually associated with buying an unlimited package and made EFT $20 less a month than monthly unlimited. Not only do I get a cheaper monthly price, I don't have to worry about remembering to pay it each month since it comes out of my account automatically. :)

[Bamabuttrfly]

For me the free lotions or free tanning/upgrades would be persuasive.

[deadheadsali]

Upgrades, extra sessions, and discounts work out best for me!!!!

[bill]

Good price on their product, or lotions/tanning

Any place that can give away the other items, is charging too much.

Bill

[100%Sun]

For me, it was waiving the membership fee and not having to commit to a whole year (only since I signed up with my mother in law and we each did 6 months). That was something we worked out with the owner - it was not a promotion.

I don't understand why more salon owners here don't take advantage of all the free market research available here!!!!! We'd be happy to shout out ideas!!

[Princesa]

Free tanning lotions and/or free tanning/upgrades would be great!

My salon gives you a free upgrade in any bed when you buy a lotion. and when your a "member"of the salon they also give a extra percent off when you buy lotions and during special promotions on items you also get your extra percent off as well!

[KRISSY]

I signed up at my current salon package because of the price. A normal monthly base bed package is $39.99, but they had a special that you got 2 months for $50.

Free upgrades or a free lotion would be great!

[cunninglvr]

Upgrades, extra sessions, and discounts work out best for me!!!!

That motivates me too...whatever can bring down the cost of my addiction.

A salon I go to often offers discounts on lotion with a package, but it's usually a lotion I don't care for, so there's no motivation there.

But bottom line, I'm interested in a salon that has friendly staff, good equipment, and reasonable rates.

The salon I'm going to now has an interesting promotion to keep you tanning through the summer - starting in June, your first month is $50 unlimited, your next month is $40 unlimited, third month $30, last month $20, and if you go four months, you get a $40 dollar bag of "goodies" in September.

[Jillibien]

I like the upgrades that we sometimes get and the discounts on lotions as the packages goes up. This month, my salon is offering free unlimited upgrades to the next level, which for me is an upgrade to the Excellence and the orbit for the Premium members= anyone with a package! I am so excited about it, it really makes me want to go more often and stay with it.

[redfishbluefish]

I did some research first and I have to say that it wasn't the preppy glitzed out tanning salon with all the gorgeous young blondes sprawled on couches reading magazines and laughing with the girls running the desk that sold me. They gave me a free trial but in the end I was so phased by how their plans were set up and how "trendy" it was (Even though im only 27, 3 children and my illness have aged me and I felt SOO out of place)and then the COST!! !OMG!! I am so jealous of you all who can afford 50-60 a month to tan...
I ended up going with a very small, somewhat seedy salon that offered me a buy one get one free (I could by one month unlimited, get a second month unlimitied free or buy 20 sessions get 20 free which is what I did) deal...... YEs, the deal was awesome.... the facilities may be a little subpar.. (the beds have fans, not airconditioners, there are no speakers to listen to music in the bed but you can hear the overhead music, and they have the old 3 minute timers instead of a start button.. Heck, in one of the rooms, the timer is broken so you have to yell "Ready") but I didn't feel intimidated or stupid going in, I felt like I was paying a reasonable price for a plan I understood, and I ACTUALLY RECONGNIZED some of the old style accelerators on their shelves. (Ok and they were playing country music... but I'll never admit that drew me in).

So in the end it was comfort and price for me... Now granted, many feel more comfortable in that trendy salon... maybe in 40 pounds and a shade or two darker I might too, but for now... I went with the little man.....

[IamSam]

My salon does packages for certain times of the year.

Like recently they had a mothers day one and a prom package. Attached with these, you also got 35% off your lotion. I must say, I bought the package and some lotion too :-)

pluss the great staff, cleanliness and hours of the place are the best too.

[Cleopatra]

I would go for the free upgrades or free lotion, as long as it was one I liked. My regualr place had a special if you bought a month of unlimited Ultrabronze or P90 they would give you a big 32oz bottle of Tao, Veritas, or Revival and a couple of others, your choice, for free. I had just bought a month of S Class so I couldn't go for it. I would love to have a great big bottle of Veritas.

[DarkLily87]

I checked out this new salon that was offering free tanning sessions if you bought certain brands of lotions. I believe what they were offering was Designer Skin and Supre products. Buy a lotion kit (included facial tanner, tanning lotion, after tan moisturizer) for $60 dollars and you can get 2 free HP tans or an extremely discounted tanning package. (reg. 39.99 sale 19.99)

If people are interested in buying lotions and checking out new beds, I think it's a good sales pitch... best of both worlds. And then of course there is the marketing theory if they like it they tell all the friends and then... you have a great business!

Good luck!

[DarkLily87]

Oh, I kind of wandered off - oops! Basically what got me convinced to give them my business was the cheap lotion promo and the free tans! In a nutshell :-)

[melvelous]

free upgrades!!!!!!!!!!!

[*golden girl*]

Just make sure it is tanning related. If you are giving away other items (diff. retailers, hair products etc.) that you do not sell in the salon, you could lose additional business. If you give away lotions or tans, it is most likely going to get future sales for you. Stick with anything tanning related.

[tanteacher]

Free tanning lotions and/or free tanning/upgrades would be great!

My salon gives you a free upgrade in any bed when you buy a lotion. and when your a "member"of the salon they also give a extra percent off when you buy lotions and during special promotions on items you also get your extra percent off as well!


Princesa, I think we both go to the same chain of salons.... Ultimate Beach? Anyway, yeah, same selling points for me. I shopped around at other places for awhile and realized I've got the best deal in town. Best beds, only $18.88 a month and the little perks Princes mentioned. I do wish they had a better lotion selection, though. They only have AG and SB. However, I saw even worse lotion selection at other places, and most only had base beds :angry:

[potmunkey]

I don't understand why more salon owners here don't take advantage of all the free market research available here!!!!! We'd be happy to shout out ideas!!


lol... I know

Thanks guys :D

[ladysiz]

Free lotion and free upgrade. My salon gave me a free bottle of lotion when I first did the monthly auto-renew unlimited package, AND one free upgrade in the medium booth. I also get discounted upgrades (which are even further discounted if you buy packages of upgrades - like say 10 tans).

[jessica.lanelle]

The salon I go to has a great reputatation. And it didnt hurt that I got a free t-shirt.

[Charlene]

No "membership fee" and only a three-month commitment was enough to get me to sign up for a package.

[Zzoester]

I voted for free product(s). Nearly everyone like lotions or SHOULD like lotion if they don't already. This gives you an opportunity for repeat sales, etc.

The thing about offering upgrades or free tans, is that I personally always have the all inclusive package with all of the beds so free upgrades in the HP or something like that really doesn't apply to me. I'd rather have product, ya know.

So giving them the OPTION between the two might be a great idea.

Good luck!

[fbx22]

Other:

If I dont buy packages I estimate it would cost me close to .60 cents extra per minute annually. Through an entire year thats a few hundred dollars. Plenty of motivation there for me to get a package :lol:

[codajess]

I agree to keep it tanning related. You know anyone who's coming there likes tanning, so I think that's a no-fail prize. There are some people (men, especially) who might not want hair products or a flat iron. You know they tan, though.
Gift cards to other places are kind of tricky because people like different things.

[Allstar]

I figured that tanning every other day in the standard bed would get expensive so I might as well save the money.

[Missruby]

I would say the number 1 thing for me is no or LOW sign up fee. I dont want to pay $70 to join than an extra $40-100 a month. I signed up because of a promotion. Unlimited beds, HP included and hydration station for $55 a month normally $100 and no sign up fee and 20% off all lotions (even though my salon carrys what seems like all bronzers and has no packets.)