ForumsAdvertising, Sales and Marketing

OK, My mistake, yes the cards we used in order to keep our business alive for it's first year, they are PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS, and yes it has lowered my credit scores so much that i have tried several different people/credit companies, and all have shot me down, to/and including BofA, as far as getting a loan. My main reason for getting a loan is to eliminate having to pay four seperate companies, all with different interest rates, four different payments, I want to pay just one time a month. I think I will first try calling each company and see if they will lower their intestest rates, since i have not been late or missed a payment and i always pay more than the minimum due, maybe a lower rate will help and i won't have to go for another loan. NOW IF ANYONE HAS A SUGGESTION FOR ME APPLYING FOR A BUSINESS CREDIT CARD WITH MY LOW CREDIT SCORE'S, I think it is around 680 or so (it was in the high 700's before), Please suggest, Thanks

Owning a Tanning Salon is just part of the business. Are you not offering take home oils/lotions/tanning kits?? Reselling customer owned beds?? Do you not offer any other services to keep people coming in during your slow months? Do you have a website? Do you market to the right people? Some people will not pay to tan during the summer but more often then not business people don't have time to sit outside for an hour when they can get a 15 minute tan on the run.

Do you have hotels near you that you can partner with? Partner with health clubs, spas, rec centers or anyone for discounted rates?

Business is supposed to make money and sometimes you have to think over and beyond what everyone else can do to build your niche. Push more people towards year round options instead of month to month or offer free service during your slow time if they pre-buy a winter package that way you get visitors in the door and you can cross-sell / promote other items.

lotions, treatments, goggle/glasses, sun-breathing clothes.. i mean come on - get into it Aren't there clothing lines of swimsuits and shirts that are than-thru that you can see online & offline as well

Radiantsun1,

Sounds like you just need a way to reduce your debts to reduce your over head. I think you are thinking right to do debt consolidation. Your scores should not have to play a big part in that. email me cory@walkerlender.com.. There are lending institutions out there that will lend money to restruture and consolidate debt with very low ficos as long as the person has not file bankruptcy in the past few years.
--phoenixfinancialpartners.com

Have you thought about giving them more reasons to come all year? I once seen a tanning salon in TN that also had a small movie rental store attached -- They both worked out, however, I have a better idea...

What if you found other professionals to work with you and offer massages, or women can get their nails done, facials etc. Or have you thoght about havig a storefront in your salon? Maybe selling sun screans or baeach items that they may want when they actually do get the chance to get some real rays outdors. maybe find out what most of your clients do as hobbies and cater to thsoe needs. They like to go to the beach , well sell them beach balls and sand castle kits.. if they like campping sell them tents, or maybe even sell out door sporting items. That volleyball player may be getting her tan for a good game, mabe she needs a new net and ball.

i don't know really -- I am just thinking that you should create more reasons for them to come to you during the summer seasons as well. If you weren't the owner, what would make you want to come there even when the sun was out? -- I think that if you turned your place into a complete pampering heaven, ladies and gentlemen alike would come. a one stop shop.

Of course, many people that tan care about their appearance and may be interested in certain vitamins and diet plans. natural herbs and more. They may even be interested in many skin care products that help keep the wrinkles away. Look around the local stores and if there isn't anyone selling certain natural and organic items, that may be a key to freedom for you, that is, if you have the space to expand.

Clayton

Sorry if this is posting twice, I just noticed that is did - and it also did not tell the correct date that I posted on . So tech error -- not my fault that I know of though.

Anyhow - I just wanted to also say that I didn't notice that someone else had made the dame suggestion as me to sell things in your store etc ... but that is 2 votes for making your company more productive.

As ofr Uncle Leon .. I hope you don't close everything you do that doesn't get a kick start within a year. Startign a company can take up to three years to really get going with. Aside from that, the tanning salon is a seasonal company ... Maybe the seasons that work out best will allow them to profit enough to hold them over during the off season. --- on that note .. think of things that you could be using your company for during the off season that woudl allow you to continue making money.

For example - where I live I shoot video.. when it snows you can't shoot if it is outdoor work. So aside from just doing production we do post work too so that we can continue doing projects during the Winter.

Are there other things you can offer during the Summer that woudl do just as well as your tanning beds do suring the Winter time? Treatments, Spas or etc that you can do? I agree with you and think that getting everything down to one payment can help a lot. I'm not an expert, I have just started my journey as a cusiness owner as well so i am in the same boat as you. I hope some of my ideas have helped though.

If you ever need a commercial let us know, we can make them animated too if you don't want video.

Clayton

Well, since we are a start up company we are still trying to gather content to show in our portfolio - so we are doing many things really cheap for about a month or two more.

However, if you are trying to fix your funds where you are behind I wouldn't suggest spending it on a commercial until you have something to offer for both seasons, then yes, advertising is everything --- the reason I said if you ever need one, I meant when you are ready to have one made. -- commercials can be used online and on TV and can help a lot.

Just my opinion, but like I said, I'm not an business or marketing expert so...

Hi, I'm a mortgage banker (among a bunch of other things) and we don't do personal loans or credit cards, so I can't help you directly (assuming you don't own any real estate)...but I can tell you what I know...that you don't want to employ the services of any debt consolidation services. Doing that can be hard on your credit, and I don't believe it's necessary. Your credit's not that bad, actually. I've done home loans for people with much worse credit. Maybe just sell-off the business, or maybe "turn your ship" in a different direction? For example, I had an art gallery for years. To bring in some extra income, fresh product and to share shop-watching duties, I started renting out small sections of my gallery to other artists to display and sell their stuff. It worked - I received some rent, and a % of their sales. One day an artist / publisher offered to rent my entire space, at which time I gladly moved on because, honestly, I was bored running a gallery. Hang in there, and best of luck. I'll let you know if I hear of anything more...
Mary

I agree with the person that said you need to expand your sales....I own a distribution company of 100% mineral cosmetics and botanical, natural soaps, cleansers, and anti-aging creams and serums. I would love to discuss the opportunity to assist you with expanding into the $100Billion+ per year (just in the mineral cosmetics) industry!! I can be reached through www.HeavenlyBoutiqueLtd.com