Island Sun Times

I’ve been making eye protection products in the indoor tanning industry for 15 years, but I’d never heard of this before…Luella Gustafson, owner of Electric Beach Tanning Centers in Iowa has invented “Crappy Eyewear Week” which she promotes every few months at her three salons.

What is Crappy Eyewear Week? During this week, Luella offers her tanners the option to turn in their old goggles and get 40 percent off their next eyewear purchase. Luella explains, “My tanners didn’t realize they need to keep their own goggles clean. We provide anti-bacterial soap in the bathroom and ask them to clean their goggles after every use. Of course, they don’t do it – so when we offer them a big discount if they buy a new pair, they get a chance to examine their eyewear and see how filthy it really is. We have them throw it into a fishbowl, which contains some really disgusting goggles!”

Luella also reports that many tanners turn in goggles with missing lenses, or that have broken nose bridges or deep gouges in them. “I explain that they need to keep their goggles in good shape. Those cuts in goggles harbor bacteria and disease that disinfectant or anti-bacterial soap won’t be able to reach. We give them a free re-sealable plastic bag to keep their goggles clean from junk in their purse or gym bag,” Gustafson explains. “Keep them clean! Treat your goggles as you would your toothbrush!”

Luella shared her “pitch” with me. “When tanners come to the salons, we ask to see their eyewear and lotion. If they show me a mass market bottle of lotion or a worn out pair of goggles, I say, ‘Oh my gosh, how long have you had those?’”

Electric Sun’s eyewear policy doesn’t stop there. “We have a very strict inspector in Iowa, and if a tanner has eyewear that was sold with elastic straps, the tanner must show the elastic strap when they walk in the door.” Electric Sun also sells elastics separately in case they break or are lost.

“Our state inspector was furious when he saw someone walk in and pull a pair of disposable eyewear out of their wallet. Of course, the tanner told us they had bought several pairs of disposable eyewear elsewhere, but the inspector felt they were lying and not wearing any eyewear at all!” Gustafson exclaimed. She quickly came up with a solution. “If a tanner shows us a pair of disposable eyewear, we fold it into cones and toss the backing paper into the trash. If they bring in a pair without paper, we ask them to fold them into cones, and if they stay in a cone shape, great – if they won’t, they must buy a new pair. This keeps them from using the disposable eyewear two or three times.”

If you don’t have the time to fold disposable eyewear for every customer you think is “cheating”, here’s another method: mark the date on the paper backing of the eyewear. If they bring in a pair with an old date on them, you explain that that pair was to be worn last time – now, they are expired and another pair must be purchased. Your tanners quickly learn that an unused pair of disposable eyewear is not a “pass” to tan with your salon.

I was impressed to see how innovative Electric Beach has been when it comes to eye protection. Is it time for you to have a Crappy Eyewear Week at your salon?