Karen and George Hedge, owners of H&H Tan in Huntingdon, TN, are certainly happy they won the Ovation 134 sunbed. They had wanted to add more equipment to their salon for the past two years – the four-unit salon just can’t keep up with the increase in tanners it’s had since the couple decided to open the business in 1998. “We used to own and operate a video rental store and we noticed that many of our customers tanned at other salons in and around our town,” Karen said. “Many of them suggested we put some tanning units into our store, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get involved with another business. Since practically all of our video customers said they’d tan with us if we added the services, we decided to give it a try, and we’re very glad we did.”

Karen, a faithful IST reader, noticed the special Heartland Tanning Systems ad on the “belly band” – an attractive paper binder – around the outside of the February 2005 issue. The ad announced to IST readers that one lucky salon pro could win one of Heartland’s Ovation 134 sunbeds simply by calling a special toll-free number to enter the drawing. “I couldn’t believe we won it!” exclaimed Karen. “At first, when Laura Gillespie (Heartland Marketing Director) called me, I thought someone was playing a trick. Once she told me a second time that we had won, it started to sink in and I was completely shocked.” When Karen told her husband, he too was surprised to hear the good news.

George drove to Heartland Tanning in Lee’s Summit, MO to pick up the sunbed. Now, he and a friend have to build another tanning room for it, but as Karen says, this is a good problem to have. “I’m very excited about this!” she exclaimed. “We can’t wait to have it up and running, and I’m sure our customers can’t, either.”
Congrats, H&H Tan! – IST

By John P. Ribner

As a salon owner, Sheri Roy knows that the information shared on online tanning discussion boards shouldn’t be viewed by salon clients. Creating a place where tanning industry professionals can discuss all things tanning without worrying about the prying eyes of tanners was the driving force behind her creating TanTyme.com, which launched on January 31, 2005.

anTyme is the latest Internet-based indoor tanning discussion board to hit the World Wide Web. The site is owned and operated by Sheri Roy, owner of Atlantis Sun Studio, formerly The Tanning Hut, in Angola, IN. When she started TanTyme.com, Sheri envisioned a discussion board for tanning professionals only; this is why the site requires a business name, location and telephone number – which Sheri verifies – from all who register. “Tanning professionals discuss a wide range of topics that many of us don’t necessarily want our clients to see, such as pricing and product diversion,” Sheri said. “All TanTyme participants can be assured that the information and advice they share is not being viewed by those who could be their customers. Sheri admits that there have been a few instances of tanners coming to TanTyme looking for information. When that happens, she directs them to IamTan.com, a site designed by Alabama salon pro Michael Chunn specifically for indoor tanners.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of TanTyme is its hip, fresh graphics that definitely catch the eye. The site was designed and programmed by Brandon Prebynski, a student at Ball State University and boyfriend of Sheri’s daughter, Kellie. Today, the site boasts 168 members and growing, and is a one-stop shop for all things indoor tanning related. The site has various discussion areas from “Salon Discussions” to sections devoted to all the key manufacturing sectors that make up the indoor tanning industry. There’s even an area for off-topic posts that allows tanning pros the opportunity to blow off a little steam. Through it all, though, TanTyme maintains its “no bashing” policy, which means members are not allowed to enter the site and post negative, critical or demeaning comments about anyone. “I would like to thank our moderators, Bob Flickinger of Tan U Tanning in Wooster, OH and Jerry Collis of Electric Beach/Celebrity Tan, Palm Harbour, FL,” Sheri commented. “They’ve both given selflessly of their time and efforts, and without their help, none of this could have been possible.”

Sheri’s own online saga nurtured in her the desire to start her board, of which TanTyme is the result. It began a little over three years ago, just prior to her salon purchase. “As a new salon owner, I wanted to learn everything I could about the tanning industry, so I started doing online searches,” she recalled. “That is how I discovered TanTalk.com.” Under the online handle “lil_missfit,” Sheri began to ask questions, get answers and most importantly, make friends. It wasn’t long before the website’s owner, Michael Chunn, offered her the opportunity to become a moderator on his site and, judging by the success of TanTyme, the experience proved extremely useful.

Sheri’s future goal for TanTyme is to not only get more salon pros involved, but also have more representation from the manufacturing sector. “We would like to see everyone in this industry participate, learn something and have fun,” Sheri commented. “We’re here to make sure that everyone who comes to TanTyme is treated fairly.”