They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and never was that more true than with Mul-Ti Enterprises, Inc. An avid indoor tanner, retired real estate broker Annette Boothe wanted something to protect her hair color from UV light during her sessions. And so The Tannie was born, becoming an instant hit with women in the tanning industry, and thus establishing Annette’s company – Mul-Ti Enterprises, Inc. The sudden success The Tannie achieved inspired Annette to diversify and offer additional UV-protective products, further strengthening her company’s name and reputation in the industry. Now, when it comes to UV-protective products, many tanning pros think of Mul-Ti Enterprises, which continues to add new and exciting products to its offerings.

A Good Idea
One day, the idea for The Tannie just came right off the top of Annette Boothe’s head. “I’ve always enjoyed indoor tanning, but like most women, I was concerned about the UV light drying my hair and fading its color,” recalled Annette. “I used to wrap an old T-shirt or a towel around my head when I tanned until I found out that it didn’t offer much protection. That’s when I started looking for materials that would effectively block UV rays.” Through her research, Annette located a blue fabric that blocks 90 percent of the UV rays emitted by a tanning unit – 544 times more than plain, white fabric. Excited about this discovery, she quickly used it to fashion a special cap that would protect her hair during tanning sessions. Little did she know it then, but Annette had created the prototype for what would later become her first commercial product – The Tannie.

She’s On To Something
Once Annette started using her UV-protective hair cover, people began to notice. Soon, many of her friends were asking if she could make such a cap for them, too. That’s when she realized she was on to something. “I started to think that this was exactly what the tanning industry needed, which got me thinking about the possibility of manufacturing and selling them,” Annette said. “My husband, Fritz, was very supportive in helping me take my idea for The Tannie and turn it into a company – I could never have done any of this without him. He believed in The Tannie and in me so much that he came out of retirement to help me. His love and support are such a blessing.”

Annette and Fritz formed Mul-Ti Enterprises and began to manufacture the company’s first product – The Tannie – made of the blue UV-blocking material, which is washable, breathable, re-useable and woven especially for them. The Tannie was designed to fit easily and comfortably over a tanner’s hair and head, offering UV protection while the rest of the body develops a tan. “My sister Kristine Sanders and I debuted The Tannie at the Indoor Tanning Association World Expo 2002 in Nashville and it was very successful!” Annette exclaimed. “There was a fantastic response to the product at our exhibit; we ended up talking to so many people that we both lost our voices by the end of the first day. What we kept hearing from women was that this product was exactly what the industry needed.”

Up & Running
From its humble beginnings in Annette and Fritz’s home, Mul-Ti Enterprises has grown into quite a substantial operation. Staffed by four people, corporate headquarters occupy a 3,000 square-foot facility in Gainesville, GA. The company also has a manufacturing plant in Jasper, GA, where The Tannie and other Mul-Ti Enterprises products are sewn, packaged, warehoused and shipped to many countries outside the U.S. “Initially, we sold The Tannie directly to indoor tanning salons; but as its popularity grew and through the advice of industry mentors, we realized that selling them via tanning product distributors was the way to go,” Annette commented. “We now have a wide distributor network and are always looking for more. Our products are also distributed internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany and Australia, to name a few.”

Adding On …
Annette founded Mul-Ti Enterprises with her flagship invention – The Tannie – and now the company has expanded their UV-protective offerings with two more successful products. For the 2005/2006 tanning season, the company introduced Tanfacia. “We’ve been working on this product for the past two years, after hearing from female tanners who were concerned about UV overexposure on their faces,” Annette explained. “It utilizes the same signature blue fabric as The Tannie, but offers protection from 98 percent of the UV rays, and it’s designed to be worn over the face. It ties in the back of the head and has elastic bands that prevent it from being blown off by the tanning unit’s cooling fans.”

The third product in Mul-Ti Enterpise’s UV-protective line is called The Manly. As one might surmise, this product protects the most sensitive areas of a male tanner’s body. “This is an important issue for many male tanners,” Annette commented. “Now, the guys have a product to help them avoid UV overexposure in that area. Like The Tannie, these products are also washable, breathable and reusable.”

The Success Story Continues…
Annette is enjoying the success she’s had with The Tannie and the other Mul-Ti Enterprises products, and plans to continue inventing UV protective items for indoor tanners. “Fritz is in the process of making the molds for our next product – The Tannie Nail Tips,” she explained. “Just like their hair and faces, women want their nails to always look their best and spend a lot of money doing so. Our Nail Tips product is designed to block 100 percent of the UV rays emitted by a tanning unit to keep nail color from fading, and offers protection for acrylic nails as well. We’re very excited about this product, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer it to the tanning industry.”

Looking back on all she and Fritz have achieved with Mul-Ti Enterprises, Annette says it’s hard to believe that at one time, she was a little nervous about the idea of starting her own company. It was a gutsy move, for sure, but she’s glad she took the chance. “I have always told my children to believe in their dreams and never give up on them, so I knew it was time for me to follow my own advice,” she commented. “I’m glad I did, and I’m also very thankful for the support of my family and friends. Our goal is to become the leader in lotion-less UV protection; a large goal, indeed – but we believe that with faith, all things are possible.”