TANS & TAXES No Tan Lines, No Financial Woes by Nikki Brand

STATS

Dan and Tammy Bowles found a new business combo that also lends itself to cleanliness – tanning and accounting services.

We’ve all heard how business combinations such as video rental and tanning work well together because video stores are clean – so, why not accounting services and tanning? When Dan Bowles had extra space in the Deltona, FL accounting office he was renting, his longtime indoor-tanner wife Tammy decided to devote an area to tanning services. “His busy season is the same as the salon’s busy season and the two businesses have actually helped each other,” Tammy explained. “People drop their taxes off and tan when they come to pick them up. We’ve gained tanners who were accounting clients and vice versa.” The salon’s database has grown considerably since it opened in May 2002 and the couple enjoys owning their own businesses.

A Change of Paste

Tammy Bowles started tanning indoors about 12 years ago when she lived on Lake Erie in Ohio. Tanning was warm in the winter and quick and convenient in the summer. “I worked for 20 years at the Heinz ketchup factory while Dan worked for a CPA,” Tammy said. “Since we were right on the lake, we owned and operated a bait and tackle shop in the summer. Although it wasn’t a tanning business, I think it was a helpful experience.” Serving as a steward and on a negotiating committee for the factory’s union, and working at the bait and tackle shop, allowed Tammy to sharpen her “people skills.” “I love talking to and meeting people,” Tammy said. “I know a lot about my clients’ families and their vacations.”

Ready to Please

With few salons in town that specialize in tanning, No Tan Lines was prepared to cater to tanners’ needs. The salon opened with three Dr. Kern sunbeds and just three months later added two more. “Designer Skin is our top-selling lotion line, and we also sell California Tan, Emerald Bay, and Swedish Beauty,” Tammy said. “Periodically, I try new lotions and if a client wants something special, I’ll order it for them.” Tanners pay by the session at No Tan Lines – the larger the package, the less cost per session. “People really appreciate that I allow tanners to share packages because it’s cheaper to buy larger packages,” Tammy said. “A lot of mothers/daughters share packages and it works well.” She said clients also appreciate that with the exception of a 30-day package, their packages have no expiration date. Also, she said when tanners renew a package, it doesn’t start until the first time they tan. “People say they like coming here because we’re friendly and the salon is very clean,” Tammy said. “I even had a young man in his late teens comment on how clean the salon is, and young men don’t usually care about that as much.”

Something Unique

Although No Tan Lines is only a half hour from the beach, many of the busy women who patronize the salon don’t have time to lay out on the beach in the summer and continue to tan there year-round. “It’s really the kids who go to the beach in the summer – most of our tanners are women ages 25-50,” Tammy said. She said the staff always asks new clients how they heard about the salon and although it’s advertised in the newspaper, many say it was word of mouth, the Yellow Pages, or they noticed the sign when they were driving past. “The sign has changeable letters so I can post our specials,” Tammy said. Over the past year, the salon has also offered something unique to peak client’s interests – an Oasis Oxygen Bar with two stations dispensing oxygen and aromatherapy. “People seem to like the oxygen bar and I plan to promote it more in the months to come,” Tammy commented.

Busy Bees

The Bowles family stays busy at the salon. Tammy and Dan get assistance from their son Kevin, 25, who also works part-time at an area ESPN radio affiliate. “Our busiest months are February-April and during that time, we hire a bed cleaner to keep the rooms and bathroom clean so we can concentrate on the clients,” Tammy said. As many as 80 people a day tan in No Tan Line’s five sunbeds in the late winter months.

Kevin is a little jealous of the fact that his parents won a trip to IST’s Solar Seminar 2004 in Jamaica Dec. 5-9. “Dan and I went to Solar Seminar last year and won a trip to this year’s event from Solar Concepts,” Tammy said. “We really thought the seminars were informative and enjoyed meeting the heads of companies in a personal setting.” Besides looking forward to Solar Seminar, Tammy also anticipates adding a stand-up unit to the salon and possibly offering airbrush tanning.