Party Blog

For most salon owners, tanning bed technology advances so quickly that they find themselves behind the curve straining to keep up. Here are five of the hottest features in Level 1 & Level 2 tanning beds and six steps to getting them at the best price.

1. 360° Tanning
Some commercial tanning beds are breaking new ground in tanning bed design. They have eliminated the walls, just beautiful open space.  This is the type of bed we’ll be seeing more of in the next decade for sure.

2. Suspended Acrylics
This is another new feature that is usually part of the open design beds mentioned above. The suspended acrylic bed allows for a comfortably curved, ergonomic tanning experience.

3. Integrated Audio
We live in world where personal audio is a must have. It is only natural for tanners to want to listen to their own music while tanning and many beds allow them to plug in their iPod –or mp3 player– and listen without earphones getting in the way.

4. Shoulder Lamps
Only standup tan booths get that “absolutely everywhere” tan but many tanning beds are including shoulder lamps to take the horizontal tan to new areas.

5. All Metal Frame
A steady stream of customers, constant cleaning and regular maintenance sessions can a toll on commercial tanning beds. An all metal structure holds up to the abuse, last longer and makes the tanning bed nearly indestructible.

Buying at the Lowest Price
Now, you want the best price on these features, right? Of course you do. While there is no one “store”, online or offline that has the lowest price –like a Wal-Mart for tanning beds– there are a few purchasing options that will yield you the best deal on tanning beds.

Step 1 - Determine the types of tanning beds your salon needs. Let’s say you have decided that you need one standup tanning booth and one higher-end face lamp bed.

Step 2 - Now, investigate brands and features of those types of tanning systems and compare published prices and special offers. Study well and know your stuff!

Step 3 - Contact 3 sales reps and begin to negotiate. NOTE: The idea here is NOT to pit one sales rep against the other and “force” the lowest offer. Just be up front, let each rep know this is how you make your buying decision and ask them to see what they can do for you.

Step 4 - Don’t rush into a purchase. This method takes time but it will get you the best price or terms on any tanning bed, whether its a commercial bed or for home use.

Step 5 - Be flexible. Sometimes the tanning bed rep can’t meet the price of another distributor but can offer something else, like 0% financing or an extended warranty which, in effect, makes his deal better.

Step 6 - Finally, once you have made your decision, call up that distributor and ask the final killer question: “Is that the best you can do?” You may be surprised at what gets thrown in just before you seal the deal.

Posted in: Party by Partymaster /