Tanning products can really boost profits in your tanning salon. Owners of these salons know that the real money is not in selling individual tans or even memberships, it's in the products they sell. You can make the same amount of profit off of one lotion sale as you can from selling a one-month tanning package.

Experts say that UVA and UVB exposure promotes Vitamin D production in the body. It's also a well-known fact that light helps a person maintain good physical and mental health. These are a few great side effects of indoor tanning, but the real reason customers keep coming back is to maintain that beautiful tan.

1. Line your shelves with indoor tanning lotion to sell to your customers. This is a very profitable addition to your business.

2. Promote lotions that also have a self tanner in them. Your clients will get very dark very quickly (and keep coming back so they can maintain it).

3. Emphasize to your customers that to maintain their tan, they'll need to apply moisturizing tanning products to their skin after they leave your salon. The best time to do this is after a shower so the lotion can seal in the moisture.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sell tanning bed lotion to keep your acrylic in good condition

Indoor tanning lotions are specially formulated so they don't damage the acrylic on the bed. Don't allow your customers to use outdoor tanning products in your salon as it can ruin the bed and set you back quite a bit to replace the acrylic. Selling indoor tanning products in your salon reduces the risk of outside products being used and also boosts your income.

I recommend: Find all the Swedish Beauty products you need at BestPriceTanning.com. Sell Hoss Sauce Outlaw 6XXX for customers who like a strong tingle factor; you can find it at Tanning Lotion Warehouse.

Stock lotions with self tanning bronzers

Many tanning products contain bronzers to stain the skin and improve a person's tan. Grocery store sunless tanning lotion is definitely not the same as using a high quality lotion from a salon, so selling these kinds of lotions in your store is doing your clients a service.

I recommend: Protect your clients' faces with Amazing Face, which contains a low SPF sunscreen with a bronzer. Buy it at the wholesale price at Southeastern Tanning Lotions. Check out the high-end Australian Gold products offered at Lotionjunkie.com.

Push your clients to use an after-tan lotion

Encourage your clients to apply lotion to rehydrate their skin after tanning. UV rays damage the skin and dry it out, so applying a moisturizing lotion after a shower can drastically lengthen the life of a tan.

I recommend: Check out the Body Drench products from Half Price Lotion. TanForLess.com also sells a great tan extender.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Designer skin tanning lotion is probably the most popular brand around. They offer a wide variety of affordable products, from basic tanning lotions to lotions with tingle to bronzers to after tan lotions.