Always Tan Salon Awarded "Smart Tan Magazine - Member of the Month"
Lubbock, TX (PRWEB) October 03, 2014 -- Always Tan of Lubbock, TX, is Smart Tan magazine's October 2014 winner for Member of the Month.
Says Rick Austin, "This is an honor for us. We are thankful to be recognized by the premier publication of this industry."
Rick and Donna Austin, owners of Always Tan, have been in the tanning business for over 25 years. They got their start when Donna took over a small salon that had less than 20 clients. Applying his corporate experience as a sales rep with Proctor & Gamble, Rick began implementing strategies to grow their business. Their client files now number over 60,000.
In reflecting on its beginnings, Rick says, "When we started this business, I set out to learn everything I could about the industry. That included all the rules and regulations. I work very closely with the Texas Department of Health by talking up what's going on in the industry. As a result, I've become a go-to person because they know that our salon is one they can reach out to for factual information. We've are a long time established business. A lot has changed with the advent of sunless and spray tanning. We've been here to see all of it."
In describing their emphasis on client satisfaction, Donna Austin notes, "When clients enter Always Tan, they feel like they are entering a relaxing high end salon. We want the best for our clients and customers." The Austin's also have high standards for their staff. This includes thorough sales and customer service training. Donna says, "We have several levels of sales training. The last stage includes selling to Rick. If they can sell to him, they are ready for our clients."
The Austins have constantly worked hard to create a salon environment that customers want to come back to. It's a warm, relaxing atmosphere with the best of equipment. Donna notes, "We are a single salon that competes with large chain stores. We have to set ourselves apart by being the best in customer service and experience."
When asked about valuable lessons learned, the Austins say, "Backing up our data. Four years ago we had a power surge so strong it fried our computers and our backup system. Fortunately, we had paper backups but those took months to put back into the system. Now we have multiple backup systems including offsite data storage."
Though many have inquired over the years, Always Tan has not been franchised. The Austin's have continued their successful business efforts by starting Teasters, a loose leaf tea business that will be offering franchise opportunities.
Always Tan is located at 4601 South Loop 289 in Lubbock, TX.
Todd Thompson, Dream Taxi, http://dreamtaxi.com, +1 806-777-6269, [email protected]
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