ist magazine October 2021

IST: Many small businesses were impacted significantly by the tight COVID restrictions in California, tanning salons included. How did you survive the last year? KL: Joe, it was a crazy time, for sure! I drove my golf cart around my community delivering sanitizers and bed cleaners (as they are a multi-purpose hospital grade disinfectant)! I was able to still get my hands on items that not everybody could, because the tanning industry was so on top of fulfilling the needs of salons for that stuff – it was great. Sometimes, my salon was the pick-up location for those items and it became another exposure opportunity for Studio K, that we exist and where we are located. I made the most of it and tried to have fun doing it. I’m still standing and have had my busiest year yet. So, I think I made the most of a really challenging time. IST: What is the key to selling your products and services? KL: Most people don’t like being “sold to” – I focus on being real. It sounds like a cliche, but that’s it. People want “realness” and that’s what I give them. But that also means having a strong knowledge base as I pointed out earlier. Thank you, Sun is Life Certification! IST: What are your goals for the next 1-3 years? KL: I plan to focus on being the best tanning option in my area and changing the way people view indoor tanning. The “look good, feel good” psychology of a moderate tan is really true. I see the way that people carry themselves more confidently when they have a nice tan. I think offering the professional indoor tanning option that minimizes the risk of overexposure and sunburn is so beneficial – so many more benefits than people realize. I really want to help people to see that tanning is more than just color! Kandis, I really enjoyed our interview and it makes me want to swing by Canyon Lake to see just how you are making it happen! All the best to you in the years to come. ■

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