Tanning Blog: Airbrush and Spray Tanning

FAQs: Client Forms

 

Does EnvyTan provide a document explains “risks, etc.” of spray tans for customers to sign?

We do have forms available. You can find copies on our website under Free Spray Tanning Forms.

Last fall, we released our Know It All: USB Drive ($25) with the latest version of these forms (both branded and non-branded).  You can purchase the USB drive separately if you’d like, but it is included as part of our It’s Official: Course & Certification. 

Upon completion of your course and certification, you will receive a framed EnvyTan Spray Pro Artist Certificate, eligibility for our new Spray Pro Club program and the Know It All: USB Drive.  Why not take the course?  Give your business a little extra credibility and give your customers peace of mind knowing they are in the very capable hands of a true profession.

But hey, if you like to pay expensive legal fees, you can always have your own forms drawn up by an attorney if you wish!

Law: California Bans Teens From Tanning Beds

 

 

For the past 24 hours, media outlets have been buzzing about the new teen tanning law passed by California Governor Jerry Brown.  For those of you who haven’t seen the headlines or tuned in to the evening news, this new law signed Sunday (effective January 1) bans anyone under the age of 18 from using an indoor tanning bed.

Kudos California!  California has beefed up its security at tanning salons state-wide.  While more than 30 other states that have age-restrictions in place for teen tanning (most of which require parental consent for teen tanners aged 14-17), California introduced the first bill of this kind--banning anyone under 18 from using a tanning bed (unless under physicians direction).  With California leading the way, there is little doubt full bans on teen tanning will surely become the norm.

The American Academy of Dermatology applauded the new law citing that previous research has shown that people who have used indoor tanning are at 75 percent higher risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, as well as many other types.

What’s a tanning salon to do?  After all, young people flock to tanning beds to get that beautiful Hollywood bronze—especially during dance season: Homecoming, Formals, Prom, Graduation, etc. 

Don’t lose sales; add spray tanning to your services!

What is spray tanning?

It’s a paint. It’s a stain.  It’s…well…actually, it’s neither!

Spray tanning is the safest and easiest way to get that gorgeous glow without a worry in the world.  Spray tanning solutions give your skin a beautiful bronze using DHA, an ingredient derived from sugarcane.  DHA reacts with the outer layer of your skin to produce the color change we know and call a spray tan.

Think of it like this:  What happens when you bit into an apple and leave it on the counter?  It turns brown!  Believe it or not, this is very similar to a spray tan!  Don't get me wrong...  Of course the browning effect of an apple is due to oxidation.  The browning of a spray tan is due to the reaction of DHA with the outer layer of the skin.  The point?  That neither is a paint, stain, or dye--they are both natural processes.

Looking to add spray tanning to your list of services?  Check our out newly revamped Start Up Pro Kits.  With three packages available (all which can be purchased with any of our four pieces of HVLP Equipment $425), there’s something for everyone, whether you are just looking for the basics (Famous: Sunless Intro Kit), the whole EnvyTan package (Celebrity: Envy Pro Kit $1475), or something in between (Casting Call: Spray Pro Kit $725).

Go on.  Get bitten by the spray tan bug!

Training: Certified Spray Tanning Technician

 

It’s official, you too can be certified as a spray tanning technician!

 

In many areas, the spray tanning industry is relatively unregulated.  But how to be sure?  Check with your local Board of Cosmetology to see if there are any rules you must follow or licenses you must hold.

One of the best things you can do to bolster business is to become certified.  Potential customers generally lend more weight and trust to companies that have certified technicians.  After all, no one wants to be tanned by any ol' Joe Schmoe.  Personally, I’d rather be tanned by Joe Schmoe, certified spray tanning technician!

EnvyTan offers It’s Official:  Spray Tanning Course and Certification for anyone to purchase!  Our It’s Official: Spray Tanning Course and Certification is an online course and certification through the National Tanning Training Institute.  You will be able to print the information off a computer if you’d like, but the course and test are online.  It covers everything you will need to know to become certified, including technique, safety, pricing and more!

The certification course is set up for you to work at your own pace.  There are seven sections and you could most likely finish the course and test in a single day.  Once you complete the test, you will be able to download and print a copy of your certificate.  The official copy will be mailed to you, usually within a day or two of completion.

For your other training needs, visit our Spray Tanning Training section of our EnvyStore.  Our Money Maker:  Spray Tanning as a Business is great for people breaking into the industry and So Serious:  Professional Guide to Spray Tanning is great for those technicians in the business a bit longer.  Money Maker, So Serious and It’s Official are also available together in the Bargain Shopper Bundle!

Better Business Bureau: Accreditation and Rating

Why do people everywhere choose to do business with companies that are Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited? Because it’s just smart business. Based on 2007 Princeton Research findings, 70% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase from companies that are BBB Accredited, and 80% of consumers say the BBB plays a vital role in promoting ethical business practices and high standards for reliability and responsiveness.

BBB Accreditation is a major accomplishment and trophy for our shelf! It is a huge honor to be accredited, especially since it is not offered to every business. We have met and continue to meet the rigorous standards of accreditation. The Standards for BBB Accreditation are built on the BBB Standards for Trust.

BBB Standards for Trust

• Build Trust- Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

• Advertise Honestly- Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling.

• Tell the Truth- Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms.

• Be Transparent- Openly identify the nature, location, and ownership of the business, and clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that bear on a customer’s decision to buy.

• Honor Promises- Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.

• Be Responsive- Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally, and in good faith.

• Safeguard Privacy- Protect any data collected against mishandling and fraud, collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of consumers regarding the use of their information.

• Embody Integrity- Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity.

In addition to accreditation, EnvyTan also holds the highest rating available. Judged on 16 factors, from business type and time in business to complaint history and arbitration, EnvyTan is please to be BBB Accredited with an A+ rating! We have held an A+ rating with the BBB since we opened for business in 2005. So what does this mean to you, the customer?

Since we have earned an A+, you know you can count on us. We deliver from the start, whether that means walking a first-timer through the ordering process, or making certain that packages leave correctly and promptly. It means you are doing business with a company that is legitimate, established, verified, and operating under a guaranteed code of ethics and principles. This is a “free guarantee” to everyone that we abide by these rules and will conduct ourselves this way with all of our customers.

We are always striving to be the best. The BBB Accreditation link on our website will direct you to our Accreditation page. You can see first-hand our rating and the reason behind it. It is this rating the sets us apart and puts us a step above the rest. We are proud to be accredited, honoring our longstanding commitment to our customers.

Infringement: Copyrights and Trademarks

Copyright Infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.

-Wikipedia

I’m fairly young—and although not as hip as some people—I can say with certainty, that the A&M Records vs. Napster lawsuit is the case that comes to mind when I hear “copyright infringement.” Napster, a widely popular file-sharing (ie: music/songs) website was forced to shut down, pay tons of money and make a public apology for illegally distributing the copyrighted files.

Avid Harry Potter fans may recall a similar case in which a judge ruled in favor of J.K. Rowling to prevent the publishing and distribution of the “Harry Potter Lexicon,” an all-things Harry Potter encyclopedia.

YouTube surfers and those who post to the site should be familiar with the suit filed by Viacom for allowing Viacom-based material to be uploaded and rebroadcast. The judge ruled in favor of YouTube, who now flags content uploaded without copyrights.

It is also important to note the little-known case of McFries where a “mom and pop” diner used a yellow M as the logo for their burger and fry joint. Let’s just say McDonalds wasn’t very pleased. Just kidding. I made that up, but still, you get the picture.

So why does any of this matter? Music? Books? Film and TV? Fake French fries? Well, copyright and trademark laws apply to businesses as well and EnvyTan is a trademark of EnvyTan, Inc. It is very important to the integrity of our business that our customers and potential customers are not tricked into purchasing for any other EnvyTan than us.

Many companies have confusingly similar products or services. It is important that EnvyTan, Inc. exercises its right to protect its trademark. Our trademark serves as an important and distinctive representation of the origin of the EnvyTan products as well as the goodwill of the company.

And we know that “imitation is the best form of flattery,” but there is definitely a thin line between the warm fuzzies of flattery and the cold pricklies of trademark infringement. Take for example, the McFries case…even pre-schoolers know that a “yellow M” means McDonalds. Attaching a fledgling company to a huge corporation, not only misleads customers into thinking there is an association or affiliation with the well-known company, it can also land that company in legal hot water.

While it is conceivable that potential “infringers” are doing so unintentionally, it is important for EnvyTan to shed light on this matter. State and federal law supports our position that confusingly similar trademarks may cause confusion among customers. And we hope to clear up any confusion in the future. For more information, click here.

…Oh and don’t forget the numerous cases by Warner Bros. for the unlawful use of the “Happy Birthday to You” song in music, films, television shows and by other corporations. This is because they have the right to charge $30,000 each time this age-old song is used!