SIDNEY — A tanning salon building has reopened with new owners, a new name, new decor and all new equipment.
Beach Bumz Tanning, 1270 Wapakoneta Ave., occupies the space once held by the French Connection, but Beach Bumz owners Jeff Baker and Tom Echemann, both of Sidney, have totally renovated the facility.
They purchased it Oct. 1 and closed it in order to remodel.
“It needed to be updated,” Baker said. His wife, Judy, who now manages Beach Bumz, selected the theme of the decor.
“The first thing you think about a beach is warm and comfortable,” Jeff said. In addition to new flooring, fresh paint and beachy furnishings, the owners have installed eight new tanning beds and a spray tan booth.
Neither of the partners had operated a tanning business before; however, Judy had worked at a salon when she was a teen.
“It’s just a new adventure,” Jeff said of why they decided to buy the building. The new facility has passed inspection and been certified by the state, as have the operators.
“We went to a seminar in Nashville,” Jeff said about how they learned the ropes of the tanning business. They did the work of remodeling themselves.
“It took a lot more than what I thought it was going to,” Jeff said. “A lot was learn-as-you-go.”
The partners have invested about $125,000 in the property and equipment. They hope to turn a profit in three to five years. Beach Bumz has three employees in addition to the owner/managers. All of them are certified tanning specialists.
The challenge now is to let people know that the business is open and has been since Dec. 17.
“It was slow at first, but now that holidays are over, it’s picking up,” Jeff said.
According to Judy, Beach Bumz offers five levels of UV tanning and the UV-free, HD Mystic spray tan. She also sells essential oils and tanning lotions. Customers don’t make appointments; they can walk in to tan.
Minute packages and unlimited packages are available. Beach Bumz charges $15 for 60 minutes of tanning. A monthly unlimited package sells for $80. A holiday special discount of 25 percent applies through Jan. 15.
Beach Bumz is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 493-0400 or visit tanbeachbumz.com or the firm’s Facebook page.
