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LA Sunset Tan Productions looks to shine in the Valley
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Tadd Olson
The tanning salon of the stars could be coming to the East Valley soon.
LA Sunset Tan Productions, a Los Angeles company that operates and franchises luxury tanning spas, has named a master franchisee for Arizona, who hopes to establish at least 15 LA Sunset Tan locations in the Valley in the next five years.
Half of those could be in the East Valley, said Tadd Olson, a Scottsdale resident and founder of Arizona Tanning Enterprises LLC, which is directing the development effort.
“Contrary to people’s perceptions, sunny areas have higher demand for tanning than other areas,” he said.
“People here are expected to be tanned. But most of us are too busy to see the sun.”
The tanning salons give customers a bronzed look after only a few minutes in a tanning bed, with the ability to control exposure to dangerous ultraviolet rays. Or spray-on tans are available if they prefer, he said.
Customers will pay about $20 for a single visit, or up to $1,000 for tanning packages, he said.
LA Sunset Tan hopes to differentiate itself from competitors by offering the high-end pampering movie stars receive at Sunset Tan’s Los Angeles locations.
Adding further star cachet to the brand is the “Sunset Tan” television show on the E! Entertainment network, which revolves around the fictional activities of the salon’s employees.
“We’re coming to the Valley with a recognized brand name,” Olson said of the show’s impact. “And when we have grand openings, people from the show will come out.”
Olson is still finding Valley locations for the stores, but he said Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Ahwatukee Foothills, and maybe Gilbert and Mesa are candidates. He said he hopes to find owners and operators for single or small groups of salons, adding that more than 20 people have already expressed interest in investing up to $650,000 to open a single store.
Olson thinks the first store could be open in six to eight months.
The naming of an Arizona developer is part of a national expansion plan by LA Sunset Tan to open 500 franchise locations nationwide.
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