Three 19-year-olds have a bright idea to bring a unique style of
tanning to Morgan Hill and other South County residents. The 2004
Live Oak graduates
– Christie Dent, Brittany James and Brittany Klein – are
planning to open their new business, Australian Tanning, by the end
of the month.
Three 19-year-olds have a bright idea to bring a unique style of tanning to Morgan Hill and other South County residents.
The 2004 Live Oak graduates – Christie Dent, Brittany James and Brittany Klein – are planning to open their new business, Australian Tanning, by the end of the month.
“These three girls are very energetic and can see a business opportunity,” said Mike Dent of Navigator Enterprises of Gilroy, who happens to be Christie’s father. He said he is willing to invest a quarter of a million dollars and have the three friends operate the business.
Close friends throughout high school, these teen-agers are putting college on hold to start their business venture. After graduation, Christie enrolled at Heald College in Milpitas, in an intensive business administration course with emphasis on sales and marketing, attended classes from 8am to 11:30pm and was able to complete the two-year degree in July.
All three girls have worked at different tanning salons, “and we know we can do it better,” Christie proclaimed.
Mike is willing to invest in businesses a bank would otherwise find too risky. Although Christie is his daughter, when the trio approached him with their business idea, he told them to prove their idea would work.
“And they did, through complex spreadsheets, show me,” said Mike. “I’m prepared to take the risk because I believe the tanning market exists in Morgan Hill and we’ve looked at the Australian model and the way they tan here in the Bay Area and believe we can bring some of the Australian techniques here and be successful.”
The Dents have relatives that own 47 tanning salons in Australia, known as Body Bronze. It is their method of tanning that these three young entrepreneurs want to introduce to local residents.
“The Australian model is not like any other here in this country,” said Christie. The equipment is European and will be imported. She said the Australian method uses less than 6 percent of UVB rays as opposed to other salons, which use 50-50 UVA and UVB rays.
UVA, explained Christie, oxidizes skin, while UVB has a tendency to bring out the tan faster, but can burn the skin too.
They will also offer a new tanning spray unique to the Bay area, according to Christie, that will make a person look tan in 12 seconds.
In spite of what many tanning critics say, the girls believe there are no negative health effects to responsible tanning.
“It’s a misconception,” Christie said. “Tanning is the body’s natural defense to sunlight. It’s burning that’s bad, not tanning. It releases endorphins and makes you relax and feel healthy, and our method will make you tan before you burn and have healthy looking skin.”
Mike said the Morgan Hill business will be a “prototype salon” and they have plans to open at least eight more salons in the Bay Area.
“Tanning is a multi-billion dollar industry,” said Mike. “Tanning is nature’s body protection from UV burning and European manufacturers have gone through tremendous work to perfect the method for the tanning bed, which is safer than walking in the beach.”
He explained unless a person religiously applies the proper SPF while under direct sunlight, UV burning will occur. “Ironically, there is a lot of emotion attached to the harmful effects of tanning, but actually, if you get a base tan under a controlled UV bed, it will provide you the protection you need from burning before you go off on a vacation.”
The girls will operate the new salon. They and Scott Meneilly, Christie’s cousin, who is from Melbourne and CEO of sister company Body Bronze, have clinched the deal.
“They’ve pooled their collective resources and identified the need,” said Mike. “They have skin knowledge and understand what tanning does to the skin. They have the energy, the knowledge and the understanding, three things that are important to succeed.”
He added, “ And they have the total belief that they’re immortal!”
They invite residents to try Australian Tanning, which will be located at 261 Vineyard Town Center, and will hold its grand opening on Oct. 29. At 2pm, they will be giving away one free year of tanning and 50 percent off tanning packages. The new business will be open 8am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 7pm on weekends.
