![\"SBW2014intro\"](\"https:\/\/www.setmore.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/SBW2014intro.jpg\")
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There are those who naturally achieve a sun-kissed glow in the first weeks of summer and then there are those who go straight from porcelain to painful in two minutes flat. Jennifer Pitt was the latter. So when it was time to attend an out-of-town wedding, she opted for a spray tan. \u201cI was amazed at the results and how wonderful I looked. Not to mention how much more confident I felt! I knew that there were a lot of people like me that could not tan, and I wanted to find a way to let everyone know of this simple way to achieve a tanned look.\u201d After completing her business degree, Jennifer took the plunge and started ChromaTan Airbrush Tanning in March of 2012.<\/p>\n
It was a rocky start. \u201cI thought I failed,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI put in so much time and wasn\u2019t getting anything out of it. I started giving up. But then, the passion that drove me to start it hit me again\u2014like a second wind. So I started doing more research, more testing, and coming out of my shell to figure out ways to attract more people.\u201d
\nHer perseverance paid off. This year, Jennifer nearly reached her annual financial goal by June. Even better was the satisfaction of happy customers. \u201cI absolutely love the way my clients feel when they\u2019re done with their appointment,\u201d she says. \u201cThey look at their reflection and say, \u2018Wow, I love this tan.\u2019 I do my own custom blending so everyone\u2019s tan is unique to their skin. When my clients are happy, I am happier, and there\u2019s no monetary value that can be placed on that feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Below, Jennifer talks about the challenges of starting up a business with a workforce of 1 and the importance of having a plan and building connections:<\/p>\n
What were some of the hardest challenges you faced starting up your own business?<\/b><\/p>\n
One of the most difficult things I\u2019ve faced is balancing my schedule. I have no employees, and I do everything\u2014from the actual tanning to advertising\/social media to building my website. My time is critical and accommodating my clients is priority number one. Making sure I know what I should be doing at any given time has always been my biggest challenge.<\/p>\n
How did you overcome these challenges?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSetting an open\/close time and letting my clients know what hours I operate was the first way to overcome this issue. I\u2019ve also created my own advertising campaign for the entire year, so I can refer back or change as needed. I stay on top of my social media handles and so my presence is strong. Social media is so important; I make sure my footprint is there in each channel.\u201d<\/p>\n
How has Setmore helped your business?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSetmore has been a tremendous help. Easy to setup, easy to get around for me and my clients. \u00a0It has allowed me to define my work hours, and has saved me a ton of time from those back-and-forth text messages asking for appointment times. My clients can book 24\/7 and at any time it\u2019s convenient for them. They get email reminders. It\u2019s also been an easy transition for my existing clients. Thank you Setmore, for being there\u2026 even while I sleep!\u201d<\/p>\n
What other online tools have you found helpful?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve used Google Docs as an additional resource for my client cards and waivers. I always have these forms pre-printed for my new clients, but in the event they want to read the waiver beforehand, I let them know it\u2019s available online for review. This speeds up the process at their first appointment. It\u2019s also great for my clients under 18 who need a parent\u2019s consent. The parent can fill out the waiver and email it back to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your #1 customer service tip?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my appointments, I connect with each of my clients by talking to them. I love to build a comfortable, safe atmosphere for my clients so they don\u2019t feel strange when they get undressed. It\u2019s important to make every client experience personal but professional, so they know what to expect. I always make sure they know how to make the best of their tan and suggest products and advice on how to make their tan last longer. Clients who\u2019ve been to other spray tanners always tell me that I go the extra mile with my information and techniques. New clients who don\u2019t know much about spray tanning love that I\u2019m so informative and \u2018on call\u2019 They can contact me for any questions before or after their tan.\u201d<\/p>\n
What advice would you give to would-be entrepreneurs?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHave a plan. Write down your goals, your possible challenges, and your possible resolutions to those challenges. Most importantly, be strong and know that challenges are inevitable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are those who naturally achieve a sun-kissed glow in the first weeks of summer and then there are those who go straight from porcelain to painful in two minutes flat. Jennifer Pitt was the latter. So when it was time to attend an out-of-town wedding, she opted for a spray tan. \u201cI was amazed…","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[150,158],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entrepreneurship-stories","tag-small-business","tag-spray-tanning"],"yoast_head":"\n