BRANDON TOWNSHIP – The snow is blowing and a wisp of cabin fever is knocking at the door.
Wow Tan owner Tim McIlrath has the prescription to combat the winter blues. He suggests painting Caribbean gold over the winter blahs.
“Indoor tanning lifts your spirits,” said McIlrath. “Laying in a warm tanning booth makes people feel good.”
McIlrath is no stranger to the mental benefits of indoor tanning. If done correctly and responsibly, he said, indoor tanning is a safe way to obtain a healthier attitude and look.
“If it’s done right, the controlled environment of indoor tanning is safer than outside,” said McIlrath. “Tanning actually is a natural defense against the sun. Skin damage happens when you burn in natural sun.”
With responsible booth experience tracing back to his teens, after a stint of owning a landscape business, McIlrath plunged into the science of tanning.
Two years ago, he created Wow Tan of Waterford, and to date the salon has provided over 22,000 golden glows. In November 2002, he purchased the former Complete Tan & Nails on M-15.
McIlrath said knowledge of the product, combined with honesty, is the key to responsible customer care.
By attending clinics, and seminars, combined with online coalitions, McIlrath continually learns the up-to-date science of lamp technology and the affect of UVB and UVA bulbs on each client’s skin pigmentation. Providing ancillary services for quality skin care and nails is also at the top of McIlrath’s list in customer care.
“The healthier the skin, the better the tan,” offers McIlrath.
“It’s simple; treat clients the way you would want to be treated,” McIlrath said. “I’ve refunded money and turned people down because they wanted longer tanning periods, which is not good for them.
“I might redirect them to spray-tanning,” he said, “because the temporary tanning method works, with proper care techniques, which we instruct them with.”
With an eye to further customer care, McIlrath is planning to expand spray tanning services to a private booth, introducing SunMist products.
McIlrath said his favorite challenge in the business is getting to know the clients in this area. As for the toughest challenge, the salon is being expanded to make room for more tanning beds and a larger nail station.
“Word of mouth has spread quickly and the response has been phenomenal,” said McIlrath. “My goal is to try to make it so that my customers don’t have to wait for a tan.”
Wow Tan is located at 950 Ortonville Road (M-15), across from McDonald’s. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Telephone is (248) 627-3814.