Franchise Glo Tanning is heading to Charlotte, recently inking a 15-unit deal with franchise owners Cody and Kristen McPherson and Aaron and Sidney Duty. Though an exact opening timeline has not been revealed, the franchisees are expected to open their first Charlotte location in the coming months.
The franchise team draws from experience with other brands like Crumbl Cookies, Rock N Roll Sushi and Potbelly Sandwich Works.
“We like franchisees that have that growth mindset,” Quinn Cooper, director of franchise development, told What Now Charlotte. “The system works when there are stores interconnected by the same owner. So we’re always excited for experienced franchisees to come in and add their operational experience to Glo’s existing system and processes.”
Glo Tanning has been pushing growth across the country. It now has more than 100 locations across 20 states, with another 200 locations currently in development.
Cooper views their growth as a testament to the affordability and accessibility of their luxury products and services. They offer a $69.99 per month membership, providing access to UV tanning, spray tanning, skin care, red light therapy and spa services.
“We feel like if you can come in and you can spend 30-45 minutes in the salon — that may be for a busy mom who is working and so forth. That may be the only time that she has free. We want to be that luxury refuge for them, without having to juggle several hundred dollars in expenses,” Cooper said. “So we kind of hit that sweet point by adding a lot of services for an affordable price.”
Cooper is a franchisee with the brand himself, owning four locations in Texas with one more on the way. The brand is looking to hit 800 locations in the next five years, with the goal of becoming the largest tanning salon franchise in the U.S. by 2030.
Cooper credits their tight-knit franchise program for some of their success thus far. Their growth from one location to 100 was done almost entirely organically though their network.
“We’re a very close-knit family, and the reason for that is we felt like the best way to grow was to build a system, build the processes first and build that foundation,” Cooper said. “Then once we had a good foundation, we were able to really step out and sell something we’re proud to sell and that we can deliver on and execute.”
They have also started an employee ownership program in which employees who spend a certain amount of time at the company can eventually enter the program and own their own Glo salon. This helps them retain people committed to the brand, which works in tandem with product offerings to further growth.
“We are really pushing the industry forward,” Cooper said. “Our biggest thing is that holistic experience, so that you’re not just going in to tan your skin, but you are coming in to be treated and enhance your overall skin care routine, and then also having an enjoyable experience. It’s rare to be able to own a spa and have that experience where customers are in there, happy and excited to be here. So we have a good time.”
