Student succeeds as business owner

Kristin Anderson is a graduate of Desert Vista High School, a student at Arizona State University, and will be turning 21 in January. She seems like a regular young adult, but there is something special about Anderson – she already owns her own business.

She has worked at Paradise Tropical Tan since she was 15 and has been the manager for around three years. About three weeks ago she became the owner.

“An opportunity just opened up for me,” Anderson said, “It is a perfect job and I love it.”

The staff will stay the same and Anderson is working to keep a close relationship with all the clients. She wants it to be a smooth transition. Paradise Tropical Tan stresses good customer service and Anderson wants to make sure that stays the same.

“For us, the customer is always right,” she said, “We try our hardest to keep them happy and satisfied.”

According to Anderson, there are three key aspects that set her business apart from other tanning salons; cleanliness, customer service and changing the bulbs on the tanning beds. Anderson is a self-proclaimed stickler about cleanliness and says that changing the bulbs is the best way to make sure the customer is completely satisfied.

“Changing your bulbs before they need to be changed is the best way to keep your customers happy,” she said, “It costs more, but if you don’t change your bulbs on time the customers aren’t getting their money’s worth.”

The salon also offers competitively priced custom airbrushing, a service people usually have to drive out to Scottsdale for. The airbrushing keeps things safe with no UVA or UVB rays, protecting the customers.

Anderson said she is also planning to expand the salon to include a clothing and accessory boutique. She thinks it will both excite the existing customers and bring in new ones. She is working to keep the boutique items reasonably priced because she knows they can often be very expensive.

Taking all this on while still attending school seems very ambitious, but Anderson said she can handle it.

“People who know me know that I’m a go-getter; I’m not the type to fail.” she said.

Anderson’s grand opening will be this Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be raffles, free upgrades, samples, refreshments and free tanning to any new customers. Also, all Desert Vista High School students, with a valid school ID, will receive 50 percent off their services that day.

“I am really excited for this,” Anderson said, “I’ve always known what I wanted.”

Paradise Tropical Tan is located at 1442 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 104.

Brandi Bell is interning this semester for the Ahwatukee Foothills News. She is a sophomore at Arizona State University.