Caribbean Beach Tanning & Wellness may have just added the SmartSun Therapy SST28 in April, but the results are already exceeding expectations.
By introducing a new $99 SST–only membership and incorporating the device into their all-inclusive EFT program, the salon saw an immediate impact. Their first EFT draw after the SST28 launch was $2,700 higher than May of the previous year. In June, that figure more than doubled, with EFT revenue up by $5,400 year-over-year.
Located in Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes region—an area known for outdoor summer recreation and lifestyle—Caribbean Beach typically sees a seasonal dip in business when warmer weather hits. But this year, the addition of full-body red light therapy helped reverse that trend.
“Brainerd Lakes is very much a summer, outdoorsy tourist area. We usually see a lot of decrease, so we hope it continues for July and August this year and we’ll have the best summer we’ve ever had in 20 years,” owner Jackie Gruber says.
Gruber has long believed in the potential of red light therapy, having previously operated a LED red light panel system at the salon. But as demand grew for full-body sessions, it became clear a step up was needed.
“The SST28 was on our bucket list because we got the panel three years ago and it went really well. The one downfall was most people wanted full body,” she says. “When we ordered the SST28, we teased a little about it and told customers it’s coming. The day after it shipped, we sold a red light package without it being in operation. People were really excited.”
While cosmetic benefits continue to be a strong draw, Gruber says the SST28 has uncovered a much deeper need in the community: pain relief.
“Having full body blows the panel out of the water comparing to how it went when we first got it. Full body is what people need and what we’ve been noticing is a lot of people used the panel for cosmetic reasons and the bed showed us that more people are in pain than you think, and they’ve had so much relief with it,” she says.
Despite the fast start, the salon is only beginning to tap into the SST28’s full potential. A few completely new customers have already signed up for red light therapy, and some former clients have returned after several years away. Still, most of the early growth has come from upgrading and retaining their existing base. And with word-of-mouth just starting to build around the Brainerd Lakes community, the sky’s the limit for what this service could become.
With momentum building, Caribbean Beach is positioned not just for a standout summer, but for elevated success year-round.