Please give us a brief description of your backstory.
The Travelling Tanner first came to Kamloops as a mobile spray tanning service that revolutionized the beauty industry by delivering flawless tans right at your door. As I got more and more involved in the business aspect of it, I noticed it was beneficial for me to have a salon and do mobile, which is what I did.
I started this business because, like myself, I was a single mom who loved doing things that made me feel good about myself, and one of those things was tanning. I used to use the beds all the time until I burnt my eye, and now I have severe dry eye in one of my eyes. So, needless to say, I stopped going. But also, for my son, who has ADHD and severe anxiety, going anywhere or leaving him with anyone was a huge no! I also was a full-time preschool teacher (which I loved), but I barely saw my kids or got to do things with them. I didn’t want to live like that anymore and wanted to be more present in my children’s lives.
I came across this amazing woman in Salmon Arm who started doing mobile tans, and I just had to book! I got my girlfriends together, and we all did it at home while my kids were sleeping. It was so much fun, and something hit me after she left; I just knew I wanted to provide this service to other moms like me when we moved to Kamloops. We all deserve to feel confident about ourselves and get that little boost of “I can conquer the world looking this good.” So, when I moved, I did my research and noticed no one in Kamloops had a mobile tanning business, so I knew it was meant to be.
What have been your successes and milestones?
A few of my successes have been becoming more involved in the bridal industry, getting over 2000 followers on social in my first year, and now becoming the top search for spray tanning in Kamloops on Google. That was a huge one for me. Also, having recurring clients, having them talk about me, and getting their friends to see me is a considerable feeling—To me, anyway.
What did you find most valuable in working with Community Futures Thompson Country?
Learning that not everyone is a client. I definitely thought so in the beginning, until Julie told me no and why that is.
How was the process of receiving a loan through Community Futures Thompson Country?
Shelagh was AMAZING! I had never thought I could get a loan before, and she helped me through the whole thing, on what to do and how to do it. I wouldn’t be here where I am today without that loan and for Community Futures’ believing in me.
Did you access any services through myCommunityFutures?
Yes, I heard about the program through the amazing Julie while going through the Self-Employment program with CFTC. My favorite workshops were about taxes, where we learned what you can and can not write off for business. This is my first time being a sole proprietor business owner, and I didn’t know much about it.
What advice would you give to others who want to open their own business?
Take the Self-Employment Program from Community Futures. I can’t say that enough! The amount of information I learned really opened my eyes to what I was getting myself into. One famous saying that stuck with me was, “Say Yes To Everything,” from Julie.
You can follow Jennifer’s journey @the_travelling_tanner
