SunSational Tanning Salon

“Welcome to your sunshine and Vitamin-D Headquarters where it’s always sunny and warm!”

Tammy Simpson is the manager of her family-owned and operated salon that is celebrating 30 years. Their promise and goal…”To give a clean, friendly, sanitary salon with the best lamps that money can buy and a wide variety of top-notch equipment and lotions at an affordable fair price. We don’t just tan our customers, we give them a sun sational tan. There’s a difference”

By L.A. Reilly

LA: Congratulations on 30 years for your business. How and when did the business get started?

TS: Well in September of 1995 we officially opened our doors.  My dad was looking for other career opportunities at the time for both him and my mom. I was in my 20s and happened to come home disappointed one day because I wasn’t able to get

an appointment at a local tanning salon due to how busy they were .   My dad asked me a few questions about tanning and started to see this as a potentially thriving business. He began to research tanning equipment and the industry itself, and soon developed an entrepreneurial vision.  After about 6 to 9 months of thorough investigation and research, we headed to Connecticut to look at equipment and manufacturers.   My dad was intrigued, and after a couple of months looking for a potential location we found one right in our own neighborhood in Rumford. In June we started renovations in our new location with family and friends,  including an entire build out of about 10 rooms,  and after about 3-4 months we were able to open our doors. We started with two beds and two booths, and In six months we began adding more equipment due to customer demand. In 2000 I was working as a social worker, so my brother  made a decision to take a semester off from college to help my mom run the business because my dad had experienced some health issues. In 2001 dad was back at it, stronger than ever, and the industry was booming, so we began yet another expansion of rooms and equipment . In 2005 I came on board to join the family full-time, as we decided to open two more salons, one in North Providence and one in Cranston. We unfortunately  closed the other two salons after a few years to focus on our original location here in Rumford.  We have proudly serviced over 27,000 customers.   I didn’t just join my family business, I grew up in it. I watched my parents work hard every day and learned  what it takes to support family, and care for people and the community.

LA: You offer Sunless Tanning,  Red Light Therapy and UV Tanning. First tell me about Sunless Tanning “WellFit”, I personally love getting in this machine, also what are the advantages of Tri-Hydro Boost and C-Lift?

TS:  In June 2025 we upgraded our sunless spray to the VersaSpa Pro with WellFit, a full body skin care unit. It has natural ingredients, it’s paraben free and 100% vegan. We offer five different shade levels, two types of solutions, along  with Hydro Boost and C-Lift skin care serums, and the heated blow dry system is a nice added feature also.   The Hydro Boost is a Tri Hydro Complex with three unique molecular weights, it targets multiple layers of skin unlike common topical moisturizers.  It provides ultimate hydration, immediate suppleness and nourishes your skin so it glows. The C-Lift is a peptide complex, collagen boosting peptides that helps replenish and restore collagen levels making skin healthier, plumper, brighter, tighter  and firmer.  50% of  consumers  report wellness as a top priority in their day-to-day lives so this is a nice addition to our salon.   WellFit solutions also  maximize the benefits of red light therapy

LA: I never knew you offered full body Red Light Therapy. Tell me about Spectrum7.

TS:  Spectrum7 is for the wellness enthusiasts. It  has seven precise wavelengths and is  professional grade therapy with red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin. It’s non-invasive, no downtime, no side effects. It’s a science backed wellness treatment. Unlike home devices, its high-powered and deeper cellular penetration gives more results in less time (10 minutes)  It stimulates our mitochondria for complete cell rejuvenation, penetrating from the inside out.    It helps some people sleep better,  enhances mental clarity, stimulates collagen, helps with eczema and psoriasis,  reduces inflammation, relieve aches and pains, helps with arthritis and also boosts energy. Many athletes use it  to help them recover faster from injuries. Red-Light therapy is an alternative to medicine and  the more you do it the better you feel. It is recommended 3-4 times a week.   “Recover-restore-rejuvenate” Look better, feel better, live healthier!!!!  It has  opened up a whole new door for us, even dermatologists and chiropractors use this therapy in their practice.

LA: You offer tanning beds, booths, leg and facial tanning. How do you decide which companies to go with when searching for your equipment?

TS: Our top priority is safety, performance and reliability. My dad researched which machines would give customers the best results. He invested in top-of-the-line equipment and never skimped so clients get the best quality. SunCapsule manufactures our booths and for our beds its Ergoline.  We have 25 pieces of equipment to meet all your needs and we are one of the largest salons in RI. We also offer just facial and leg tanning machines, as well as aromatherapy and climate control options  in some of our beds for the comfort of our customers. My dad  has done a lot of the maintenance on the equipment himself over the years, being a motor-head back in the day, he can fix just about anything lol.

LA: What do you love the most about being a tanning salon owner?

TS: What I love the most is the impact on people, building relationships with our customers truly matters more than anything to me. I like to make people feel good. When someone walks in and leaves feeling more confident is the best part of the job. I love when our  customers come out and say “I just feel so much better” and I also love being part of my family’s legacy

LA: What challenges and lessons have you learned along the way?

TS: Some of the challenges in any long running small business is we have seen industry changes, economic shifts, evolving regulations and seasonal ups and downs. Running a business teaches you resilience. You learn to adapt, listen and never stop improving. Years ago there was a lot more competition, the industry was saturated, so  figuring out what you  can you do to stand out above the rest is important.   The biggest challenge  the  tanning industry has had to deal with is overcoming the negative stigma of tanning. We have taken pride in educating our customers on the safety of tanning, use of eyewear, time regulations and  understanding benefits of phototherapy.  It stimulates serotonin, dopamine, endorphins that regulate mood, emotion and behavior, thus helping with depression and anxiety known as SAD or seasonal affective disorder.  It also  helps with eczema and psoriasis, bone density and vitamin D deficiencies.   The lessons I’ve learned are many but most of all,  be accommodating, go above and beyond, that little extra makes such a difference, and our customers appreciate and acknowledge that.   If you treat people well and make them feel comfortable they will come back. Trust is also key. My believe my customers trust in me because I’m honest.   If you stop investing in your business and your customers mentally and emotionally… you stop growing!! I want to honor what my parents built and that responsibility motivates me everyday.

LA: Do you need certification to be a Salon owner?

TS: We have state licensing that we have to keep up with every year and everyone should be “Smart Tan” certified. We adhere to safety standards and I ensure staff stay educated on our equipment, use  of sanitation products and regulatory compliance, assessing skin type and stay knowledgeable of tanning products.   Training is a key element as is professionalism. We want our clients to feel confident that we know what we’re doing and do what is best for them.  Department of Health standards, cleanliness and safety are things we never compromise on.

LA: Over the past 30 years how has the business changed and evolved ?

TS:  We have changed and evolved in so many ways.  In 1995, when we first opened, we had an intro offer of $2.00 tans. Before software and computers we used appointment books with customer check-in cards. We have had to make investments to meet changing industry trends and customers interests. We began to offer hydro-massage, sunless spray, massage therapy, and nail and pedicures services, some of which came and went.   In 2010 they implemented  a federal tan tax of 10% which was tough to swallow because we are always looking out for our customers regarding value.   We have seen generations of families come through our doors and that is true evolution for us. While technology continues to evolve one thing remains unchanged… the heart of SunSational is still family.

LA: How do you plan to celebrate your 30 years of success?

TS: The Mayor of East Providence, Bob DaSilva, is coming to honor us at a proclamation with a 30 year certificate of recognition. We also plan on having sales and promotions. The biggest celebration is simply continuing the family legacy. I credit my parents for teaching me the fundamentals, work ethic,  integrity,  customer care,  family values and gratitude. The business isn’t just my career it’s my family story. Dad and Mom have been celebrating by being semi-retired in Florida.

LA: When you’re not working here 70 hours a week what do you do for fun and what’s your favorite restaurant in Rhode Island ?

TS: My heart is in music…I love to go watch local bands and dance like nobody is watching lol. We have so many  different restaurants in the state,  It’s hard to choose just one but the last restaurant I went to with friends was Macera’s Italian Restaurant in Cranston.

Visit Tammy at SunSational Tanning at 202 Newport Ave., East Providence

P: 401-438-8266

H: M-F 10-8 / Saturday 9-6 / Sunday Closed

Web: www.sunsationaltanning.net

Instagram@sunsational_tanning_1995

Facebook@sunsationaltanningsalon