Tanology

Lindy White, founder & CEO of Tanology Spray Tan & Beauty Bar, started a home business in Auburn, Alabama in 2010 that grew out of a personal need for a great spray tan. Prior to moving to Auburn, Lindy had lived in bigger cities with plenty of tanning options. When she moved to Auburn and realized that she did not have any options, she used her savings and purchased her own tanning equipment. She started doing spray tans in her garage, and as her business grew, she worked a full-time job during the day, then traveled all over Auburn at night providing spray tans and building a clientele.

After a few years, Lindy realized she had created something special. She saw a need for quality, fast beauty services, and developed a vision of opening a business where busy women could receive their beauty services in an efficient and fun atmosphere. In 2019, she met with ASBDC advisor Larkin Jones. Remembering those early days, Lindy noted that her business advisor helped her “figure out how to take my business to the next level. She has mentored me through all of the different stages of business ownership.”

At the Alabama SBDC at Auburn University, Lindy found encouragement, mentorship, and professional assistance. With the help of her advisor, she put together a vision, a plan, and a budget. Larkin went to work researching potential brick and mortar locations and, once one was found, she helped Lindy prepare financial assumptions and projections to be sure she was fully prepared to launch a profitable brick-and-mortar business. She continued to coach Lindy through the ups and downs of tenant improvements, hiring, and pre-opening to-do lists, right up until the grand opening of Tanology Spray Tan in August 2019.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it had an immediate and drastic impact on her growing business. With the assistance of her SBDC advisor, Lindy sought and received an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for Tanology. This allowed her to continue building out and supplying her business.

Since opening her brick-and-mortar location in 2019, Lindy has weathered the storms and grown her business from 3 employees to 11. In September of 2022, Lindy will open her second location in Heights Village in Birmingham. She says, “I love that I have been successful in the business world and provided jobs as a female CEO. I’m very thankful for the resources the SBDC provides.” Tanology won the Small Business of the Year Award for Auburn and was nominated for the top small business in Alabama. As Tanology continues to grow, Lindy can rely on continued mentorship and professional assistance from her trusted ASBDC advisor.