UK sunbed shop chain Indigo Sun invests £350,000 in its first Wirral outlet, creating eight jobs. Tony McDonough reports

Indigo Sun has created eight new jobs at a new tanning salon in Wirral in a £350,000 investment.

With more than 100 outlets, Indigo Sun is the UK’s largest sunbed chain. This latest shop, located on Woodchurch Road in Birkenhead, is its seventh outlet in Liverpool city region where it employs 56 people.

Frank Taylor, founder and chief executive of the family firm, said: “We have 40,000 regular customers within a 20 mile radius of Liverpool and are thrilled to have bridged the Mersey for the first time into the Wirral.

“We know a large number of our customers have been making the trip into Liverpool and will be delighted to have an outlet on their doorstep. Likewise we realise we may have been out of reach for many who’d like to be able to visit regularly.

“This development on Woodchurch Road ticks every single box for us. Not only does it sit at a gateway to Birkenhead, but it gives extensive free parking, electric car charging and is a destination in its own right, owing to the outlets that surround us.”

During the pandemic Indigo Sun mapped out its growth strategy which will see it open 10 new outlets every year. It also embarked on a refitting and refurbishment programme, bringing an “upmarket beach club aesthetic” to its salons.

Tanning shops have become a controversial top in recent years with frequent warnings about the health dangers associated with tanning. Indigo Sun insists it is a supporter of what it calls “responsible tanning”.

It claims it trains its staff members to offer guidance for all skin types. The new salon will also offer collagen red light therapy beds which, it is claimed, can aid muscle recovery and help with aging skin, stretch marks, scars, circulation, pigmentation and psoriasis.

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Frank added: “Part of the reason that dedicated tanning salons are growing in popularity is because of the cost and complexity of the equipment.

“Modern sunbeds now have features such as Bluetooth so that customers can connect their phones and play their own choice of music. They also have sophisticated aircon systems and sensitivity settings for specific skin types.

“On top of that our salons have more sunbeds installed to reduce waiting times and dedicated staff with an in-depth knowledge on the use of sunbeds. It’s easy to see why our customers across Merseyside spend an average of £500 a year with us.”

In February 2023 Indigo Sun reported its best ever results, recording a turnover of more than £26m and almost £5.6m profit.