Expansion in the works at Tropic Sun Tanning

By Dawn Ver Haagh
The De Pere Journal

Winter may be prevalent for a significant portion of the year in Northeastern Wisconsin.

However, a few sessions at Tropic Sun Tanning can put clients in a warm and sunny frame of mind.

The De Pere Tropic Sun Tanning location will celebrate its one-year anniversary in January.

Darin and Michele Wriedt — owners of seven Tropic Sun locations including De Pere, Bellevue, Howard, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield and Waupaca — have been in business for seven years, having opened their first salon in Stevens Point.

"We started expanding into tanning after we sold our County Market (there)," Darin Wriedt said. "We added tanning to our video store to increase traffic flow."

At the downtown De Pere location in the strip mall on Wisconsin Street, Tropic Sun has 10 available tanning beds, but more are in the works.

With the opening of a new building addition next month, the staff will more than double the number of beds.

"It is really exciting," said Ann Lambrecht, Tropic Sun store manager.

Posters, lights and lotions fill the entrance to the tanning salon, and the scents lift you off your feet.

"It smells like vacation," Lambrecht said.

People are walking in to get away from the looming cold weather.

"Winter is definitely our busy season," Lambrecht said.

Escaping the brisk temps is always a bonus, and people use tanning for many reasons.

"They come in for warmth, relaxation, special occasions and vacation and to feel better about themselves," Lambrecht said.

Along with providing tanning services, Tropic Sun features a variety of feel-good products, including body wraps by trained wrap technicians and aqua massage, which uses soothing water jets to massage one's body.

For those interested in 100 percent UV-free tanning, especially pregnant women and customers 16 and younger, Tropic Sun offers the Magic Tan Spray Booth with results in just 60 seconds.

A new addition to the line of services is an infrared sauna, which is used to burn calories, lose weight and detoxify.

In addition to selling products such as tan extenders and moisturizers and tanning lotions, Tropic Tan offers red-light therapy, which promotes collagen production for younger-looking skin and diminishes wrinkles and fine lines, just to name a few.

The staff at Tropic Sun enjoys seeing customers in their best frame of mind.

"I absolutely love what I do and love coming to work," Lambrecht said. "It is like family here."

Each staff member is educated in skincare, the products offered, the beds and services used and how they affect each customer.

Although money may be tight, Tropic Tan offers affordable tanning and the ability to make it part of one's daily routine.

"If you can't afford a vacation, you can come here and feel like you were on vacation," Lambrecht said. "We care about how people look and feel."

FYI …

Tropic Sun Tanning