Brandon Tan FX franchise closes

Advertisement

Advertise with us

A Brandon tanning salon franchise has closed after failing to find a new owner.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!

As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.

Now, more than ever, we need your support.

Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.

Subscribe Now

or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.

Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
  • Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/06/2019 (2388 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Brandon tanning salon franchise has closed after failing to find a new owner.

Tan FX on Victoria Avenue announced on its Facebook page on June 5 that it would be closing its location, but that new owners would be opening a new location in the near future. However, a June 19 post on the page said that Tan FX corporate officials had locked the Brandon franchise out of its computer system, forcing them to close early.

A notice posted on the business’s front door states that because of the computer lockout, employees at the Brandon location could not access client files or operate the tanning beds. “Thank you for your patronage over the years and we heartedly apologize for what has transpired,” the end of the notice read.

A sign, posted on the front door of Brandon's Tan FX, announcing its closure. (Colin Slark/The Brandon Sun)
A sign, posted on the front door of Brandon's Tan FX, announcing its closure. (Colin Slark/The Brandon Sun)

Franchise owner Catherine Rookes told The Sun that she had informed the Tan FX corporate office in December 2018 that ownership could not afford to keep the business going. She said she had lined up a buyer, who backed out when the lease on the building was not renewed.

Subsequent disagreement over the agreed-upon closing date between Rookes and Tan FX corporate offices in Winnipeg resulted in her being locked out of the computer system earlier than she said she had expected.

Tan FX president Kellie Damphousse also noted that the Brandon franchisees are four years into a 20-year franchise agreement, having taken over from the previous franchisees in 2015.

Tan FX first set up shop in Brandon in 2005.

“It absolutely saddens me what’s going on right now,” Damphousse said.

When asked about the Facebook post saying a new location would be opened in Brandon, Damphousse said she wasn’t aware of a new franchise taking over in Brandon.

After The Sun spoke with Damphousse on Monday, Tan FX issued the following message on the corporate Facebook page: “For the foreseeable future, Tan FX Brandon will remain closed and no future location will be opening.”

On Monday morning, Tan FX Brandon posted that previously purchased tanning minutes would be transferred to the new location, but a corporate account later commented on the franchisee’s post to say that no future location is planned.

Rookes said that she is unable to access the computer system to see what purchases customers had previously made and is financially unable to provide refunds. She added that local tanning salon Fabutan had offered to help out Tan FX customers.

» cslark@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ColinSlark

Report Error Submit a Tip

Local

LOAD MORE