The End of an Era

As I've mentioned before, when I moved to Dallas back in September 2012 my job in Knoxville allowed me to stay on board as a part time marketing consultant.

You may be shocked to hear that I did Marketing and Graphic Design for Fusion, a chain of tanning salons of all places. I guess you've caught on by now that, yes, I am quite pale. My skin really won't tan, so the spray tan was my jam. If you've never tried spray tanning before, I suggest you read my post here, it will change the way you think about the spray booth. 

Anyways, back to my point. Fusion just completed the transition of franchising all of their salons into Palm Beach Tan, so needless to say, they will no longer need their own marketing. So today, I just wanted to write a letter to thank the company that, essentially, taught me everything I know today. 

Dear Fusion,

I remember the day you called me to set up an interview, just one month after my December 2008 graduation from The University of Tennessee. I got so excited because I thought you were the bank calling about an open teller position. When I arrived at the address you provided, I realized that I had misheard on the phone and this was in fact a tanning salon. Self conscious about my pale, nearly lavender colored skin, I reluctantly went to the interview. I mean, I was already there, might as well just interview.

You hired me as a sales associate for one of the slowest stores in the company, so I was forced to keep my job at Bonefish grill, essentially working from 7am in the morning to 10pm each night. My very first month with you, I made $1200 in commission, and I realized, well dang, maybe this job isn't so bad. 

Within a month I was promoted to assistant manager and assigned a new store. It was then that I started forming some of the best friendships I'll ever have.

About a month later, you decided to ship me off to Lexington, Kentucky to manage one of 4 new stores. You then eventually took a chance on me, making me the area manager of a state that didn't care much for my Vol lovin' self. 

While in Lexington, I sure made some great friends and was having tons of success with the business,  but my heart still lived in Knoxville, and I begged to return. Two years later, my wish was granted and I returned to KnoxVegas. 

Then something amazing happened. You took a chance on a girl with a PR degree and made her your Marketing Director and Graphic Designer. I had no idea what I was doing, but boy did I have ideas and passion. I was given a shiny new mac filled with the Adobe creative suite and no clue how to use any of it. Here is one the first advertisement I ever made for you guys... woof... that is so bad.

But you patiently waited for me while I learned through trial and error how to code an e-mail blast, how to design a website, how to build our social media following, how to run promotions and sales and how to write radio scripts. You waited for me to figure it all out, and I hope I made the wait worth it!

And although we decided to make it work and stay together part time, I know you cried and I cried when I left for a new opportunity in Dallas. We've been through out-of-state moves, weddings, bachelorette parties, trips all over the country, birthday parties, tanning conventions where we met the ever interesting J-Woww and that ski trip which I vow I will never do again, ever. Although you may have a different name now, I'll still appreciate the life-long friendships you've given me, the chance you took promoting me to marketing and the difference you've made in my career, more than you can imagine. 

Love Always and Wishing You The Best of Luck as Palm Beach Tan,

Sarah