Atomic Tan And The Base Tan Debate with Lisa Vinciguerro

Summer is around the corner and the “base tan” conversation comes back fast, so we went straight to a local owner who lives this world every day. We’re joined by Lisa Vinciguerro from Atomic Tan, a well-established tanning salon in the Wilkes-Barre Plains area right on Route 315. Lisa shares how she and her partner Shayna bought the business last June after spotting it for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and why their June 1 anniversary feels like a real milestone for a small, women-run business built on regulars, routines, and a comfortable vibe.

 We also get candid about the tanning industry itself. Lisa talks about what she sees as the biggest misconceptions, why she focuses on avoiding burning, and how her Gen X “we grew up tanning” perspective shapes the way she thinks about indoor tanning, outdoor sun, and the messaging people hear. You might agree or disagree, but you’ll walk away with clearer questions to ask and a better sense of why this topic stays so personal.

 Then we shift into what every local business owner wrestles with: marketing. Lisa explains how Atomic Tan is leaning into Facebook Live, reels, and real-time banter to boost engagement, plus what changed when both owners showed up on camera together. We wrap with what she wants neighbors to remember, how to find Atomic Tan online at atomictans.com, and where to visit in person at 1149 Route 315, Wilkes Bar 18702. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves supporting local, and leave us a review with your take: are you team base tan or team skip it?

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Joe Longo.

SPEAKER_02 0:12

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast Live. Summer is coming. Are you in need of a good base tan? Well, today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

Lisa Vintegero with Atomic Tan.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Lisa, how is it going? How are you doing? Nice to see you.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Yeah, nice to see you too. I really appreciate you having me on.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Yeah, I really appreciate you making the time out of your busy day. And we're excited to learn all about your business.

What Atomic Tan Is

SPEAKER_02 0:42

Can you tell us about Atomic Tan?

SPEAKER_00 0:44

I can. Atomic Tan is a well-established tanning salon in Wilkesburg Plains area right on uh 315. We my partner and I, Shayna, bought the business last June. We're having our June 1st anniversary celebration on Monday to you know celebrate that we've owned it for a year.

SPEAKER_02 1:12

That's awesome.

Why They Bought The Salon

SPEAKER_02 1:13

And how did you get into this business? What inspired you to purchase it? Take it over.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

So we were looking for commercial space. We have a skills game room in the back. So that's what we were doing. We were looking for commercial space. I saw this tanning salon for sale on Facebook Marketplace. And so, you know, I'm I'm a I'm a Gen X. I'm 50, I'm almost 53, and I grew up tanning. I definitely think that tanning is healthy for you. I don't believe the hype that it's it's uh bad, especially because when you build that base tan, you're very a lot less likely to get burnt in the sun.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

That's um I was gonna say I'm Gen X with you, and I remember um really everybody back then like I've got to go tan, I'm going to tan.

SPEAKER_00 2:14

I'm going well, and I mean, I don't know, I don't know about you. I personally didn't lay out with baby oil with iodine mixed in it, but I did lay out with baby baby oil, and that that's what we did. But sun in in your hair.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

I definitely did the sun in in my hair, and uh maybe I think it was called highlighting or frosted. I had when I had hair, I definitely had a little bit of frosting going on back in the day because that's what we did back then, us us gen Xers.

Misconceptions About Tanning

SPEAKER_02 2:50

And you know, what are, and you kind of touched on a little, but what are some of the misconceptions about your industry?

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Uh listen, I my partner is gonna kill me, but I believe that the same people who told me eggs were bad for me are the same people who are saying tanning's bad. I just don't buy into it. I I I really don't. I think that there is a pre predisposition for sun cancer. I understand that that's a part of life. Um, but I also think that burning is really bad for you. I think that sitting in the natural sun and burning it, burning anywhere, I think is bad for you. But I also know that eggs are a perfect food, there's nothing wrong with them. Eat them as much as you can. They he they feed the brain, they feed our they feed everything. So if eggs are good for you, so is tanning.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Yeah, yeah. I I I love I love your attitude, Lisa. It's it's awesome. It's very, it's just making me smile.

Social Media And Going Live

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Um, so we all know that marketing is a huge part of the business world. What are you doing? Who well who are your target customers and how are you attracting them?

SPEAKER_00 4:06

So uh our target customers are 18 to 80. Um you know, the the young ones, uh, I don't know a lot about that demographic. I personally have 16-year-old twin boys. So, you know, boys men boys are a lot less likely to hand than women, but we have we have a very good male client base. Um, so I but I don't know a lot about uh the you know the the the really young ones, the college to 30. I just don't I don't interact with them a ton. 30 plus I definitely I you know I I I run uh another business where I deal with the same thing, the same demographic, 18 to 80. Right? And um, but I but the people who who I deal with in that business, they're generally over 30. The the there that's between like 30 and 55. So that's who I'm that's who I know.

unknown 5:16

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_02 5:18

So have you ever thought about having your own podcast to talk about tanning and like the facts and misconceptions about it?

SPEAKER_00 5:27

So I um I was I'm the designated social media manager, right? I got thrown into that position because I am on social media a lot more than my partner, and um I'm I I've like a lot of really good friends, people in my life. So I have uh one friend whose experience is she has over a hundred thousand followers on Facebook, and she's been telling me for the last year to go live, go live. I make posts, right? But she's been saying you need to go live, you need to create reels, you need so about a month ago, I finally caved, and so that's just me going live on our Facebook page on Friday. No, on Saturday, Shayna and I worked the salon for Memorial Day. Our Saturday girl needed off. Sunday and Monday we were closed, and so Shayna finally, for the first time, went live and it was awesome. We both have super outgoing personalities. Uh we're both funny, you know what I mean? Um uh we're we're a lot alike, and that live was awesome. It definitely got more engagement than the lives I've done alone. And it was a good banter. I I was recently on another pod, another local podcast talking about my other business, and um, and you know, I I got nervous when I was going. I'm like, well, how long is this? And he's like, you know, anyway we talked for we taped for three hours, they cut it to two and a half, and I was there for almost five. Wow, because I you have to beat me to shut me up.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

That's a lot that's a long time, but good job putting yourself out there. And you know, in this world, right? Marketing, like we have to be everywhere, anyway.

Life Outside Business And Sports

SPEAKER_02 7:43

Um, and in that space of being everywhere, and you have multiple businesses, what are you doing for fun?

SPEAKER_00 7:51

I'm not fun.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

Come on now, Lisa.

SPEAKER_00 7:55

No, I'm funny, I'm entertaining, I like to laugh, I'm not fun. I don't do fun things. My my fun, my joy is watching my kids play sports. That's my joy, and we're heading into football. We just did track the worst sport in the history of sports. You're there for hours, and my kids run uh my one son runs like the 100 and the 200 meter dash. The other one uh is is running the 800 and uh four by eight. So you're talking about minutes, yep. Less than five minutes, I'm actually watching them run. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:44

You you're speaking to an old football player and track as well. And I did the long jump, I literally just jumped into a sandbox. Um, and you know, I felt bad. I was like, you don't have to come watch me do this because I'm just jumping into a box of sand. But it was fun and it really helped, you know, maintain everything for football season. Um, so that's lovely, and that is a wonderful thing to to uh

What To Remember And How To Visit

SPEAKER_02 9:10

to do. So if you can tell all of our listeners, what's one thing that you would like them to remember about Atomic Tan?

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Oh, that we're uh small women-run business. I've always believed in um shopping small, shopping local. I do it as much for myself, I do it as much as I possibly can. Um and sometimes that means that things are more expensive. As far as atomic tan, that that won't hold true. Our prices are very, very reasonable across the board, and it's a great. I love this tanning song. I I I listen, I I love being there. Shayna and I always say it's our safe space. It the only thing that could be better about atomic tan is if the Wi-Fi worked. That's the only thing that can be better.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Oh, that that's wonderful. And no need to worry, listeners, because you're not gonna be on on on your phones when you're tanning, I would imagine. So no, you're all good there. And Lisa, where can everybody uh find you online and find you again in person if you could just remind us?

SPEAKER_00 10:29

So we do have a website, atomictans.com, and then we are on 315. The address is 1149 route 315 Wilkes Bar 18702, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

Yeah, they can find it. You all can Google it and check out the website.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

And the the original reason that we bought the taning salon was when you we're in I Dolphin Plaza. When you go around back, we have a skills game room that has its own separate entrance. It's over 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that's a good time too. Yeah, table.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

You've got it all right there, everything you need. Wonderful. Well, Lisa, from everyone at the Good Neighbor Podcast, we wish you all of the luck and success moving forward. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

Oh, I appreciate that. Thank you.

Nominate A Local Business

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GMPNEPA.com. That's GMPNEPA.com. Or call 576.