This crucial area representative would then extend the Planet Beach franchise opportunity to interested South Florida entrepreneurs, marking an aggressive and highly selective push by the world’s leading franchise specializing in UV therapy and skin-services prior to consideration of an initial public offering in the near future.

“We believe that South Florida is a perfect fit for the Planet Beach concept given the trends of outdoor-loving consumers wanting to keep a healthy-glow and pampered skin year-round,” said Stephen P. Smith, founder and CEO of Planet Beach. “In addition, Planet Beach recognizes that Florida is one of the most profitable states for business and entrepreneurs because of its pro-business tax policies.” Planet Beach currently operates more than 360 Contempo spas in 46 states, Canada and Australia and is striving to open an additional 100 locations by the end of 2007. As developed by Smith, the Contempo spa concept is a hybrid business model uniting the tanning industry with the day spa industry, offering consumers ultimate skincare solutions while relaxing in a private, spa-like room with technology-driven machines performing treatments.

With the introduction of the Contempo spa model, Planet Beach has differentiated its brand and retained a competitive advantage and “pioneer” status in its industry. As a result, the converted locations experienced a 47 percent (average) same store sales increase in the first quarter of the conversion.

“The opening of approximately 50 locations in South Florida is the icing on the cake of our domestic expansion,” Smith said. “We are now launching aggressive and unheard of international expansion as the first Contempo spa franchise to target large scale entry into Britain, Ireland and various countries throughout Asia.”

With the goal of having the South Florida area representative in place by year’s end, Smith will be meeting with some of South Florida’s most preeminent entrepreneurs on Thursday, August 9, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 500 Brickell Key Drive, in Miami.

About Planet Beach
A leading provider of spa and UV therapy services and the creators of the full-service Contempo spa, Planet Beach was founded in New Orleans, LA in 1995 and currently operates more than 360 worldwide franchise locations. The company provides a wide range of UV therapy and skin services, and offers a number of premium skincare products from its franchise locations. Consistently recognized as one of the fastest growing franchises—both within its industry and overall—Planet Beach has established itself as a dedicated and ambitious provider of full skincare services.