Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty Godwin.
Hi Ty, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At 14 years old, armed with a worker’s permit I got from my school guidance counselor, I set out to find a part-time job so I could start saving for my first car. I landed a job as a bagger at a grocery store 45 minutes from home. During one of my breaks, I noticed a massive grand opening event at a new tanning salon in the shopping center.
They were giving away free tanning sessions, products, food, and even had a radio station broadcasting live from the parking lot. The energy was electric. Music was blasting, the place was packed, the lotions smelled incredible, and the staff seemed like the most confident, magnetic people in the room.
As a closeted teenager searching for a place to belong, I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it.
I signed up for a $19.99/month membership, bought eyewear and lotion packets, and started tanning every time I worked at the grocery store. I made a point to introduce myself to the owner and asked if she was hiring every single time I saw her. After a few months of persistence, she finally gave me a chance.
By 17, I had worked my way up to Salon Manager. From that point on, I had one clear goal: I wanted to work for corporate. I intentionally chose colleges in and around New Jersey to be close to Hollywood Tans’ headquarters and increase my chances of getting hired. That goal drove everything I did.
However, the timing wasn’t ideal. The 2008 recession, combined with the introduction of the 10% federal tanning tax under the Affordable Care Act, forced thousands of salons to close. While attending college in New York City, I continued working in tanning salons and picked up shifts back home during breaks. Eventually, financial pressures forced me to leave school after two years, and I relocated to the Baltimore area to pursue a role with Bank of America.
Between 2010 and 2016, I built a foundation in sales, applying the skills I had developed in the tanning industry to sell everything from alarm systems to cars to real estate.
In early 2017, I was given the opportunity to take over a struggling tanning salon in my area—and I took it.
Within two months, I revitalized the staff, re-engaged the client base, and increased both traffic and revenue. It became clear that growth required a larger space. I took a significant financial risk—maxing out credit cards, borrowing wherever possible, continuing to work as a realtor, and personally covering as many hours as I could to minimize payroll.
By November 2017, we had relocated, expanded the salon, and added six beds and a spray tanning system. Annual revenue grew from $170,000 to $450,000.
Since then, I’ve built and acquired 14 additional locations across four states, with similar turnaround and growth stories along the way.
Today, we operate under the brand Coastal Sun Spa: a modern beauty and wellness company offering advanced sunless and UV tanning, along with services focused on overall wellness, including infrared saunas, red and blue light therapy, skin hydration, anti-aging skincare, and recovery experiences.
We employ over 100 team members, many of them young, emerging leaders. Our culture is rooted in integrity, trust, and transparency. Having started in this industry without guidance or a traditional business background, I prioritize teaching my team the “why” behind decisions so they can understand how the business operates and grow into leaders themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
New obstacles pop up every single day. When I first started I had terrible credit and that took years to repair. I also invested every penny of profit back into the business and lived very frugal for the first 5 years. Then covid hit and shut us down for the best 4 months out of the year for tanning salons and all the landlord’s still wanted their money. Personal relationship struggles took a toll on the business for a while but thankfully my team kept the ship moving without me. Expenses increase every year and as a luxury business, we can only increase our prices so much before people start evaluating whether it’s worth it or not to keep. 2026 has come with it’s own unique set of growing pains and challenges but things are steady and I am shifting my focus from expansion to improving current stores and sales.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Coastal Sun Spa is a modern beauty and wellness brand offering advanced sunless and UV tanning alongside services like infrared saunas, red and blue light therapy, skin hydration, and anti-aging skincare. What sets us apart is our focus on results-driven services and a premium, personalized experience—our clients aren’t just another membership number. Unlike large chains like Palm Beach Tan, we prioritize education, consistency, and a strong in-store culture, with highly trained teams who are invested in each client’s experience. We’ve built our brand around combining beauty and wellness in a way that helps people not only look better, but feel better every time they walk through our doors at an AFFORDABLE price that’s less than any of our competition.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Nope! Nothing is missing.
Pricing:
- Become a Coastal Sun VIP for just $69.95/mo and access up to 4 services per day
- Add someone to your VIP membership for just $30 more ($99.95 for 2)
- Just want to come 1x per month? No problem. $19.95/month gets you 1 session in any service and unused sessions roll over
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coastalsunspa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalsunspa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastalsunspa
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coastalsunspa
