Venus Trapped in Mars Sports and Lifestyle Blog Dallas

11 December 2013

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



TWITTER FACEBOOK Pinterest Instagram Image Map

35 comments :

  1. isn't it amazing when a company puts their faith in you because they believe in you? it's such a great feeling.

    -kathy
    Vodka and Soda

    ReplyDelete
  2. i know one thing, they were so lucky to have you. it's amazing what a company, a job, can do for you. it can ultimately change your life. and even though it is an end of an era i know you will do great things. people just need to take a chance! i love this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this! :) It's sad to move on sometimes, but also necessary as people (and businesses) grow.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's crazy how one job can become soooo much more than a job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. it's the end of an era! happy to hear you learned so much and had a good experience though :)

    ReplyDelete

  6. It sounds like such great opportunities came from this job, which is so great! It's awesome when you can also build friendships at work!

    Kristin
    crumbsandcurls.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are so talented! That sounds like it was a great job.
    I think you're one of those rare people that look just as good with bangs as without. Gorgeous either way!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It sounds like a lot of wonderful friends and opportunities came from this job. I love that you can look back and be thankful for your job - I know too few people that are happy with their jobs!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aw! This was really cool to read. Awesome how you were able to climb the ranks at such a young age and become so successful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. so awesome that you worked for such a great company that gave you such amazing experience and opportunities! I hope I ever find a job that I love that much!
    -- jackie @ jade and oak

    ReplyDelete
  11. i pray that someone puts faith in me like that one day! how amazing! you really proved your worth! great job!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like an amazing place to start, grow and develop! So much to thank them for!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Aw Sarah this was awesome! You've come so far in your designing (aka why I chose you!) and you should be proud of everything that you've done. And that place didn't know they were getting the best of the best, but they sure did!

    › xo fal • falfindshappiness.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think it's amazing that you've had such great experiences through your time with them!!

    Jamie @
    The Growing Up Diaries

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm leaving my first job today as well (it's suuuper part time, and really an internship, but details, details) and I'm really feelin' this post. It's always hard to leave, but I'm super grateful to have had the experience, as I'm sure you are as well :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. What an amazing and graceful way to close with a job! Thanks for sharing!
    Meet @ the Barre

    ReplyDelete
  17. you are just the prettiest. i bet you rocked that job and they will miss you greatly : )

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sarah, first I want to say how much I love your blog. I'm a longtime reader but I rarely comment. Anyways, I once worked for an absolutely amazing company, that I truly loved. The only reason I stopped working there was because my husband got a job in Atlanta and I had to move. At that job I was on the team that did the marketing for Palm Beach Tan. I can say, with a fond heart, that Fusion is in good hands. If you're interested in getting in touch with the people who do their advertising now I'm happy to give you their contact information. It's an incredible agency with incredible people and I know you'd be proud.
    Brittany @ Everyday Thoughts

    ReplyDelete
  19. You were very lucky to work for a company that loved you as much as you loved them! I'm sure you will be missed!

    ReplyDelete
  20. All I read here today was "I'm the classiest badass you'll ever meet". Good god, love your face.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Awww.. I love that they took a chance on you, and I definitely know the feeling of a job and coworkers being more like family. I think that your farewell ode to them was a classy move too.
    -Rachel @ With Love, Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  22. <3 It's so hard when an era comes to an end, but it sounds like SUCH an amazing experience and a great company to work for.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Such a nice way to part with the company - it sounds like you have had an amazing experience. I feel the same way about my old employers. Cherish all the memories! P.S. You've been tagged! http://sweetcatastropheblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/sunshine-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congratulations ion being selected one of the finalist for the favourite pee in your pants funny blog over at A peek at Karen. I think your blog is great, hope ya win.

    ReplyDelete
  25. That's amazing! What wonderful memories :)

    Ps: I'm staying in Knoxville on our way to GA... let me know if I need to do anything while I'm there for the day!

    ReplyDelete
  26. That's pretty much the dream isn't it? To have a company believe in you and help you grow? You're a lucky lady to have such a great experience, and I'm sure they felt equally as lucky to have you too!

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is really nice. And very heartfelt. And very classy. I think you win today.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I hate endings. I wish I knew you when you lived in Lexington. The big blue nation hates all my orange.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I worked at a tanning salon for like 8 years. Good times!

    And oh the stories I could tell...

    ReplyDelete
  30. They made the right move in trusting you to do the job that you did... and I bet you exceeded their wildest expectations! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. You met J-Woww?! That is so cool! I think it's great that the company you worked for saw your potential and gave you time to grow. Not a lot of companies do that nowadays so consider yourself lucky and blessed.

    I tried applying at a tanning salon but I guess they didn't want to give me the job because I was already naturally dark. It was at Palm Beach tan too. I used to do spray tanning though :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Please tell me you actually sent this to them, or some variation of this?! That's got to be a great feeling to love the company your with and know that they have faith and trust in you!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love this!! Literally all of my best friends except one are people I met through different jobs and I always took it for granted until last year when I worked at a school and had no friends :( lol! But I think it's awesome when a job can be such a great and positive part of your life!

    ReplyDelete
  34. You have had such luck and incredible job experience! It's so great to hear this! Now, I'd like to hear the story of when you met J-Woww. Ktnx.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This was a very nice post! It made me realize how important it is to love your job! You're a lucky girl to have learned so much and had so much growth/freedom at a company like that! :)

    ReplyDelete

Comments make my heart go boom boom.

I respond to all comments, if you are leaving me comments and not getting a reply, you may be a no-reply blogger. Fix it HERE!