Wellington resident Nikki Barona has been a WellingTAN customer all through its two-year history, and when she became a babor sales representative six months ago, she approached David Thorpe with the product line. Barona said she knew the exclusive Babor line would fit at the unique, upscale tanning studio. Barona said that most tanning salons have white walls and bright lights, and offer mediocre skin protection creams. "I wouldn't offer this product to any other tanning salon that I've ever been to," she said.

But Barona likens WellingTAN to a "Luxury European tanning studio," and the salon definitely creates an ambiance. The faux-finished walls are topped with crown molding and adorned with equestrian photos. Clients can relax on soft brown leather couched in the tastefully lit front lounge. The front desk and sinks are topped with granite. Barona said owner David Thorpe is "leading instead of following in the industry."

Barona thought to bring Babor products to WellingTAN because it reminds her of the sort of upscale spa where they are usually sold. "Today, Babor cosmetics is the leading professionally recommended skincare product system in continental Europe," she said.

Babor manufactures its own products in the famous spa town of Bed Aachen in Germany, using mineral water from the springs there in many of the items. Barona said Babor produces all-natural, hi-tech, pharmaceutical-quality cosmetics and skin-care products. Babor's scientists refine the complex of natural ingredients for a product, she said, and the source plants required are frozen and then crushed into powder so all their essential botanical oils are retained.

Thorpe himself is always there and makes sure his place is spic and span, reflecting his detail-oriented personality. Thorpe guarantees that the beds are cleaned twice between each use. He calls himself the Donald Trump of clean. "I am absolutely obsessive about it," he said as he looked in the corners of the room for dust.

All the tanning machines at WellingTAN are top quality, both stand-up machines that do both sides at once, and more conventional lie-down beds. Some of Thorpe's clients come for these machines several times a week. However, the top-of-the-line tanning bed only takes one or two sessions per month to maintain a glorious tan. The Ultrabronz Supernova is 99.5-percent free of damaging UVB rays, penetrating deeply for a longer lasting, healthy tan. The bed is the best manufactured today, Thorpe said, calling the Supernova "The Hummer of tanning beds." The goal is to minimize any harmful effects while maximizing any harmful effects while maximizing the benefits of tanning, using expensive halogen bulbs. "it is the only machine that requires an appointment," Thorpe said.

Thorpe said his clients are very discriminating and won't go anywhere else to tan. Many of his clients know about Babor and are looking forward to using the products. Both men and women are regular clients. "Tanning is not just for girls," he said, an avid tanner himself.

From the privacy of the rooms to the mint chocolates on the bed pillows to the client's choice of music, Thorpe said a visit to WellingTAN is not just a tanning session, it's about the entire experience. "Everyone leaves here with a smile on their face," he said.

Thorpe's full-time staff is being trained in the new product line and certified by Babor in order to appreciate the benefits of the different lines and give appropriate recommendations to tanning clients.

WellingTAN had been recognized by a trade publication as one of the best tanning salons in the country. Thorpe's staff if certified by the professional tanning salon association Smart Tan, making them experts at taking care of their tanning clientele with attention to cleanliness and serivce.

WellingTAN is one of a kind, and Thorpe is satisfied with the studio's success so far, but looking to open another location, possibly in the Jupiter area. He is also considering adding more services such as massage therapy and spray tanning for people afraid of sun damage. He is actually lowering the number of lotions he sells, having gone from 35 different kinds to 15, with Babor literally on the top shelf. "I have a feeling this is a very positive thing," he said.