Jason A. Smith | The Valdosta Daily TimesRhonda and Mike Sellars have been working in the tanning industry in Lowndes County for more than a decade. 

VALDOSTA — Mike and Rhonda Sellars have been business owners in the Lowndes County area for more than a decade. 

Originally, Mike bought Video Plus Tanning in Hahira for his daughter to work at while she was in college. 

The store was a video rental store and a tanning salon but Mike bought the store prior to the modernization of online streaming, he said. While the store no longer deals in video rentals, video represented the side of the business that most interested Mike.

But, as time went on, video rental sales continued to drop, he said. The first month he lost revenue was when he decided to cut movies out of his business model and focus on tanning. 

Since then, Mike and Rhonda have expanded into Valdosta and own two tanning salons in Valdosta: Envy Island Tan. One is located a1337 Baytree Road and the other is located at 3215 N. Oak St. Ext.

Along with tanning, the North Oak Street location houses spa equipment including hydration, massage and red light therapy units.

Mike’s advice for future or current entrepreneurs is to “take time to be with each other,” he said. “Take time to have fellowship with family and friends.”

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.