7 Questions with Sherron Barden

Managing Editor Ist Magazine

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1. How did you get into the tanning industry?

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Back in the late 80s when the business was really booming, I started working with my “partner in crime” (IST Publisher) Vince Lorraine, in his Tropi Tan salon chain – “in the trenches” behind the counter, selling lotions, cleaning beds, changing lamps. He then decided to become a nationwide tanning product distributor (Island Sun & Health Systems), which we did successfully for several years out of our Flint, MI headquarters. In 1997, Vince decided to use his 18 years of expertise to publish a great tanning trade magazine and wanted me to be the editor … so, we did that, too! And here we are, 22 years later.

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2. What do you like most about your job?

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I still truly enjoy editing and being involved in the creative process of producing magazines with our talented team. And, I have great relationships with so many people in the tan biz – salon operators, advertisers, contributing writers – it’s like a big (yet, small) family.

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3. How do you spend your spare time?

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I love to cook and watch cooking shows. We live on a lake, and I enjoy planting flowers and working in the yard in the summer.

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4. Do you have a “pet peeve?”

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The answer is “YES!” It’s a tie between people flicking cigarettes out of their car windows, and people who don’t know the proper way to use a knife and fork.

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5. What’s your favorite food?

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The big salad

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6. Do you have a favorite TV show?

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“The X-Files” (I’m also a big Bravo TV and Food Network fan.)

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7. If we look at your “Bucket List,” what’s at the top?

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Like many people, world travel is big on my list. I’ve been lucky to visit many countries and would love to one day see the Great Pyramids.