Institute of Spa Management Meets the Need via Distance Education

The ISM Spa Management Program is offered via self-paced, distance education, allowing students the ability to keep a full-time job and still study towards a rewarding spa industry career. Payment plans and scholarship opportunities are available for all students.

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) December 27, 2007 — The ISM Spa Management Program is offered via self-paced, distance education, allowing students the ability to keep a full-time job and still study towards a rewarding spa industry career. Payment plans and scholarship opportunities are available for all students.

Across the spa industry, in North America and around the globe, one of the greatest hurdles is figuring out how to manage clients, revenues and business growth in a competitive industry that is continually shifting, changing and evolving. There simply are not enough qualified spa managers to meet the need, and this very subject was a major topic of discussion at the Global Spa Summit in May, 2007. Offering training via distance education to students worldwide, The Institute of Spa Management is committed to educating the spa industry, one professional at a time.

In 2007, the Institute of Spa Management received more than 9,500 requests for the Spa Management Program curriculum outline; reported full enrollment for August through December, and awarded more than $40,000 in full and partial scholarships.

Abby Cavanaugh, Director of Admissions and Student Services, “It takes a trained business professional to juggle spa operations, marketing, demanding clients and a diverse team of spa professionals. We don’t teach massage therapy; nor will we teach students to be an aesthetician or a skin care therapist. We challenge each management student to be a world class leader, via current management teaching models, theories and processes that are used by MBA graduates and CEO’s all over the globe, but which ISM has customized to meet the unique management needs of the spa industry worldwide. We only teach Spa Management and our expertise becomes our students.”

At the Institute of Spa Management, the organization’s primary goal is to further the spa industry through quality management education and professional training for adults. Information about programs, courses and scholarships is available by visiting http://www.spacollege.org

About Institute of Spa Management

Institute of Spa Management (ISM) offers high quality distance education programs and courses at reasonable prices in a dynamic format that enables learning and knowledge retention. ISM believes that the future of the spa industry belongs to those who treat clients with the highest level of integrity and provide cutting edge services in well run facilities.

Snow and Ice - An Insurance Nightmare Waiting to Happen in Your Spa’s Parking Lot

When you own a business where customers are continuously coming and going, you need to always be aware of the many dangers that can present themselves to your customers throughout the year. Not only do you need to keep your customers safe, but you also need to protect yourself from unnecessary lawsuits. The National Safety Council estimates that slips and falls cause over 300,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths every year.

Winter weather can pose some of the most dangerous situations for your spa, particularly due to snow and ice accumulation in the parking lot, on pathways, or steps. In order to make your spa as safe as possible, there are several things you can do to protect your customers and your staff from falls.

If possible, when ice is present, have the parking lot salted regularly to melt slippery ice. Consider installing handrails and non-slip surfaces for steps and ramps. You might also want to install additional external lighting, especially if your spa is open after sundown.

Inside the spa’s entrance, you should have water absorbing mats on the floor to keep snow or ice from pooling on the floor and creating additional hazards inside your spa.

ISM Announces Open Enrollment for January 2008 Spa Management Program

Due to the severe shortage of quality, trained managers in the spa industry, the Institute of Spa Management (ISM) opened its doors to provide this well-needed training to individuals around the world. With its self-paced, online educational program, people looking for spa management training flocked to the school’s website (www.spacollege.org).

Since August of 2007, more than 2000 people have requested information about the program and the October and November classes were filled to capacity. As of this date, there are two spaces available for classes beginning in December and 18 available for the January 2008 classes.

The great thing about ISM is that even though there is a high demand for these seats, the school continues to focus on individual student learning by only accepting 20 students each month into the program. This allows the school to provide one-on-one assistance to students while providing them with the type of high quality services they will be expected to provide once they’re working in a spa environment.

Even though it is an online program, this personalized approach makes it feel as if you’re attending a bricks-and-mortar school while also allowing you to work at your own pace on your own time.

ISM Flooded with Applications for Spa Management Program: The Need is Real

The Institute of Spa Management (ISM) is as hot as the spa industry is right now! This is evident with the flood of applications that ISM has received since they opened their doors less than three months ago. The spa industry is severely lacking quality trained spa managers, but fortunately ISM is now providing this well needed training to highly motivated and career oriented individuals who want to make the spa industry better than it has ever been before.

More than 200 applications have been received for the 12 full tuition and 25 partial tuition scholarships being offered by ISM to qualified spa management candidates each year. The competition is tough, but even if you don’t get one of those scholarships that doesn’t mean you can’t study at ISM. With their easy payment plans and study at your own pace scheduling, ISM is the perfect fit for any budget or busy schedule.

Soon, these students will be entering the spa workforce as qualified and trained spa management experts, so if you’re looking to get into this ever-expanding field, now is the time to start! So, what are you waiting for?

Unique Ways to Keep in Touch with your Spa Clients Between Visits

One of the most difficult things you have to deal with as a spa manager is keeping the lines of communication open between your spa and your clients between visits. Attracting and maintaining returning customers should be your ultimate goal if you want to remain successful. However, this can be a challenge and coming up with new and exciting ways to get your clients back into the spa can be difficult.

One simple thing you can do is to send out birthday, anniversary, holiday, or thank you cards to your clients throughout the year. Along with a handwritten note from the spa manager or owner, include a coupon for free products or discounts on their next visit. Customers like to feel appreciated, so personally reaching out to them on special days will get you noticed and will keep you in their minds.

You can also have special customer appreciation days several times throughout the year and invite special clients in for complimentary massages, prizes, food, and drinks. Rather than just mailing out advertisements that get tossed in the trash immediately, give your clients incentives to open your mail by offering special discounts that make your clients feel valued.

Compensation for Spa Staff: A Look at Different Options for Therapists and Aestheticians

Deciding how to pay your spa employees in order to best benefit the spa while also keeping your staff satisfied can be a difficult balancing act. While you want to make the spa as much money as possible, you also need to remember that your employees are there to make money too and if you are not fulfilling their needs then you will create a negative atmosphere and a continuously revolving door.

There are different ways to pay your staff, including hourly, salary, commission, performance-based, or even team-based profit sharing. All these methods have positives and negatives, so choose what works best for your spa.

In order to keep your employees vested in your spa’s ultimate goals you might want to invest into theirs. Offering health insurance, paid vacations, and a retirement plan can go a long way. You might want to offer other benefits, such as education assistance, credit union affiliation, or daycare assistance.

You can also offer bonuses such as free spa treatments, appreciation parties, performance awards, or weekly training sessions to improve their skills and knowledge. All of these efforts will benefit both the spa and the employees by creating a positive, motivating, and empowering work environment.

Let Go of the Past: The Spa Industry Changes So Fast - Managers Must Keep Up or Get out of the Way

The spa industry is a fast-paced, exciting, and ever-changing business. Spas are rapidly moving from being considered the occasional luxury to a necessary part of everyday life for a wider range of clients. No longer are spas reserved just for the elite. Today the spa client includes the working class, the stay-at-home mom, the blue-collar dad, and the stressed-out teen, so you need to come up with new ways to accommodate this new and diverse clientele.

However, many spa managers don’t understand that with this new acceptance of the spa lifestyle they need to keep up with the latest trends and treatments in order to meet the demands of evolving attitudes. Spa managers should let go of past assumptions about clients and services and keep up with the hot products and services or else they will be left alone in the dust.

It’s more important than ever to keep up on the latest spa trends and truly understand what the client wants and expects from their spa because if they don’t they will find that their competition will be more than happy to accommodate their potential and current clients’ needs.

Why Spa Management Training from ISM Can Quickly Advance your Spa Industry Career

Becoming a successful and effective spa manager is something that takes experience, skill, and training. While experience and skill will develop and grow over time, the level of training that is needed to advance your spa management career can often be difficult to find. Fortunately, ISM makes it easy to obtain the necessary training needed to become a successful spa manager in a fast and convenient program run by experienced and qualified trainers.

Whether you’re new to the spa industry or have been working in the field for years, ISM can quickly give your spa management career that added extra boost it needs to flourish. A spa manager is required to have a unique set of skills and knowledge to be successful and ISM can teach you those skills in the comfort of your own home and at your own individual pace.

With ISM you will learn how to hire and maintain employees, set spa goals, work successfully with clients, plan for short and long term profitability, create high level marketing campaigns, and apply specialized business management skills to your spa business in order to attract, maintain, and keep clients while also making the most profit.

Retail Sales Management in Your Spa: Gift Certificates are Hot - Is Your Spa Cashing In?

Gift certificate sales can provide a continuous flow of steady income to any spa throughout the year, but can also significantly boost profits during the holidays. These sales can account for nearly 25% of your spa’s total sales, increase new client traffic, and lead to regular return business.

In order to make the most of your gift certificate sales, sell them for a specific individual service or for a specific dollar amount that can be redeemed over multiple visits. Once the gift certificate is redeemed for services, have any credits applied towards product sales.

If you choose to sell gift certificates that can be applied to specific spa packages, try creating smaller packages for shorter times to make scheduling easier. Rather than discounting these special packages, you actually want to charge a little more for them because people are more likely to spend more money when purchasing gift certificates.

Also, make your gift certificate sales as easy and convenient for your customers and staff as possible. This might include making them available online, selling them through a third party service, programming them into your POS register, or training your staff in the process ahead of time before the holiday rush.

Retail Sales Management in Your Spa: Moving Product 'Duds'

Oftentimes, some of the best spa products don’t sell for reasons other than quality or effectiveness. Sometimes these spa product duds are the victims of staff familiarity and shelf isolation!

Many products don’t sell simply because your staff is unfamiliar with them. They may become attached to certain products and push them solely based on familiarity. Instead, make sure your staff is familiar with all of your products by creating tester bottles and conducting weekly training sessions to educate them about new products.

Shelf isolation is a common problem with most products because they tend to get lost in the displays. So, you need to regularly rotate products and create high-visibility displays out of product duds and place them in easily accessible locations. Rather than marking products down, create excitement about these slow moving products by placing them out in the open and making signs that say “new product” or “featured item” to get clients interested.

Creating a sales competition for product duds is another great way to stimulate sales and get your staff excited. Have a contest each week and award prizes for whoever sells the most of the featured weekly products, in addition to their regular sales goals.

Have a Favorite Day or Stay Spa?

We Want to Hear About It! You May Win a Spa Gift Certificate

Every day spa or stay spa has its own unique offerings that make it special. By developing the latest pampering techniques, a spa can set itself apart from other spas and give clients something to come back for over and over again.

Do you have a spa that provides outstanding services that make you want to keep coming back for more? If you have a favorite day spa or stay spa, we want to hear all about it. Tell us why the spa you go to is healing, soothing and enjoyable and you may win a spa gift certificate to apply to your next day of treatments.

Our Spa Story "What's Your Favorite Spa Spot" contest is running from November 1 to March 31. Each entry you write about a favorite spa you have visited will garner an additional contest entry. At the end of the contest period, the best post entry will win a $100 gift certificate, compliments of Spa Story, which can be redeemed at prestigious spas worldwide.

With that type of inspiration, why not write all about your favorite spas and what makes them so wonderful for all of our readers? It gives you an opportunity to share valuable spa information with other enthusiasts, read their opinions about spas and get a chance to win a $100 SpaFinder gift certificate.

Give us all the details about the best qualities of the spas you visit today and you could be the big winner of an exciting $100 SpaFinder gift certificate (compliments of Spa Story)!

ENTER YOUR STORY HERE

What Does Your Spa Reception Area Say to Clients & Visitors? First Impressions are Important

The next time you walk through the front doors of your spa, take a good look at what your reception area is saying to your clients. Is it saying “come in, relax, we’re here to serve” or “go away, time for stress, we don’t want you here”? Whether you realize it or not, your reception area can say all of this and more, so make sure yours is projecting a positive attitude, not a negative one.

Create a welcoming environment by making your reception area light and open. Stay away from harsh colors that are too dark or too bright. You want to create an atmosphere of serenity, so don’t distract with unusual artwork, ugly furniture, or unnecessary clutter. You might want to consult with an interior decorator or room planner to help you develop the right atmosphere.

Your front desk should be low enough for the receptionist to see everyone in the reception area, but not so low that all of the computer wires and desk clutter can be seen. Studies have shown that higher desks or ones with closing windows make clients feel unwelcome. So, make sure your clients know they are welcome by creating an inviting atmosphere.

Keeping up with Competitors Calls for an Educated, Informed and Intuitive Management Team

Knowing what your competition is up to is one of the best tools you have in keeping informed of what services and specials your competitors are offering. This is why it is so important for your management team to keep updated and continuous records of what the other spas in your area are doing by simply making regular calls to your competition.

If you are not making these calls then you are going to fall behind when it comes to offering the newest services and latest products at competitive prices because you won’t know what your competitors are offering. More than likely, your competitors are calling you to find out the very same things, so fight fire with fire by making sure you know what they are up to as well.

Another great way to find out exactly what your competitors are doing is to visit them for yourself or send one of your employees or a friend for an “undercover” site visit. Have them take a tour or even provide the money to get a treatment or two done. This is money well spent that will give you greater insight and information into what your competition is up to.

SpaTrade.com: An Excellent Resource for Spa Professionals Worldwide

SpaTrade.com is a wonderful online resource for spa professionals because it provides relevant and up-to-date industry information that can keep you connected with other spa professionals and armed with the knowledge that you need to know to keep your spa competitive.

This well-organized and easy to navigate website provides important spa industry news and press releases that you need to know, such as the latest ISPA industry trends as well as information about what other spas around the world are doing to improve profits. There is also an events calendar that lists all of the upcoming tradeshows and training seminars around the world.

Other helpful information on the SpaTrade.com website are useful articles on how to run your spa business, regular webinars and podcasts from industry experts, information on spa products and services, an online forum where you can chat with other spa industry professionals, a job board, as well as information about spa associations and programs.

Joining SpaTrade.com is absolutely free and once you’re registered you’ll receive a free monthly newsletter, discounts on spa industry reports, and access to all of the online forums, posts, and podcasts.

Knowledge is power, so staying informed is essential to your spa’s success.

Exceptional Customer Service in the Spa Industry: Without It, Your Business Will Fail (and Fast)

It goes without saying that customer service is the most important aspect of any business’s success. This is especially true when it comes to a service business, like the spa industry. No matter how great your products are or how wonderful your treatments may be, if your spa’s customer service skills are poor no one will want to buy your products or enjoy your treatments because they won’t want to return to your spa ever again.

This can easily be solved by learning how to deal with customers correctly by getting additional spa management training. Dealing with the public on a daily basis is never easy, especially when clients have high expectations of what they might experience at your spa. Obtaining the tools needed that will make dealing with clients easier is essential to the success of any spa.

The customer service skills that are learned in a spa management training program can then be passed on to your spa staff which will result in higher customer service satisfaction and even a happier staff.

Remember, the spa industry is a people industry, and if you can’t keep your clients happy and satisfied your clients won’t give you a second chance.

If you are a Spa Addict, Why not Make it a Career?

Are you unable to stay away from the soothing, healing atmosphere of a spa? If you are a spa addict, why not consider a career in the growing, rewarding spa industry.

A spa is a special place that offers services and products to enhance a person’s overall well-being. Besides offering essential therapies that improve the physical, emotional and spiritual health of clients, according to the ISPA Industry Study, the booming spa industry was valued at about 6 billion dollars in the United States alone.

Types of spas include the destination spa where people stay, usually in exotic locations, for spa treatments and rejuvenation. A resort spa is located within a report and offer spa services. A day spa is a treatment center where people go to receive treatments and relax for a few hours and then return home. Medical spas feature traditional spa offerings as well as medical procedures such as Botox injections and chemical peels. There are also fitness spas, club spas, mineral spring spas and cruise ship spas, offering plenty of opportunities to work in the setting of your choice.

There are numerous areas of employment in a spa. You can be a spa technician who performs various procedures such as facials, manicure and pedicures. A masseuse offers various types of massage therapy to clients. There are also specially trained technicians who perform therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and reflexology. Fitness specialists offer advice about nutrition and classes in holistic exercise such as Tai Chi and yoga.

Other opportunities exist to be a Spa Director, the person who oversees the operations of the spa. A spa director can enjoy an annual salary of $75,000 to $125,000 depending upon the location and responsibilities. An Assistant Spa Director or Manager helps the Director oversee operations and has a terrific salary of $40,000 to $65,000 annually.

If you are a spa addict, consider the outstanding opportunities for employment in the spa industry. If you are looking for quality training in the spa industry, you should check out the Institute of Spa Management.

Client Experience Questionnaires - Spa Managers Can Learn A Lot from Clients if You Take the Time to Ask

When it comes to knowing what your clients think about your spa, staff, or services, you might be surprised to learn what they’re actually thinking. Unless you’re a mind reader, you might never know what your clients’ likes, dislikes, and opinions are without asking them directly.

The best way to find out this valuable information is to have them fill out a client experience questionnaire before they leave the spa. Gathering and analyzing this information is an important tool you can use to determine local spa trends, treatment satisfaction, and how your staff is perceived.

Think about what specific information you might want to know when creating your client experience questionnaire. Ask questions about how they were greeted, waiting times, quality of service, cleanliness, efficiency and friendliness of the staff, what they liked best and least, suggestions for improvement, spa treatment requests, and/or their overall spa experience.

However, don’t ask more than about ten questions because your clients will be ready to leave and may lose their patience quickly if you keep them there too long after their treatments. If necessary, mail the questionnaires to their homes and consider offering discounts to encourage them to mail the cards back.

Private Label Products for Your Spa Business: Good Revenue - Excellent Branding

Developing and selling your own line of private label spa products can be a great way to bring in extra revenue while also marketing your spa business every time a client opens up that bottle of lotion.

Spas that create and market their own private label products create the feeling of exclusivity. However, it’s important that you don’t just appear exclusive; you also need to deliver the goods. If you do develop your own private label spa products, make sure they are of high quality and actually work!

When clients take home your private label products, you are maintaining a connection with them. Most people will buy products they like and stick with them rather than trying something different. Offering online ordering or mail-order service will allow you to sell more products in-between spa visits.

When your clients take home your private label products, you’re also keeping your spa’s name in their minds. They may have forgotten to reschedule an appointment or been bombarded with advertising specials offered by competing spas. Creating your own brand reminds your clients how much they enjoy your products as well as your spa treatments, so keeping your name familiar to them is essential.

Do North American Spas Differ Greatly from European Spas in Modern Times?

European spas have traditionally been located near natural mineral or thermal springs due to their physical and emotional health benefits. People would often drink or bathe in the waters to cure a variety of ailments. The focus was mainly on health and diet rather than on rest and entertainment. In comparison, most North American spas focus mainly on beauty, stress-relief, and relaxation.

Spas are still a popular destination for most Europeans, but while preventing and curing illnesses are still priorities, many now go for rest, relaxation, and fun. The focus is changing from curing illnesses to good old-fashioned relaxation.

Many European spas differ from North American spas in that they offer some different kinds of treatments that most North Americans are unfamiliar with, such as carbon and sulfur baths or breathing gymnastics. Most European spas recommend a week long stay in order to detoxify the body, clear the mind, and focus on health. Daily massages, mud baths, long walks, and healthy eating are usually on the menu.

For many Europeans, annual visits to the spa are paid for by employers or the government as part of a preventative health program, which is not the case for most North Americans.

A Look at the Different Types of Massage Treatments Spa Could/Should Offer Clients

There are a wide variety of different massages that every spa should consider offering. While the Swedish massage remains the most popular, offering your clients more choices can increase spa traffic and appeal to those who want something a little different.Acupressure is a Chinese massage that focuses on certain points of the body to create a response at a different point of the body using the body’s connecting meridian lines to relax muscles, cure illnesses, and stimulate the body’s natural energy flow.

Lomi Lomi is a gentle type of massage that stretches the muscles by using long, continuous, flowing strokes. Used in the islands of the Pacific, it’s considered one of the most relaxing massages due to its ability to relieve stress and rejuvenate the soul.

Pregnant massage is one that addresses the special needs of prenatal and postpartum women. It focuses on relieving swollen feet, stress on the joints, lower back discomfort, and the emotional changes that occur during pregnancy.

Reiki is the Japanese method of massage that uses touch and visualization methods to align a person’s chakras. Reiki is thought to be useful in cleansing the body of toxins and creating a deep sense of well-being.

Hiring Series: Admirable Attributes of a Professional Spa Reservations Specialist (Client Liaison)

When hiring for a spa reservationist position, you need to remember that this is possibly one of the most important positions in your spa. Keep in mind that the spa reservationist is the main point of contact with your clients, so it’s important that you find the right person for the job.

A professional spa reservationis specialist is usually the first and last person clients will communicate with when booking and re-booking their spa services. This person needs to be well organized, personable, well put together, and able to balance multiple tasks. What this all means is that you need someone who can communicate well with clients and really sell the services that your spa offers in a professional manner.

Other attributes to look for are honesty, responsibility, being a good listener, and having the ability to work as a team player. Hiring someone with a sales and customer service background is also essential. The spa reservationist position is more than just answering phones and booking appointments, it’s often your only contact with current and potential clients, so make sure the person in that role has the skills to attract sales and promote a positive and professional image for your spa.

A Spa Manager's Worst Nightmare: A Dishonest Employee that Steals

One of the worst things that any business has to deal with is dishonest employees. No matter how honest people might seem, employee theft is a huge problem in every industry. As the spa manager, always be aware of what’s going on in your spa by staying organized, alert, and remove the opportunities that can tempt dishonest employees.

Most employees steal because they feel unappreciated, underpaid, or overworked, so they justify theft by convincing themselves that they are owed something. If you notice unusual activity, strange sales transactions, or suspicious behavior, don’t just look the other way. Keeping a close eye on your staff and their activities is the best way to prevent employee theft.

You should also maintain a good inventory system of all your products, supplies, and materials. This means keeping track of everything from lotions to gift certificates to the dressing room towels. Balance the inventory with your sales receipts on a weekly basis and track any irregularities.

To protect your clients from theft, ensure that you have lockers for them to store their valuables and personal belongings and give the client responsibility for the key at all times.

While you don’t need to be suspicious to the point of paranoia, you do need to make sure that you are aware of what’s going on in the spa and keep temptation low by making it difficult to steal

Institute of Spa Management (ISM)

Is The First to Offer Quality, College Level Spa Management Training via Distance Education

The Institute of Spa Management (ISM) is the first to offer quality college level spa management training via distance education. Because ISM is owned and managed by spa industry experts with hands-on experience, they have what it takes to each others how to succeed in the competitive spa industry.

With more spas opening across the country than ever before, there is an increased need for spa managers to run them. ISM sets a new, higher standard for spa management by providing outstanding education from industry professionals in an online setting that offers flexibility. Students are provided a superior education to secure positions as spa managers or spa owners. ISM stresses the importance of treating clients with the highest level of integrity while giving cutting edge services in a well-run spa facility.

By offering superior, self-paced education for spa management that is affordable and accessible, spa managers can get the essential training to offer the highest level of service to spa clients. As a result, the spa industry improves because of increased opportunities for further education. The industry experts at ISM promote quality education, unwavering support and integrity of services for spa management graduates who can really succeed in the booming spa industry.

Spa Employee Dress Code: Clinical VS Upscale - Which is Best?

When it comes to deciding what your spa employees should wear, it really depends upon the image you want to portray, the type of spa you are running, and your employee’s positions. A client’s first impression of your spa is formulated within the first five seconds they walk through the door, so you really should think about what you want that impression to be.

The dress code for a medical spa that provides liposuction and chemical peels is very different from a resort spa in Hawaii that offers mud baths and coconut massages. Clients who come for plastic surgery want to feel as if they are being treated by medical professionals who know what they are doing, but those who come for a relaxing retreat want to feel at ease and pampered.

You might consider setting your spa’s dress code based on the job the employee is performing. Supervisors and front desk personnel will probably look best in professional attire, while therapists and housecleaning personnel might look best in uniforms. There really is no one answer to the dress code question, but you do need to focus on your spa’s image and what kind of impression you want to make.

The Advent of Holistic Spa Services: Industry Professionals Should be Trained and Ready

Holistic spa services have become increasingly popular in the western world because of the incredible benefits of mind and body harmony and healing. The therapies featured at a holistic spa are derived from ancient principles of the Eastern healing arts. With the advent of holistic spa services comes the need for professionals to be trained and ready to work in the industry.

A holistic spa offers a variety of healing therapies that include minerals, herbs and essential oils for a combination of Eastern healing arts, relaxing and calming your mind. Techniques frequently featured at holistic spas include massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. Each of these techniques requires specialized training to understand the combination and administration of elements necessary to deliver a successful healing session.

Because holistic spas are in greater demand, the spa industry is booming. The need for training professionals to administer holistic techniques is rising because of the increased awareness of the effectiveness of holistic therapies. Additionally, there is a need for other trained spa staff such as receptionists and managers. If you are looking for an exciting, rewarding career in a growing industry, consider an education today in spa management and holistic therapies for a great spa job tomorrow.

The Top Spa Services that Will Attract New Clients and Keep Them Coming Back

When it comes to attracting new clients to the spa, the oldies, but goodies are always a great place to start. Massage is the number one service that attracts clients to the spa. The most popular massage is by far the Swedish massage. This is a good massage for the beginner and when performed by a well-trained therapist, your clients will want to return again and again. You can also offer other types of massage such as hot stone, aromatherapy, and Shiatsu for those who want to try something new and different.

Other popular spa services include facials and body treatments. Providing exfoliating facial masks and treatments that relax the face, stimulate the muscles, and target problem skin areas are the types of services that clients are looking for. Body treatments, such as salt scrubs or body wraps are great for beginners and leave them feeling rejuvenated and ready to make their next appointment!

You can also add indigenous treatments to your menu that combine ingredients popular in the spa’s local region with massages or other therapies. This might include using peach scrubs in Georgia, volcanic ash mud baths in Hawaii, or blueberry body wraps in Maine.

Choosing to Include Acupressure Massage on your Spa Menu: Tips and Pitfalls

When it comes to adding new therapies to your spa menu, make sure they are going to provide your clients with relaxation, enjoyment, and results. Acupressure massage is a therapy that can fulfill these requirements, but it’s essential that you hire trained and qualified therapists.

Shiatsu is one of the most popular and aggressive acupressure massage methods around. This ancient Chinese massage applies pressure to certain parts of the body in order to cause a response from other parts of the body. Acupressure can provide relief for stress, relax the mind, increase circulation, remove toxins, promote healing, increase energy, relieve cramps, alleviate arthritis pain, reduce migraines, and even decrease labor pains.

Each pressure point can specifically trigger a mind or body response. Many of these pressure points are near the spine and a client can actually be injured if too much pressure is applied around these areas. Knowing how long to apply pressure to each point is also an important factor.

While adding these exotic massage techniques to your menu may be tempting, make sure you hire qualified and well-trained therapists who know how to perform acupressure properly before you have a lawsuit on your hands rather than satisfied customers.

Aestheticians and Therapists with Attitude Don’t Belong in a Client Focused Spa Setting

The spa industry is a people industry, yet many of the people who work in the spa industry seem to have forgotten this little fact. The main goal of any business is to make money and when you’re in the business of making people happy you have to remember that when they don’t leave happy, you don’t make money!

One of the simplest ways to assure that your spa clients remain happy is to treat them with respect and a positive attitude. While this is often easier said than done, your spa staff needs to remember that client satisfaction is the bread and butter of the spa industry. A successful spa is one that maintains a high level of repeat business and clients won’t come back if they are treated badly.

Aestheticians and therapists with a negative attitude need to keep this in mind because most repeat customers return to a spa because of how they were personally treated, no matter how wonderful their massage was! A bad attitude can ruin even the best spa treatment, so make sure your staff understands how important it is that the only attitude that’s acceptable in the work place is a positive one.

Spa Management is a New and Emerging Career Trend: How to Get an Edge

Due to the wildly popular spa trends that are exploding around the world, a career in spa management is one that is a fairly new choice for many business-minded professionals. With all of the opportunities that spa management has to offer, now is the time to get into this ever-increasing industry while it’s hot.

In order to prepare yourself for a future in spa management, you need to get an edge on the competition. This means becoming a triple threat that will attract the best spa management opportunities from around the world by becoming skilled in spa business management, understanding the fine art of customer service, and getting practical experience in the industry.

In order to achieve these highly sought-after traits, you’ll need to get the specified training necessary to be able to successfully manage a busy spa location. Enrolling in a management program that focuses specifically on the spa industry and gives you the tools necessary to handle the demands and challenges that come with managing a spa is essential. Running a spa is very different from running a retail store, hotel, or restaurant, so having this specialized training will make you stand out among the rest.

Trends in the Spa Industry: A Management Point of View

According to the International Spa Association (ISPA), nearly one quarter of Americans have visited a spa and the current trends are focusing on the needs of these educated consumers.

Spa-goers want lifestyle classes, such as healthy cooking, stress management, and medical health courses.

Spa-goers want stress relief in order to relax, soothe sore muscles, and to get an emotional boost.

Rather than being pampered, the typical spa-goer now wants specific results to repair injury, reduce pain, control headaches, or lose weight.

More clients want medical treatments, including chemical peels, microdermabrasion, body wraps, and acupuncture.

Builders are now building houses and condominiums that focus on spa-living and wellness.
Many clients go to the spa to meet other people, so provide opportunities or special activities that allow clients to socialize.

Spa-goers want to control their own spa environment by choosing their own music, lighting, temperature, scents, and oils.

Male clients want products and services that focus on their specific needs and requirements.

The majority of spa-goers visit the spa while on vacation and men are more likely to go to a spa on vacation.

Spa-goers are interested in experiencing new textures, scents, and sounds while at the spa, especially when traveling.

A Comprehensive Review of Reputable Spa Industry Associations Worldwide

International Spa Association
The International Spa Association (ISPA) represents nearly 2,700 spas in 75 countries. They provide educational and networking opportunities for members in order to promote spa industry growth. They offer excellent research materials and trend reports that can increase your spa’s profits. Membership includes PULSE magazine subscription, listing in the ISPA directory, and discounts on business tools, staff development, marketing assistance, and conference fees. (www.experienceispa.com)

Day Spa Association
The Day Spa Association serves as a business resource for day spa professionals providing educational seminars, industry research, and publications to promote increased business and consumer awareness. Membership includes listing in the Day Spa Directory, regularly updated statistical reports, In Touch quarterly newsletter, and discounts on education, front desk publications, and other business and marketing tools. (www.dayspaassociation.com)

Spa Association
The Spa Association (SPAA) strives to unite the spa community to promote higher standards and professional spa promotions. They offer day spa’s continuing education materials, industry research reports, marketing assistance, business tools, and discounts with industry vendors and conventions. (www.thespaassociation.com)

Destination Spa Group
The Destination Spa Group (DSG) is a networking and marketing association for destination spa professionals. Members must meet the ISPA and DSG criteria for destination spa designation. Membership includes marketing assistance, a 2-page spread in Destination Spa Vacations Magazine, directory listing, press releases, networking opportunities, and ongoing professional development. (www.destinationspa.com)

International Medical Spa Association
The International Medical Spa Association (IMSA) provides professional and medical assistance for medical spas, beauty and skin therapy offices, medical centers, and wellness centers. Following a medical code of ethics, the association provides members certification, directory listings, invitations to industry functions, mentoring services, continuing education, and free magazine subscriptions to multiple medical spa publications. (www.medicalspaassociation.org)

Medical Spa Society
The Medical Spa Society is a non-profit association that is dedicated to raising professional medical spa industry practices to the highest levels possible. Members enjoy 50% off Medical Spa Conference and Expo registration fees, continuing education credits, directory listings, quarterly newsletter, online seminars, workshops, 50% off classified advertising at Best Spa Jobs website, and complimentary subscription to PCI Journal. (www.medicalspasociety.com)

American Holistic Medical Association
The American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) is devoted to educating and training physicians in the art and science of holistic medicine by focusing on the whole body, mind, and spirit. Members must have a recognized doctorate degree in medicine and be currently licensed. Membership includes discounted fees to attend annual and regional conferences and meetings, advanced medical education, listing in membership directory, and subscription to The Journal of Science and Healing. (www.holisticmedicine.org)

For a Spa, It Is True that Cleanliness is Next to Godliness (Appearance, Safety & Hygeine are Everything in the Spa Industry)

When a client chooses your spa to go to for a little relaxation, the last thing they want to see is dirt, clutter, poor hygiene, and unkempt looking employees. A client comes to your spa to feel pampered and carried away from their daily lives, so you want to provide a sanctuary for them. It’s important that you keep your spa as clean, safe, hygienic, and organized as possible so your clients can relax without having to worry about their surroundings.

Keep your spa sparkling by thoroughly cleaning it daily and spot cleaning throughout the day. Clients want to feel like they’re your one and only client, so make sure they are treated this way by cleaning therapy rooms after each treatment, straightening up relaxation rooms regularly, and making sure towels, robes, and other linens are washed thoroughly.

If you display products, make sure shelves are dusted daily so it doesn’t look like they have been sitting there for months. Keep the dressing rooms spotless by wiping down counters and mopping up wet floors for hygiene and safety. Vacuum floors and empty the trash regularly. Also, make sure employees are dressed in clean, pressed clothes with well kept hair.

Rural Spa Marketing: Effective Advertising To Get Clients to Your Neck of the Woods

When you have a spa in a rural area, marketing is less about competition and more about getting people interested in new experiences. Rural spa clients have very different needs and perceptions to those in the city, so your advertising should focus on these needs and perceptions.

People unfamiliar with the spa industry believe that it’s only for the rich and famous, so you should change this perception by offering special introductory offers or coupons to get clients in the door. Advertising buy-one-get-one offers or free gifts can entice new clients to give you a try without feeling they are going to break the bank.

Establishing a customer loyalty or referral program is a great way to have your clients do the advertising for you. Giving your current clients an incentive to return more than once or offering free services or products for referrals will increase your first-time client traffic.

Using direct mail advertising is a great way to let people in the area know that you are around. You might even consider advertising in neighborhood newsletters to attract people who are new to the area or don’t regularly read the local newspaper where your other ads might be placed.

Massage Therapy: So Much More than Relaxation

The benefits of massage therapy are so much more than just relaxation. Studies have shown that massage is helpful in decreasing blood pressure for people who suffer from hypertension and helps alleviate pain in migraine suffers. Office workers, when massaged regularly, become more alert, perform better and are less stressed. Massage therapy reduces the heart rate, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, strengthens the immune system, improves posture and improves range of motion. Sports injuries are rehabilitated much quicker and more effectively with massage therapy. In addition to the physical benefits, massage therapy also provides mental and emotional benefits.

Massage therapy fosters peace of mind, relieves mental stress and increases mental alertness, while enhancing your capacity for calm thinking and creativity. Studies also have shown that children who suffer from autism show less erratic behavior after massage therapy, and burn patients who receive massage therapy report a decrease in pain, itching and anxiety during the healing process. Arthritis sufferers who receive regular massage therapy note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain. And, massage therapy has produced better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow in asthmatic children.

Large City Spa Management: Effective Marketing Tips To Avoid Getting Lost in the Crowd

Marketing your big city spa can be a challenge and make you feel like a small fish in a large pond. However, you can stand out from the crowd by focusing on your target audience and determining what makes your spa different.

It is essential that you have a website! If you don’t, many potential clients will never find you because most people today search for spa services online. You also need to focus on your search engine ranking so that your spa’s website appears at the top of the search list or else potential clients will end up going to the spa next door simply because their website popped up above yours.

With so much competition, you must differentiate yourself from the other spas in your advertising. Visit your competition and compare your spa’s atmosphere, customer service, treatments, prices, and marketing to theirs. Make a list of what sets you apart and focus on this in your advertising.

Whether you choose a print, television, radio, or direct mail advertising strategy, make sure you stay with it for the long haul. Long-term advertising will establish a sense of stability and keep your spa’s name in the minds of potential clients.

Motivating Spa Staff Requires Energy, Patience and Above All Persistence

One of the most challenging issues that face a spa manager is motivating the staff into providing the kind of client services that you want to provide. No matter how great of a working atmosphere you have created for your employees, there are always going to be motivation issues.

In order to keep your staff motivated, you need a lot of energy, patience, and persistence. Making employees feel important and appreciated is a constant challenge and it may take a little extra effort on your part to provide these positive, emotional strokes. Try telling your employees how much you appreciate them on a regular basis or create a reward program that awards perks for good service.

Keep in mind that everyone has their own struggles and many times people just want to be heard. Try keeping an open-door policy for your employees to come to you with ideas and concerns. A great spa manager has plenty of patience and the ability to listen.

Finally, being consistent in your management style and persistent in maintaining an expected level of service will give your spa staff a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what it takes to be successful.

Top 10 Ways to Make Your Spa Reception or Waiting Room More Attractive & Comfortable

Your spa reception area is the first and last thing your clients will see in your spa, so make sure to create a good first impression, as well as a lasting one, while considering these decorating tips.

1. Studies have shown that lower desks without walls make people feel more comfortable. You can use low walls to hide computer cables, but make sure the receptionist has a clear view of the entire waiting area.

2. Choose a warm color palette for the walls, floors, and furnishings. Stay away from pastels, primary colors, or busy patterns that can be distracting.

3. Provide plenty of comfortable, cushioned chairs for your clients to relax in.

4. Use incandescent lights over fluorescent lights to create a soothing atmosphere. Add aromatherapy candles for added ambiance.

5. Thoroughly clean the reception area daily and tidy it up throughout the day.

6. Have refreshments available, such as tea, water, fruit, or cookies.

7. Add a saltwater fish tank rather than a TV or magazines.

8. Dedicate one side to check-ins and the other to check-outs that flows logically.

9. Play soothing satellite music without commercials.

10. Welcome each client with a smiling face and friendly attitude.

First Time Spa Goer? A Few Tips to Make it More Enjoyable

Are you a first time spa goer? If so, here are a few tips to making your spa visit enjoyable and anxiety free.

Your trip to the spa should be relaxing and rejuvenating, but if you are unsure of how to prepare or what your options may be, your first time can be a bit tense. Each spa is unique, but if you follow these basic tips you will get the most out of your spa experience.

Book your spa appointment well in advance to be sure to get a time slot of your choice, and if you will be using a gift certificate, it is advisable to mention this to the receptionist when you are booking the appointment.

If you have a preference regarding a male or female massage therapist then by all means mention your preference when scheduling.

Be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your appointment time. This will allow you to get acquainted with the amenities offered at the spa and gives you a chance to get comfortable and ready for your treatment so that you may enjoy the entire duration of your schedule treatment.

Generally, it is recommended that you wear casual clothing that is easy to slip off and stow away in a locker, and it is advised to leave jewelry at home to be safe. If modesty is a concern, check with the spa. Some of the treatments may be done while you’re fully clothed, but some, such as hydrotherapies are better experienced in the nude. The steam room and whirlpool may be enjoyed in a bathing suit or in the nude.

If you have any type of medical condition, be sure to mention them when you book your appointment.

Try to avoid sun exposure on the day and day after the treatment and if you must shave try to do so at least two hours before your appointment.

And, finally, check to see if gratuities are included in the treatment fee. If not, it is customary to add 15 to 20 percent to the fee.

Difference Between a Spa Manager and Spa Director: In Most Cases, Its the Same Role

Starting a career in spa management is one that can lead to opportunities for grow and success in a business that is increasing rapidly around the world. Whether you want to work in a small, local day spa or an exotic resort spa, a spa management career is one that can offer you unlimited potential.

Working your way up the spa management ladder can be very fulfilling. You can start out as an assistant spa manager and work your way up to spa manager, spa director, regional spa director, and even become a spa owner. While this is a great career path to follow, don’t be confused by the many spa position job descriptions that you might see. Oftentimes a spa manager and a spa director have the same duties and responsibilities depending on the size and location of the spa.

Small spas with just a handful of employees will have a smaller spa management structure, so the spa manager is often at the top of the management list. Larger resort spas with hundreds of employees might have several spa managers who serve under one or more spa directors. So, don’t confuse job responsibilities based solely on spa job descriptions.

From the Top Down: A Spa Manager that is Approachable and Friendly Leads by Example

Being a great spa manager means balancing a fine line between being friendly and approachable while also maintaining authority and control. By thinking through what your spa management style is going to be you will be able to become a successful spa manager while also establishing a professional and enjoyable working atmosphere.

The first thing to keep in mind is to lead by example. You can’t expect your spa employees to act in a certain way if you are not acting in that way yourself. As the spa manager, think of yourself as the archetype for all of your staff to model themselves after. If you act appropriately, they will too.

Treat your spa staff with respect, dignity, and kindness. No one likes to be treated as if they don’t matter, so make sure your spa employees feel appreciated. This can be as simple as telling them daily what a great job they are doing or establishing a reward program.

Finally, a great spa manager should know how to listen. Just as you would listen to the complaints your clients might have, you should establish an open-door-policy for your staff to come to you with ideas, problems, or complaints.

Institute of Spa Management Introduces Training Program for Hotels & Spas Worldwide

The Institute of Spa Management (ISM) now offers hotels and spas around the world comprehensive spa training for its staff members. Whether you have five employees or five hundred, the ISM corporate training program can customize training to fit your business’s needs and schedules. You get to choose the courses your employees take, whether it’s the full Spa Management program or individual courses for additional job training.

ISM offers hotels and spas two training options for their employees. Staff members can learn online and at their own pace. You can sign them up for as few or as many courses that you require. Courses such as customer service, conflict management, or marketing can give your staff the added training they need to become successful in and dedicated to the spa industry.

ISM also offers on-the-job training which your employees can complete under your own supervision. ISM can provide you with training guides and materials that can be used over and over again as your hotel or spa business grows.

No matter which corporate training option you choose, you can be assured that ISM will provide you and your staff with high quality, comprehensive training that will increase your business’s success.

Blue Light Treatment for Acne: An Emerging Medical Spa Trend

Blue light treatment for acne is an emerging medical spa trend. Blue light treatments have an 85% success rate among clients with acne, and results are seen with in the first two weeks of consistent treatment.

Most clients notice a 60% reduction in visible acne after four weeks of treatments. Here’s how it works. The bacteria responsible for causing acne inflammation, produces tiny molecules call porphyrins, which when exposed to blue light wavelengths, produce free radicals that kill the bacteria that causes the inflammation. Successful treatments begin with using the blue light for 15 minutes each day. Once the acne has cleared, blue light treatments may be reduced to 15 minutes every other day.

Eventually the most effective number of blue light treatments may be determined to stay ahead of the client’s acne breakouts. There is no risk of sunburn or skin cancer when using the blue light as it does not emit UV. A potential darkening of the Asian skin tone is the only know side effect of blue light treatments.

Clients taking any medication that causes photo sensitivity should not use the blue light therapy. If you suffer from acne, it’s time to look into the benefits of the blue light treatments at your local medical spa.

The Ongoing Controversy Over Sunless Tanning

Sunless tanning—is it worth it? After we realized that basking in the sun at the beach to get that coveted bronze tan put us at great risk for skin cancer, tanning salons and now sunless tanning pills have increased in popularity. But are they as safe as we thought?

Due to all the controversy surrounding tanning salons questioning their safety, sunless tanning pills entered the market. The FDA has deemed the sunless tanning “pills” unsafe and a possible threat to your health. Little information regarding the ingredients of these pills is found. If this new miracle pill is to give you a sun bronzed look, it would have to include caretenoid pigments or tyrosine, but neither is found in the pill.

Caretenoid pigments and tyrosine cause the skin pigmentation to alter producing the sun baked look. For some that have tried the pill, reports of skin turning orange and uneven blotchiness in areas or no effect in other areas is common. The amount of caretenoid needed to color our skin has been deemed dangerous by the FDA. The other ingredient, tyrosine, is a non-essential amino acid that helps the skin cells produce melanin. Melanin is a naturally occurring element in our bodies and there is no need to take supplements for it.

Having a great tan is nice, but is it worth it?

There are healthy options to consider before putting yourself at risk for skin cancer or taking non-effective pills. Your doctor may recommend the best option for you.

For a Spa Manager - Personal Appearance, Demeanor and Poise is All Part of the Job Description

You know what they say, you never get a second chance at a first impression, and this is something the spa manager should always keep in mind. It doesn’t matter how exclusive the spa is, if the staff looks poorly or acts inappropriately, clients won’t return. This can all come down to how the spa manager looks and acts because it’s a direct reflection upon the spa itself.It should go without saying that the spa manager is a walking advertisement for the spa and this should be kept in mind at all times. The day spa industry is all about making people look and feel better, so the spa manager needs to always portray this image. This means dressing professionally, maintaining high levels of personal hygiene, and staying fit.

A spa manager should always have a professional, personable, and understanding demeanor. Spa managers should also carry themselves in a calm, self-assured, and dignified way.

The spa manager is the archetype for which the rest of the staff should model themselves after, so it’s important they understand what is expected of them when it comes to appearance, demeanor, and poise. This is all a part of the spa manager’s job.

Interior Design in a Day Spa: The Beauty Parlor Look is No Longer Acceptable

Every day spa, whether it’s in Las Vegas or Des Moines, should create an atmosphere that allows each client to focus on refreshing their body, mind, and spirit while escaping the pressures of the world for a few hours. An important part of creating this atmosphere comes from the interior design and layout choices the day spa chooses.

Gone are the days of pink walls, bright lights, fake plants, and open floor plans that many beauty parlors choose to use. Today’s day spa client expects luxury, style, comfort, and a touch of class that gives them the feeling that they have been transported to a tropical island or exotic locale.

Day spas should use warm, rich color schemes, soothing lights, comfortable seating, and create an overall atmosphere of privacy with well placed walls, curtains, or dividers. This is not to say it should be dull, dark, and cramped. Instead, clients should feel as if they’re in a cozy and private little oasis that does not distract them from their rest and relaxation goals. Achieving this kind of comfort will make clients feel as if they’re in a home away from home and will want to come back again and again.

The Top Ten Ways to Keep Spa Clients Happy and Loyal

Here are the Top Ten ways you can achieve spa success by keeping your clients happy and loyal.

1. Respect: Customers want to feel respected and valued, so do this by being friendly, helpful, and understanding.
2. Customer Service: Put on your “A Game” every time a client walks through the door by listening, providing great service, and offering solutions to problems.
3. Cleanliness: Keeping a spotless and sanitary spa is a reflection of how much you care about your business and customers.
4. Organization: You require clients to be prompt, so do the same by staying organized and making sure clients don’t feel rushed.
5. Education: Hiring trained therapists and providing your staff continuing education will result in quality spa treatments and satisfied clients.
6. Treatments: Keep on top of the latest spa trends and provide a variety of treatment options.
7. Communication: Provide an open door policy for clients to communicate with you about services, products, or complaints.
8. Frequent Buyers: Reward returning clients with perks to make clients feel appreciated and encourage repeat business.
9. Reward Referrals: Offering clients a $25 bonus is the best advertising money you can spend rewarding word-of-mouth referrals.
10. Online Presence: Provide online reservations, information, and products for client convenience and flexibility.

The Various Stages of Spa Managment: Career Opportunities for Industry Professionals

Choosing a spa management career can be both fulfilling and exciting. As with any profession, working your way up the corporate ladder brings with it more responsibility, opportunities, and a successful future.

Assistant Spa Managers are part of the team and required to do everything from helping clients at the front desk to assisting the Spa Manager with paperwork.

Spa Managers are responsible for making sure the spa runs smoothly and remains competitive. The Spa Manager must keep customers happy, staff motivated, and business flowing.

Spa Directors must be able to manage a staff, maximize sales, prepare financial reports, develop budgets, create merchandising, and work with the media.

A Vice President of Spa Operations is responsible for running a high-end spa or chain of day spas while overseeing hundreds of employees and thousands of clients. Duties include project development, strategic planning, and dealing with millions of dollars in annual sales.

Regional or National Spa Directors run multiple spa locations across the state or the country. Responsibilities include all of the previously mentioned, but for dozens of spa locations.

Spa Owners make all their own decisions about running their spas, but it’s essential that they get the necessary skills needed to run a success spa first.

Finding a Happy Medium Between Making a Profit and Offering Competitive Spa Treatment Pricing

While offering spa clients a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere is of the utmost priority for most spas, making a profit is the ultimate goal for any spa owner or spa manager. Making a profit, while also offering clients competitively priced spa treatments, is a challenge that most spa owners and managers face today.

In order to find a happy medium, you need to focus on offering the kinds of spa treatments that your clients want to invest in. Bundling your spa treatments together into spa packages or multi-visit treatment programs rather than just selling ala carte services is also an important marketing tool.

Keeping the spa filled with paying customers is essential to your overall profits as well, so establishing a rapport with clients is important to increasing repeat visits and word of mouth referrals. Some day spas offer manicures and hair salon services to get more customers in the door, but other day spas feel that these services take away from the overall spa experience.

It’s up to you as the spa owner or manager to determine which course of action will bring in the most profits by offering clients what they want and keeping prices low.

The Most Popular Treatments in Day Spas Today

Day spas can offer a wide range of spa treatments from the common to the completely unexpected. That’s the beautiful thing about going to a day spa, you never know what kind of new treatments you might find.

There are, however, some tried and true popular day spa treatments that you can expect to find at just about any day spa. By far, the most popular spa treatment that day spas offer is the massage. People go to the day spa to relax and there’s nothing more relaxing than a full body Swedish massage. Another popular day spa treatment is the facial. Whether you want to treat unsightly acne or remove those subtle lines around the eyes, spa facial treatments are the way to go.

Body wraps or salt glows are popular body treatments that can soften and detoxify the skin. A body wrap coats you in a seaweed, mud, or clay mixture and then you are wrapped up for 30 minutes to relax and absorb the goodness. A salt glow involves massaging the skin with sea salts and aromatherapy oils and then you’re rinsed off with warm water. After both spa treatments, you’re coated in soothing, hydrating lotions. Refreshing!

Spa Management is A Balancing Act that Takes Tact, Diplomacy and Assertiveness

Being a successful spa manager means being able to handle the everyday pressures of working in a high-energy, fast-paced environment while still maintaining a calm, cool demeanor.

Juggling important business issues, managing the staff, and keeping customers happy are all part of the spa manager’s daily activities. It takes a special kind of person to successfully manage a busy spa and getting the right kind of training to handle every situation is essential.

Working with the public and managing a staff in the spa industry takes a fair amount of tact, diplomacy, and assertiveness to successfully handle the many requests, complaints, wants, and needs that the public and your employees will inevitably require.

The spa manager’s main duty in any size spa is to make sure customers get what they want, leave happy, and ultimately return to the spa again. This is within reason, of course, so a good spa manager also needs to know how to handle different personalities as tactfully, diplomatically, and assertively as possible. This applies to both demanding clients and dissatisfied employees, so make sure you get the right training necessary to learn how to handle these situations properly and become a truly great spa manager.

The Spa Industry in the US Topped $9.7 Billion in Revenues in 2005 & Is Still Growing...

In 2003, the spa industry reported $7 billion in revenues in the United States alone. In 2005, those revenues shot up to $9.7 billion. With an increase of nearly $3 billion, the spa industry is hot and it’s showing no signs of stopping. So, what does this mean for spa management employees? It means starting a career in the spa industry today, particularly in spa management, is going to provide lots of new job openings, plenty of career advancement, and exciting opportunities to work in some of the world’s most beautiful resort spas around the country.

There are thousands of new spas opening up every year and each one of them has an immediate need for well-trained spa managers. With the impressive growth that the spa industry has seen recently, there is an alarming lack of qualified spa management professionals available to fill these growing positions. Getting the proper training that is needed to fill these positions is crucial. Becoming a successful day spa manager can quickly and easily lead to exciting job, endless advancement, and glamorous travel opportunities! So, get the spa management training needed today and tomorrow you could be running your very own resort or destination spa...

The Number of Spas Across America is Growing at an Unprecedented Rate

It used to be that visiting a day spa or going to a resort spa was reserved only for the rich and famous. Fortunately, those days are gone and today just about everyone is taking a well-deserved break from the stresses of everyday life by going to the local day spa for a quick fix or taking a long, romantic vacation at the resort spa. This is good news for the spa industry because due to this rapidly increasing demand for spa services, spa locations across America are growing at unprecedented rates.

According to the International Spa Association’s (ISPA) 2006 spa industry study of growth and revenues, the number of new spa locations opening up across America is exploding. In April 2004, there were 10,128 spa locations, but by August 2006 there were 13,757 spas. This shows an annual 16% increase in spas operating throughout the United States. That’s approximately 130 new spas opening up every single month over a 28 month period! Out of those total spas, 80% were day spas, 9% were resort spas, and 7% were medical spas. So, if you’ve been waiting to get into the spa business, don’t because now is the time to do it!

Spa Management Careers Have a Bright Future According to ISPA

It’s a great time to get into the spa industry! According to the International Spa Association (ISPA), the spa business is looking good and only getting better. If you’re thinking about becoming a spa manager, spa director, or spa owner, here are just a few of the reasons why it’s a great time to do it!

The ISPA released its last spa business report in August 2006 and they found some very positive statistics. In the United States alone, there were nearly 14,000 spas doing business, up 16% since 2004. In 2005 the spa industry reported nearly $10 billion in annual revenues, up nearly $3 billion since 2003. In 2005 there were 131 million spa visits, up 22 million visits in two years!

So, what does this mean for you? It means that the spa business is doing great and rapidly increasing, making the need for spa management stronger than ever. In 2006 there were over 267,000 spa employees, an increase of more than 52,000 spa employees from 2004. That’s five hundred new spa jobs each week! That number is only going to grow, so now’s the time to get into spa management because the future looks very bright indeed!

Great Day Spa Managers Are Few and Far Between: The Best Are Rising to the Top of the Industry

There is literally unlimited potential for career-minded professionals to thrive within the booming spa industry. Great day spa managers can work in the most glamorous and upscale spas in such exotic locations as Hawaii, Arizona, Las Vegas, New York, Hong Kong, Paris, or even Australia. With a lot of hard work and determination, they can quickly become a senior spa director or or even a spa owner. The opportunities are limitless!

Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough truly great spa managers available today to fill these ever increasing spa industry opportunities.

The main reason for this is the lack of proper training for spa managers when they initially get into the day spa business. Without fully understanding what it takes to run a day spa successfully, it’s difficult to become a good spa manager, let alone a great one.

Learning the tricks of the trade, while also gaining valuable experience by working hands-on with clients, is essential for any spa management position.

With the right tools, a positive attitude, and the desire to succeed, you too can become the next rising star in the wonderful world of spa management!

What Makes a Day Spa Memorable & How a Spa Director Can Make it Happen

The day spa’s bread-and-butter is repeat business from returning customers. So, in order to be successful, spa directors need to make sure that their clients’ day spa experience is so relaxing, enjoyable, and memorable that they’ll keep coming back for more, throughout the year. Otherwise, the day spa will experience some unwanted rest and relaxation in the form of no business!

To keep the day spa’s doors swinging, spa directors need to keep their spa’s open, inviting, and friendly at all times. This can be achieved by creating a welcoming atmosphere using warm color schemes, soothing music, aromatherapy candles, comfortable chairs, clean towels, and cozy spa robes.

The services offered should appeal to a wide range of tastes, including both the old standbys and the newest trends in the industry.

Above all, the day spa staff and technicians should be properly trained, educated in the latest spa techniques, and always courteous and professional.

While it’s true that the spa director has a full plate of responsibilities when it comes to running a successful day spa, focusing on these smaller details will create a satisfying and memorable experience for the spa’s clients and keep them coming back for more!

Hiring Spa Staff: The Critical Components of Building a Winning Team

You’re only as good as the people who work for you, so it’s critical that you surround yourself with people who take pride in their work and strive to provide quality services to your clients.

In order to do this, you need to look for certain personality traits when hiring your spa staff and able to focus on their strengths while also helping them with their weaknesses through training and incentive programs.

From the receptionist to the therapists to your management staff, having a team that works well together towards a common goal is the key to success.

While spa experience, appropriate certification and spa education are certainly important, they are only a small part of what you should look for when hiring your staff.

Experience and education will grow over time, so it’s important to find people who truly have the desire to provide clients with a positive spa experience. Things like attitude, pride, motivation, and a willingness to learn are all qualities you should look for in potential spa employees.

Of course, many of these traits will develop depending on the type of working atmosphere you create, so remember that you’re an important part of the winning team too!

Great Spa Managers Keep an Eye on the Future: Monitoring Trends in Services & Treatments

The spa industry is always changing and evolving to meet the needs and desires of its clients. What was a popular treatment last year may not necessarily still be hot this year. So, it’s crucial for spa managers to pay attention to industry trends in order to provide their clients with the latest services and treatments if they want to remain competitive and become successful within the spa community.

People’s tastes and interests are constantly changing, so making sure you know what’s going on in the spa industry is essential.

Whether your spa is in New York City or Des Moines, trends have a way of making their way around the world quickly, so keeping an eye on current and future trends will keep you one step ahead of your clients and you’ll be able to offer them the latest spa treatments and services before they even know to ask for them.

The best way to do this is to educate yourself by constantly monitoring spa industry news by going to seminars, continuing your education, reading industry publications, and maintaining relationships with other spa professionals.

Doing this will transform you from a good spa manager to an indispensable GREAT spa director!

Do you Have What it Takes to Open and Run a Day Spa?

Do you love the idea of being your own boss, working in a relaxing environment, bringing joy to people on a daily basis, and having access to a whirlpool and masseuse at a moments notice? Well, who doesn’t, right?

There’s no doubt that the spa industry is a very exciting, and rewarding career choice, but do you really have what it takes to open and run a day spa yourself?

As with any small business, you must have an entrepreneurial spirit, which means you need to be a self-starter, decision maker, hard worker, well organized, like challenges, enjoy working with people, and a risk taker.

Whether you’re new to the spa industry or have been working in it for years, educating yourself in all aspects of owning and running a spa is crucial. This means making sure you get plenty of quality spa training and practical spa experience before you ever open the doors to your own spa. This includes understanding the business aspects of the spa industry, knowing how to staff your spa with qualified employees, creating an atmosphere that people want to go to, and developing a positive relationship with clients and the community.

Spa Management: Leading Your Team Through Exemplary Client Services

The main goal of any spa is to make a profit and the best way to reach this goal is to provide a wide range of quality spa services as well as the highest levels of customer service available. This should always be the spa management team’s main goal and the success of the spa itself will ultimately depend upon how happy and satisfied your clients are before, during, and after their spa experience.

It’s the spa manager’s responsibility to set the bar high for exemplary client services throughout the spa. These standards must trickle down to every member of the team in order for the spa to be successful. This means providing the highest levels of service from the moment the client makes the appointment to the moment they leave the spa.

While it’s easy to get bogged down in the business aspects of running a successful spa, it’s imperative that your team understands the importance of quality client services and should take pride in achieving total customer satisfaction for each and every client.

A spa’s success is a direct reflection of its management and staffing team, so make sure yours is the best it can be!

The Major Differences Between a Day Spa and a Stay (Resort) Spa

Day Spa

Day spas and stay spas may seem similar, but are quite different in many ways. Day spas focus on selling “clients” a “series” of spa services that encourage return visits and a habitual spa lifestyle. The goal of the day spa is to attract clients who will return multiple times over several months or years. Most day spa clients are looking for specific results rather than relaxation.

The typical day spa client visits the spa alone and spends one to two hours per visit. Successful day spas offer their clients a limited set of services which target specific results.

Stay or Resort Spa

Stay spas focus on selling “guests” a “package” of spa services to be used during a limited period of time. Stay spas offer their guests more unique services that appeal to customers who will most likely never return to the spa again. The goal of the stay spa is to provide their guests with a spa experience focused on relaxation rather than results.

The typical stay spa guests are single professional women, couples or groups who want to experience something new and different while also relaxing. Successful stay spas offer their guests a wider variety of specialty services which create a relaxing vacation experience.

As a Spa Manager, Your Customer Service Skills are Critical to Business Success

You know how they’re always saying the customer’s always right? Well, that’s certainly not always the case, but as the spa manager it’s your job to make the customer feel like they’re right, even when they’re wrong. Having proper and effective customer service skills is not something that comes naturally to most people. It takes a little bit of training, a whole lot of patience, and the ability to think on your feet to become a skillful customer service master!

What people really want more than anything is for someone to really listen to them. Whether they’re complaining about a particular incident, inquiring about your services, or just want to chat with you about things that are completely unrelated to the spa business, your customers want to feel like you really care about their problems and are there to help.

If you learn how to listen to and communicate with your spa clients effectively, you’ll find that they’re going to keep coming back simply because you showed them a little respect and gave them a little bit of your precious time. In the end, improving your customer service skills will translate into better spa business success!

The Daily Functions of a Day Spa Director

The day spa industry is a very exciting and fulfilling business to be in these days. More people are enjoying the benefits of a little rest and relaxation in the middle of their complicated lives and the day spa industry is literally booming. Being a day spa director (or manager) is very much like being the captain of a very tightly run ship. It requires discipline, organization, patience, and the ability to adapt to a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.

Every day the director is responsible for making sure the spa’s customers get exactly what they came there for, a little well needed rest and rejuvenation. This is not easy to do when there are a million different things that can go wrong, but a well-trained day spa director makes it happen day after day.

The director’s daily activities might include developing policies and procedures, keeping the staff organized and motivated, analyzing and balancing the budget, developing a successful marketing campaign, improving client retention, increasing sales, or creating new activities that appeal to a wide range of tastes.

In other words, the day spa director is directly responsible for the smooth operation and increasing success of the spa on a daily basis.

A Spa Manager Must be a Savvy Business Professional (but not necessarily an Aesthetician)

As with any business, having a strong management team to motivate and lead a staff team is the key to success. This is especially important for the spa industry because it’s a people business that depends heavily upon customer satisfaction. The ultimate success for any business comes down to the leadership and for the spa industry that means the spa manager is the star of the show. A spa manager must be a savvy business professional in order to build and maintain a successful spa, be it a day spa, stay spa, or medical spa.

While the best spa managers know the ins and outs of the spa industry, from understanding what’s involved in each spa treatment to attracting new clients to understanding proper health and nutrition, this doesn’t mean that the spa manager has to be a registered aesthetician to be successful in the spa industry. However, being educated in knowing what aestheticians and other spa therapists do through continued education is essential to a spa manager’s overall success. Education in any field doesn’t end once the final exams are over, so continually educating yourself in spa treatments and trends will add to your spa’s continued success and help you succeed in the industry!

Severe Shortage of Online Education Courses for Future Day Spa Managers/Directors

With the booming success of the day spa industry, you’d think that the spa education field would expand with it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and there is a severe shortage of online education courses available for day spa managers and directors (as well as entrepreneurs looking to open their own day spa). The day spa industry is a people industry and having a well-educated management staff in any spa is essential to its continued success.

While it’s true that much of the training for spa therapists and aestheticians requires hands-on instruction, training for spa managers and directors can easily be taught online because these individuals generally deal with the day-to-day business aspects of the spa rather than the physical therapy aspects. Of course, it’s important for any spa manager to understand the overall concept of each spa treatment, however the spa manager needs to excel behind the scenes and must possess strong business skills, such as strategic decision making, staff organization, financial analysis, marketing and advertising, nutrition and health, and effective communication.

These types of skills can easily and effectively be taught to aspiring spa managers and directors through online courses, yet there are very few programs that provide such a needed online curriculum.

Future of the Spa Industry: A Spa Manager’s Perspective

According to a recent Spa Industry research study, spas will continue to be a thriving business sector despite the downtown in our current economic climate. Given the increasing (and correct) perception that spa services contribute to overall health and the fact that the stresses of modern life don’t appear to be going away anytime soon, this is hardly surprising.

However, not all spas and spa services are equal. Those spas that make a point of remaining aware of consumers’ changing preferences and marketing their services accordingly are the ones that will grow and prosper the most.

The study reports that the most successful spas will focus on fulfilling these new consumer wants:

Customization

Increased publicity, especially publicity that links spa services to overall health, has boosted consumers’ expectations. No longer are spa-goers content to choose from half a dozen or so generic sounding services. Today’s customers want choices, and choices explicitly targeted to remediate their specific problems.

Treatments for Men

23% of all spa visits are now made by men, and more of these are for facials and manicures than ever before.

Series Pricing and Financing Plans

Frequently more than one treatment is necessary for clients to receive the full value of a service. For example, it may take several massage treatments to fully ameliorate soft tissue injuries sustained in a car accident, and acne-prone skin usually requires more than one treatment facial.

Making series pricing and financing plans available to clients increases their ability to afford the treatments they need and boosts the possibility that they will refer their friends as well. Financing arrangements and credit card payments make it affordable for even lower income customers who might not have enough ready cash.

Growth in teen market

Teens have more disposable income today than they have ever had, and many are electing to spend a portion of it on spa services. Marketing specifically to teens should include brochures and other printed materials that describe the results they seek in language they will find comfortable.

Chair massage

Chair massage is frequently a most effective way to introduce new clients to spa services. One of the best ways to offer chair massage services is to take a chair massage into office buildings and offer low-cost 15-minute chair massages office workers can enjoy during their breaks. They’ll go back to their computers feeling relaxed and refreshed—and most likely wanting a longer massage as well!

Client Service

The days when spa workers could hand clients a locker key and towel and expect them to return for additional treatments are long gone. Today’s spa clients expect personalized service that include smiles, solicitousness for their individual needs and touches like a choice of complimentary hot and cold drinks. The more pampered they feel, the faster they will return.

Branded Product Lines
Offering your spa clients the opportunity to purchase the skin care and other products they experience at your spa is a great way to boost spa receipts. Though most spas have traditionally sold nationally known product lines, the trend is to sell these as spa-branded products, which carries the added benefit of getting the spa’s name known.