Tuesday, August 28, 2007

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.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

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.

Monday, August 20, 2007

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.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

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.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

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.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

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.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

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

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Institute of Spa Management (ISM)

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

Institute of Spa ManagementThe 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.