Wednesday, September 26, 2007

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.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

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.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

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.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

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.