Whether you are currently in a spa management position, or are an aspiring Spa Manager, these core competencies are 5 of the skills considered to be among the most important ‘hard skills’ a Spa Manager needs to possess, as revealed in a 2012 Report on the state of Spa Management education worldwide. But although very important to the spa management position, at the same time, they may be among the most difficult to find. Some of this training is certainly...

Not all clients hold the same (potential) value when it comes to your business. So it’s important to consider why you might be handling a client you only see twice a year, the same way you are handling a client that comes in every week. Developing service standards based on existing and potential client value is a logical thing to do, if you want to do more of what is working, and less of what isn’t. In a nutshell, your...

1. Retail Costs and Commissions Paid Let’s say if a jar of cream sells for $100.00, you have probably paid $50.00 (50%) for the cream; you may also be paying $10.00 (10%) staff retail commission on the sale of the cream; and your miscellaneous costs could be $5.00 (5%), which might include samples, testers, shipping, receiving, merchandising, etc. This equates to $65.00 in costs for a gross profit of $35.00, or 35% on that $100.00 sale. Now, if the cost...

This Part 1 of our 2-Part Blog Series on Rising Supplier Costs will cover the importance of ‘reflecting’, not ‘absorbing’ price increases, as well as an introduction to setting standards for price increases in your business. Running a profitable spa business takes experience and know-how It’s very important that you watch that thin line between profit and loss like a hawk. As business costs rise, so must your prices. Let’s say your revenue has been increasing year over year, but...

I recently came across a really great blog written by Sally McKenzie of McKenzie Management ; a dental management solutions company. Her article on Bonus Plans really resonated with me, so I’ve decided to © SPAdapt her blog and target it to the global spa industry. I know many of you struggle with the whole team bonus model, and hopefully this piece will help you make decisions that are both sustainable and beneficial for everyone involved… There are many moving...

Servitude is an Attitude…Do you know how your spa rates? Ok, this list is a bit out there, but behind these comments you know there’s a lot of hidden truths… Here are the top 50 Things your clients NEVER want to hear: 1. Oh yes, now I remember you 2. That service was available for a limited time only 3. No, we’re booked solid 4. If you don’t see it we’re probably sold out 5. If we have it, it...

A question submitted to Spas2b: We are just doing our menu of services and have always thought we should book on the hour and complete the service in 50 minutes to still allow for clean up, etc. within the hour. I have heard that some spas are adding 15 minutes to their service booking times to be able to give a full 1 hour service and still allow for clean up and sales. Is this a good idea? Our Response:...

In-house signage will help you and your staff do your jobs even better. If you are opening or renovating a Spa, put signage on your task list…and in your budget. An effective signage program shouldn’t be an afterthought Signage is important from both a guest’s perspective and a business’s point of view. And it’s never too late…when you are ready to enhance your signage program, there are just three simple rules to remember: 1. Maintain the value of your messages...

Part 1 of this Consumer Trends blog covered the first 5 trends to watch according to Trendwatching.com . The next 5 are as equally compelling…but don’t think you can handle them all; choose your favorite(s) and remember it’s a work in progress… 6. Celebration Nation: Cultur-aware Emerging markets will proudly export and even flaunt their national and cultural heritage in 2013 . Symbols, lifestyles and traditions are being modernized and marketed with pride to both domestic and global consumers. For...

At the end of each year, we are always flooded with trend reports galore! And who doesn't love to hear from the experts on what's in store for the New Year? The Trendwatching.com report always intrigues me and challenges me to find ways to SPAdapt these consumer trends and new expectations to the spa industry. So here are the first 5... 1. Presumers & Custowners: Pre-launch & Personal stake Consumers demand it now , they want it first and they...