When was the last time you went to a spa and had an experience where the therapist actually talked to you about adding a treatment to what you already selected from the menu? Or when was the last time a therapist actually recommended a product to use at home? You are probably thinking, I don’t remember or it rarely happens. Actually, the fact is most guests leave spas empty handed… except for cruise spas. In my position as a consultant...

Who doesn't love the perfect 10? 1. No hard sell or over-selling too many products. Men just want attentive sales people offering one-stop shopping solutions 2. Language should be non-technical yet educational. Uncover their needs effectively and base recommendations on facts. Always present top 2 options and make it an easy/hassle-free experience 3. Products must be "male-specific" and address the top 3 most common needs: a) Maintaining youth b) Stress reducing to improve quality and longevity of life and looks...

Employees quit leaders not companies. A good leader must know and accept that people often quit not because they don’t like their jobs, but because of actions, inaction or behavior on the part of the spa’s leadership . It’s a tough thing to do, but taking ownership in a employee relationship gone bad is part of being a leader. The question is, will you learn from your past mistakes? Here are some strategies to make sure employees don’t quit you:...

Education = Success As a little girl my mom always stressed to all of us how important a good education would be and how it could affect our lives. You probably say the same to your kids, but here is the thing…are you practicing what you are preaching to your kids? Let’s have a moment of truth. How much time do you designate to your business education? We have many professionals in the InSPAration Management community that are great students...

Dim lighting, a comfortable temperature, and aromatherapy all stimulate the senses and contribute to a client’s spa experience, but music is arguably one of the most important details, as it has the power to set the mood for the entire treatment. “Music plays an integral role in the guest’s sensory experience at a spa,” says Allen Klevens, CEO of Prescriptive Music. “Humans are universally drawn to music, because it offers a method of communication rooted in memories, emotions, and moods...

Retailing has always been an important component of the spa business. But revenues don’t always equal profit, and it may be time to look for some margin leverage. If you consider that a retail sale with typical branded products needs to contribute to overhead in the same way that a service sale does, by the time you pay for the product, overhead, and sales commission, there is very little left in the way of profits. Perhaps it’s time to explore...

Although the Spa Director’s Job Description is an ever-expanding list of job challenges and not suited to just anyone, I speak from experience that it is one of the most exciting and rewarding careers imaginable. Whether you are a Spa Director at the top of your game with a proven track record; you have a small handful of notable business successes accumulating; or you are still in the early stages of developing your career, it’s important to acknowledge that your...

The business of Spa is not rocket sciences. We are not reinventing the wheel. The business of Spa and Skin Care is about connecting the dots. If you follow the process and connect the dots then as a spa operator or technician you are going to experience more successes than failures. What are the dots you ask? The simple things, strong team focus, watching your margins like a hawk, quality control and sales training are some of the initial broad...