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Green is the new black
Environmentally conscious businesses are rapidly growing, and spas are among the leaders when it comes to prioritizing the planet and making sustainable practices a strategic part of their business plan. That's what happening at The Spa Ritual, an Asian-inspired eco-spa in Calgary that embraces sustainability by reducing waste, using natural products...
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Navigating Labels in the Green Era
Watch out for the organic and all natural labels on the beauty products you select for use in your spas. They are not always what they claim to be. Lynn Shulman, owner of Elixir Organic Spa in Toronto, learned this the hard way. Over 10 years ago, Shulman suffered from a terrible allergic reaction from an "organic" beauty product she had purchased...
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Power Down
In a world going green, energy efficiency is a clear winner for both your ecological footprint and your bottom line. "We all need to have a green strategy today," says Shane Price, the CEO of Green Circle Salons, a company that helps both salons and spas make green choices...
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Tightening massage regulations
New rules instituted by insurance companies across Canada this year are setting higher requirements for massage therapists to provide insurance claims for their clients. Massage therapy remains the primary treatment received by spa goers according to the International SPA Association 2011 U.S. Spa Industry Study...
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Forever young
Caviar lovers rejoice. Not only can they eat the rare and expensive delicacy, now they can have a facial with it. That's right. Customers at Chi, the Spa at Shangri-la in Vancouver, BC, can receive a 75-minute golden caviar facial.
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The Science of Skincare
Have you ever read the ingredients list on a bottle of face cream? Four-syllable words in tiny print can be difficult to decipher. Right now, there's a plethora of buzz words floating around. Peptides. Stem cells. What do they mean? What do they do?...
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Because you're worth it
In addition to the spa-next-door, spa owners face competition from at-home options. They're convenient, sometimes more cost-efficient and marketed as being at least as effective as professional treatments. They come in all forms from laser hair removal devices to gadgets that tighten skin and...
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Telomeres
A quickly progressing area of research is promising positive impact for the spa and wellness industry. Dr. Elissa S. Epel is unravelling the mysteries of telomeres and pointing to ways these little genetic accessories might offer guidance and measures for future health and wellness programs...
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Salt Therapy
Salt has suffered a bad reputation for years, and even today remains an ingredient to avoid when meal-planning. However, Canadians can now benefit from another use of salt that has flourished in other parts of the globe: salt therapy...
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Innovation Through Imagination
In times of rising healthcare costs, ageing populations, increasing obesity challenges—coupled with an encouraging growing focus on sustainable living, the global spa industry is looking to rebrand as the wellness industry that plays a key role in preventative care and overall well-being...
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Dive into the World of Detoxification
When you think of detoxification, do visions of women crunching on carrots come to mind? Detox doesn't mean deprivation, though some fast to give the digestive system a break. Au contraire, detoxing involves supporting the body through toxin elimination with balanced nutrition, supplements, and treatments..
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Supporting a Strong Spa Industry
This spring, the fast-growing spa industry in Quebec gained a new voice. On May 7, the Association Québécoise des spas was formed to mobilize the province's exploding spa industry...
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Revamp and Renew
A simple change can go a long way. You've seen the makeover shows where a person tosses her wardrobe, cuts her hair, tries a new shade of lipstick and emerges completely transformed. At the end of the makeover she is beaming with pride and confidence...
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Taking On Trends
Metallic blue shadow or bright orange lips may not be the average spa client’s idea of beauty; however, as daring as runway makeup can get, spas that offer makeup application should make a point to keep up with trends. “Fashion trends definitely have relevance in our industry,” says Shawn Towne...
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What Brides Want
With wedding season approaching, brides are scouting for the perfect spa or salon for their beauty regimen in preparation for their big day. Every bride wants to be the centre of attention—a princess for a day. From offering on-site visits to the bride on her day, to complimentary champagne and...
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A Beautiful Business
Customers won’t hesitate to switch companies due to poor service, whether it’s the phone company that keeps them on hold or the sales attendant busy gossiping with her co-worker. This also applies to spas. Half-off discounts and two-for-one specials will bring in business, but you won’t gain the...
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Holistic Wellness
Body, mind, and spirit translates into savvy business for the spa community. In today’s hustle and bustle world, spas are becoming a valuable, necessary part of a person’s complete health and care regimen. As important as a trip to the hair dresser, the dentist or the gym, from the day spa to the...
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Bringing Fitness to the Forefront
Fitness classes, yoga, and outdoor activities complement the wellness experience at a spa and can be the perfect match for the treatments offered. “It’s a wonderful pairing and I’m surprised more spas don’t have fitness offered in their facilities,” says...
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Boost Clients’ Wellness Through Nutrition
From complimentary fruit and signature herbal teas to a five-star menu designed to please any palate, the nutritional services a spa offers are an important element in the whole body wellness experience for clients. “Spas are an ideal place to encourage healthy living and provide ...
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Carving Your Niche in the Spa Market
What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the words “spa day?” Scrap the cliché images of beautiful, young women in fluffy robes. Instead, picture this: macho men drinking herbal tea, toddlers receiving shiatsu massages, or fluffy dogs with pink nail polish...
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Setting the Standard
Much action and debate in recent years has centred on the perceived lack of regulation and standards for the Canadian spa industry. In response, both Spas Relais santé in Quebec, and Leading Spas of Canada nationwide are among associations that have developed...
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Oncology Massage
This September, the world gathered for a United Nations General Assembly on Noncommunicable Diseases, in recognition that these are the causes of the most deaths worldwide. Cancer itself is responsible for 7.6 million deaths annually (2008 numbers). Not to mention the vast numbers of fighters, and...
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Greening Your Spa
As the population of our planet balloons beyond seven billion this year, resources we take for granted become scarce and careful management of what remains is critical. Whether your spa is a behemoth with 50 or more staff, or a one-person boutique, there are opportunities to change the way you...
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Extreme Mass Marketing
We have all heard about it, and apparently, many of us have tried it. From Groupon to LivingSocial to WagJag, group discount sites are flooding the internet, and the spa industry, in particular, is putting itself on the deeply discounted market. These daily deals are so dramatic, it sounds almost too good to be true—and in fact, it just might be...
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Step into the Hybrid World
The growing interest among spa-goers in advanced medical aesthetic treatments has started a new trend within traditional day spas. These spas are expanding their services to include medical cosmetic treatments. The procedures practiced are...
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Are You the Best-of-the-Best?
If you’re proud of your spa, if your clients are well-satisfied, and your marketing efforts progressive, it’s time to tell the world. Go online and nominate your spa in one of the categories offered by spAWARDS and earn the rights to tell the world your spa is a leader. A call for nominations is out, for 10 award categories including...
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Head of the Class
Two summers ago we launched the Opening a Spa series with the aim to prepare new spa owners for the challenges they face on the path to business ownership. In this, the eighth and final installment of Opening a Spa, we delve into education and training.
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No More Lollygagging
Think of a typical waiting room: it is a punishment to endure. However, a savvy spa owner can take that pit of ennui and turn it into an entertaining opportunity to increase business. Now, the waiting room can become an educational extension of the whole spa experience. The front desk can be the most...
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The Spa Olympics
If you’re looking to hire a young, ambitious, and talented beauty and aesthetics professional, there is one sure-fire way to find the best of the best. Simply look to the Skills Canada National Competition to meet the best...
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Marketing Your Spa
Starting a spa business is an exhaustive and difficult endeavour. It takes hard work and long hours to take a spa from concept to reality. Once the spa is built, staffed and equipped, a spa owner can’t just sit back and watch the customers roll in.
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Medi Spa 101
In recent years the industry has witnessed the blending of the health care and spa industries with the emergence of the medical spa. And the model continues to evolve. The lines are blurring, say experts, bringing to light new opportunities and some unique considerations for stakeholders on both sides of the coin. “The main point of differentiation is that...
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Protocols
With each passing day, you’re getting closer to the grand opening of your new spa business. It’s been more than a year now since the Opening a Spa series debuted with the business plan guide, and we’re hopeful that we’ve helped you through some of the roadblocks along the way.
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Hiring
In the spa industry, the most effective methods of seeking out resumes from qualified candidates don’t cost a dime. White will also foray into social media advertising, like that which is available through Facebook....
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Moving In
Products are one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is bringing a successful spa together. Products in the spa can be boiled down to fit into one of two classifications: those that are used in treatments and those that are sold as retail. They may be the same. There are a lot of variables to consider when deciding on the products you will use for services and as retail goods..
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Location, Location, Location
Real estate agents can do a lot for potential spa owners, so enlisting the services of an agent, particularly an agent with experience in the retail/commercial field, comes as a highly recommended approach.
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Finding Financing
As a hopeful spa owner, you need to know all of the potential costs associated with running the business. To break it down, what will your initial investment be?When starting from scratch… … you’ll need to buy land, pay for contractors, workers, permits and materials to construct your...
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The Business
The very first thing that a potential spa operator needs to do is develop a business plan. This is the most fundamental document that a spa entrepreneur will create and its purpose is manyfold. It will provide internal guidance over a set period of time, it will keep track of activities for any external advisors, will keep the...
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