Spa-Business

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to share one owners enthusiasm to encourage and promote her spa’s gift certificate program while giving gifts of her own. Food for thought, the time to promote your gift certificates starts NOW. Don’t forget to get sign up on Spavelous Spa gift certificates program it is a part of all three of our program so you can choose the program that fits your budget and needs. At a low of $75 for the entire year and no set up fees, you can not afford to not participate and is a great way to generate traffic to your sites gift certificate page without paying a “marketing fee” for each one sold.

Here is the story:

Black Friday Free Gift Certificate Sale at Pittsburgh’s Best Day Spa

ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Day Spa, 17 Brilliant Avenue Aspinwall, PA 15215, announces its “Black Friday” Gift Certificate Sale scheduled for 4am Friday November 23rd, the Day After Thanksgiving 2007.

Early morning Black Friday sales events are not typically associated with a high-end, luxury day spa. After dozens of red-eyed, fur-coated spa guests lined up in the cold pre-dawn darkness last November 2006, ESSpa owner and former Hungarian model Eva Sztupka-Kerschbaumer decided to make “ESSpa Friday” an annual event. This year Eva will also offer complimentary champagne, roasted marshmallows, s’mores, gourmet coffee, croissants, mimosas and plans for a live band to keep spirits bright. Such an unusual event is sure to draw hordes of intelligent shoppers from their turkey-induced slumber as they make their way to ESSpa’s beautiful spa located just 8 miles north of Pittsburgh in Aspinwall, PA.

Voted by numerous publications as Pittsburgh’s “Best Spa” in 2005, 2006, & 2007 and selected by the USGA as The Spa Services Provider for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont CC, ESSpa Kozmetika Skincare is highly-regarded amongst Pittsburgh’s well-to-do. But Mrs. Sztupka-Kerschbaumer wants to make her ultra-effective skincare treatments available to all those potential customers who may never think of visiting a spa. ESSpa will open at 4 AM on Friday, November 23rd, (The Day After Thanksgiving) and offer Complimentary “Buy One Get One Free” Gift Certificates to the first 100 customers through the door. “Growing up in Hungary, a visit to the spa was part of our regular grooming routine as we rarely went to see a doctor.” explains Eva, who looks like a young Bridget Bardot, “Here in America, people regard spa treatments as an expensive luxury when in fact they provide significant health benefits. It is my goal to offer traditional Hungarian skincare to as many people as possible, from infants to great-granparents. Our Black Friday Gift Certificate Special will help accomplish this task while allowing me to give something special back to those guests who have supported us. And what a great way to start your Holiday shopping.”

Pittsburgh Day Spa

Tags: Spa, Spa Advertising, Spa Business, Spa Gift Certificates by Spavelous
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Zoya Nail Polish, long known for its healthy formula and extended natural nail wear along with the cutting edge, fresh seasonal color it provides is pleased to announce that it is now the exclusive nail polish brand of the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas and Mario Tricoic Hair Salon & Day Spas.

Zoya Professional Nail Lacquers, the toxin-free line of nail polish known for its long-lasting formula and trend-setting colors, is now the exclusive nail polish brand of the Red Door Spa Holdings portfolio of salons and day spas. A leader in the industry, Red Door Spa Holdings currently owns and operates 51 full-service day spas across the United States, and one in London. This includes 31 Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas in freestanding locations and upscale resort and hotel properties as well as 20 Chicago-based Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas. All 51 spas and salons will carry Zoya nail lacquers exclusively.

That philosophy has allowed us to gain the trust and loyalty of customers that are committed to a healthy, toxin-free lifestyle.

Zoya was one of the first of the major brands to develop a stable formula that is free of Toluene, Formaldehyde, and DBP. While other brands have jumped recently on the “green” bandwagon, Zoya’s healthy nail colors have been toxin free for more than 20 years.

“We launched our company, Zoya, with the belief that beauty can — and should — be safe and healthy,” says Zoya Founder and President Michael Reyzis. “That philosophy has allowed us to gain the trust and loyalty of customers that are committed to a healthy, toxin-free lifestyle.”

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas is recognized worldwide for their committment to enhancing the lives of their guests through beauty, harmony and well being. Mario Tricoci enjoys an equally stellar reputation as a leader in innovative spa experiences, as well as hair style and color. The distinctive services of both Red Door and Mario Tricoci, now enhanced with Zoya’s healthy nail lacquers, make them both international destinations for luxury and excellence.

Zoya is a distinctive brand of Art of Beauty, Inc., a privately held company based in Cleveland, Ohio. Additional brands include Zoya Hot Lips, Qtica, Qtica Smart Spa and Nocti.

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Chicago Day Spa / Red Door Spas

Tags: Nail Treatments, Spa, Spa Equipment by Spavelous
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Discover the benefits of incorporating microdermabrasion into your menu of services.

Microdermabrasion is an excellent option for clients looking to reveal smoother, younger-looking skin. It can also provide a lucrative boost to your business because it carries a higher price tag than more traditional spa services. If you’re considering adding microdermabrasion to your menu of services, it’s helpful to know what features you’ll want and how you’ll use them. There are too many microdermabrasion machines on the market today to list them all. Basically, they all perform the same function of removing the stratum corneum, which stimulates the production of collagen, reduces pore size, and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and facial scars.

Consider the services you currently offer, and determine if microdermabrasion will be offered as a stand-alone procedure, or will it complement other services. If you offer IPL treatments for acne, hyperpigmentation, and photofacials, performing microdermabrasion prior to IPL would allow the light to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Acneic clients can benefit from a chemical peel/microdermabrasion protocol, which alternates these treatments to reduce scar tissue and pore size. When conducted in conjunction with topical medications and possible prophylactic antibiotics, acne flare-ups can be halted while the tone and texture of the skin are being refined.

When choosing microdermabrasion equipment, be aware that there are different machines on the market. Machines can utilize some form of crystal or abrasive particle, diamond encrusted stainless steel tips, or abrasive paddles. Some machines incorporate all technologies into one unit. The device forcefully propels the crystals onto the surface of the skin, which are then suctioned off with oil and dead skin cells. Crystal-based machines can be operated without fear of causing skin damage unless the operator passes over the same area multiple times. Additionally, the operator can control the speed of crystal expulsion as well as the suction of debris. Some cons include:

Some crystals can reflect light and are contraindicated prior to IPL or laser treatments.
The machine can become clogged by debris, which can reduce the suction strength.
Clean-up of the work area, floors, and equipment can be messy.
Residue can be left behind on the patient’s skin and hair.
Refilling and disposing of the crystals can be quite costly.
Cross-contaminating the device with multiple patients’ skin cells is a possibility.
Crystal inhalation, ingestion, or eye irritation is possible.
Decibel level of the machine can interfere with spa-like ambience.

Crystal-free systems either use a sandpaper-like surface or diamond-tipped head that mechanically abrades the skin. Some utilize suction, while others do not. Diamond-tipped devices offer an array of tip sizes ranging from the size of a pencil eraser (good for the creases of the nose and chin) to the size of a half dollar (good for the décolleté area and backs of the arms or hands). The tip is encrusted with diamond chips abrading the skin in grades from mild to medium. There is usually a suction hole or space to vacuum debris to a separate container. Depending on the manufacturer, a filter inside the suction tube catches the debris. Some have a “community” chamber collecting debris from multiple patients, while others have a separate disk-like filter for replacement between patients. This type of filter is a useful tool to show the patient what was removed from their skin. Benefits of the diamond-tipped devices include the ability to treat the eye and lip area, no mess, and the fact that exfoliation depth and suction strength can be controlled. Treatment tips can be autoclaved or cleansed with a wire brush, then submersed in a germicidal agent for sanitizing. But users need to be well trained because, if not done properly, damage to the skin can occur.

Vibradermabrasion uses patient-specific paddles to exfoliate skin. During the procedure, the paddle vibrates as it is moved over the skin performing the exfoliation action. This system is not as irritating to the skin as crystallized treatments. Some alternate points to consider are:

There is no suction. Debris remains on the surface of the skin and must be wiped off. Without suction, blood circulation to the skin’s surface cannot be controlled.
Paddle sizes prohibit treatment of the eye and lip area.
Grooves on the paddles make it possible for bacteria to remain if not properly cleansed.
The handles of the paddles can break if too much pressure is applied.
Patients’ personal paddles need to be stored.

Clients should receive a consultation and skin analysis prior to receiving microdermabrasion. Contraindications include sensitive skin, rosacea, and dermatitis. A series of treatments can be scheduled as close as two weeks apart, which allows enough time for the client’s skin to properly heal. A typical treatment leaves the patient’s skin slightly pink without any down-time, which makes it an excellent lunchtime service.

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Spavelous Spa Business

Tags: Esthetics, Spa, Spa Business, Spa Equipment, Spa Products by Spavelous
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Sea Island’s impeccable service, experience and reputation for privacy and discretion brought the 2004 G8 Summit to this resort.

With extensive lodging options and resort offerings, the fully integrated design of SMS|Host and its associated modules is a natural fit for Sea Island. Sea Island Resorts is comprised of four separate properties: The Cloister, The Lodge, Sea Island Cottages and the Beach Club Suites. SMS|Host Hospitality Management System will manage the entire resort, with SMS|Multi-Property Management to separate the four properties.

With its three premier courses Sea Island Resorts has recently been named “top golf resort” in North America by Golf Digest. SMS|Golf Tee Times will manage the resort’s three courses. SMS|Membership Management will allow the resort to offer impeccable service to their most important guest, their members. SMS|Spa/Resort Scheduling will allow the resort to easily book recreational and spa services for each guest as well as manage the resources and employee and guest schedules. Sea Island will utilize SMS|Activities for 3rd party resort services and SMS|Retail Point-of-Sale module for its 31 on-property revenue centers.

In addition to these modules, Sea Island will also install SMS|Baggage Handling and SMS|Gift Certificate Tracking. SMS|Owner Fulfillment will be used for the Cottages and for future development projects. “PAR Springer-Miller’s SMS|Host Hospitality Management System offered the truly integrated solution that we needed to bring all of our extensive offerings into one system,” remarked Susan Kelly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Sea Island Resorts.

“This is a significant opportunity for PAR Springer-Miller to partner with a world class resort,” said John Springer-Miller, President & CEO of PAR Springer-Miller Systems.

About PAR Springer-Miller Systems

PAR Springer-Miller Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of hospitality management solutions that meet the technology needs of all types of hospitality enterprises including city-center hotels, destination spa and golf properties, timeshare properties and casino resorts worldwide. About PAR Technology Corporation

PAR Technology Corporation is a leading provider of professional services and enterprise business intelligence software and hardware to the hospitality industry.

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Spavelous Resort Spas

Tags: Spa Business, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa POS by Spavelous
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There’s something deflating about buying a $70 jar of face cream in a grocery store.

But the crowded aisles of natural food markets are exactly where beauty buffs in search of high-end organic or synthetic-free products have been forced to forage.

Enter Vert — the first beauty outpost in L.A. to exclusively stock upscale beauty lines that are 100% free of synthetic ingredients. The airy, Zen-inspired boutique on Venice’s hippie-chic Abbot Kinney Boulevard is the brainchild of Renata Helfman, a veteran makeup artist for film and TV who conceptualized the store after growing weary of tracking down her favorite eco-luxe beauty products in varied locations across the city.

In fact, she had the idea for Vert (which means “green” in French) while in her car. “I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a place that has all these brands under one roof,” she says. “It dawned on me one day — what a great idea.”

Helfman, whose partner in the new business is her mother, Jane Helfman, said her interest in all-natural products started when she developed a sensitivity to fragranced skin care and makeup. “After I started using all-natural products, I started feeling better and looking better,” she says.

But Helfman is also a glamour girl and wasn’t about to replace her high-status beauty products with dowdy-looking, low-performing lines. Finding cool, cult-inspiring products also became a mandate for Vert. And they don’t come cheap. Prices for skin care start at around $50 for day creams and can hit $300 for a three-step skin-care system from the boutique brand Tracie Martyn.

There’s also organic skin care from Stella McCartney CARE, woodsy-scented organic lotions and oils from Jo Wood (wife of Rolling Stone Ron Wood), all-natural lotions and cleansers from Aesop and Buddha Nose, heady fragrances from Patyka and L’Artisan Parfumeur (including its new organic scent, L’Eau de Jatamansi) and hair care from John Masters Organics, Anita Louise and Hamadi.

All-organic products are a major trend in beauty right now. For example, this week Origins is coming out with FDA-certified organic lines. About a third of Vert’s brands is labeled organic, but all are sans synthetic dyes, odors, cleansers and softeners.

The chic, concrete-floored shop also carries home-cleaning products from Caldrea, organic baby skin-care lines Erbaviva and Vedababy and even a chemical-free dog line called Groom Dog.

Helfman also stocks her favorite mineral cosmetic brands, Jane Iredale and Bare Escentuals, and plans to soon carry model Josie Maran’s new organic makeup line. “There will be a makeup artist in the store every day to advise people on how to use the products,” Helfman says.

What you won’t hear? “Cleanup on Aisle 5.”

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Organic Beauty Care / Green Spas

Tags: Esthetics, Green Spa, Organic Spa Products, Spa Products, Spa Professionals by Spavelous
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Just a couple of years ago nail salons and spas were at the center of the Staph infection controversy.

The spotlight on dirty salons forced an industry wide cleanup.

While most salons have cleaned up, experts said there are still some things salon-goers should look for.

First, take a look at the overall appearance of the salon and don’t be afraid to ask questions about cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Experts also say to beware of the big volume salons that aim to get in and out in a hurry.

“More than get in get your polish changed, get out.  There’s really a whole process that goes along with it.   Lots of bacteria and fungus live around people’s feet so we have to be especially careful in there,” said Shauna Rae Samograd with Magnolia Spa.  “It has to be sanitary, it has to be sterile.  The issue of how everything is maintained and cleaned becomes a very prominent issue.”

One thing you should find in every salon is a score given by the State Board of Cosmetology.  A perfect score is 100.

The score shows you just how clean your salon is and guarantees your health.

The horror stories of the past is exactly why the Magnolia Spa in east Nashville opted for the European copper basin versus jetted foot spas.

They warn, however, regardless of what is used, hand and feet cleanliness must be the priority.

One year ago, Paula Abdul said she contracted a Staph infection from a dirty nail salon in California.

She testified before state lawmakers and helped usher in one of the country’s strictest laws directed at nail salons. 

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Spa Sanitation & Cleanliness

Tags: Spa Cleanliness, Spa Professionals by Spavelous
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The American Massage Therapy Association, Indiana Chapter, invites the public to celebrate National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, Oct. 21-27. Indiana recently became the 38th State to regulate massage therapy. As of July 1, a therapist must meet educational and other requirements to be called a certified massage therapist or practice massage therapy. Massage therapy involves the systematic manipulation of the soft tissue structures of the body to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm and stress.

As the mechanism to apply for state certification may not be in place until spring 2008, it is still important that you interview a potential therapist regarding their qualifications.

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Spavelous Indiana Day Spas

Tags: Massage Therapists, Spa, Spa Business, Spa Employment, Spa Management Training, Spa Professionals by Spavelous
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For an industry that promotes wellbeing and relaxation, spas are becoming cut-throat businesses where your marketing campaign matters just as much as your body wrap.

At a recent gathering in Manila, marketing guru Raymond Nadeau tried to show some 300 Asian spa executives how to make their fortunes in the region’s spa boom, and also survive in a tough industry that has more than doubled in the last five years.

“You’re such nice people, but you can get over that,” said Nadeau, author of “Living brands” and a consultant to Hollywood actress and singer Jennifer Lopez. “Traditional marketing is about hating each other, so you’re an anomaly.”

During the event, one compere nervously started a speech with a spoonerism, saying spas were “all about wealth and hellness”. Other spa owners seemed unable to cope with the fact that they were losing masseuses to better paying spas in Dubai.

Around 2,250 spas operate in Southeast Asia and Australia, according to research firm Intelligent Spas, and about 130 are under construction and set to open next year. Some industry players say a further 600 will open in the next five years.

In a region where massage was traditionally part of daily life, spas appeal to the affluent and tourists by adding herbal wraps, ice fountains, mud and seawater baths and aromatherapy.

Hotels too are finding spas lucrative and are at the forefront of the expansion, especially in Thailand and Indonesia.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has found its guests in the United States spend on average $76 more in a hotel with a spa, and stay a day longer, the firm’s spa director Andrew Gibson said. “It’s a pillar of our business,” he added.

But Dieter Buchner, who runs a Bangkok-based spa training firm called Urban Healing, said many spa managers were unprepared for the business tasks asked of them.

“Now spa managers are required to come up with feasibility studies, and cash flow forecasts,” Buchner said. “They’re suddenly pushed into an arena no one’s ever prepared them for. If you look at other industries, we’re way behind.”

Spas also need to get more inventive with their marketing, Nadeau said. Most have a predilection for pictures of a contented clear-skinned beauty lying faced down on a massage table, usually with some mention of “pampering” or “indulgence”.

“If you say ‘mind, body and soul’ you become a commodity — potatoes,” Nadeau said. “Adapt it.” He said spas should launch products and adopt cutting edge marketing techniques.

Because of tougher competition, some spas were making unrealistic promises about treatments, according to Samantha Foster, a director at Thai resort Chiva-Som.

She pointed to a survey by a U.S. magazine that showed 46 percent of respondents said they had had a bad spa experience in the previous 12 months, including complaints about pushy staff, unhygienic premises, noise and lack of privacy.

With “wellness” the new industry buzzword — the idea of developing a healthy mind and body — spas are bringing in alternative medical treatments, including Chinese medicine.

And conventional hospitals are getting in on the act. Singapore’s Raffles Medical Group, for example, has set up an “aesthetics centre” with detox programs and Swedish massage advertised next to breast augmentation and botox.

Nadeau said spas should stop being coy about advertising what people really wanted: better looks and sex.

“People like sex, and if people are well, they have sex,” he said. “And in the real world, what people want is beauty at any cost and immortality.”

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Chiva-Som / Mandarin Oriental /Spa Marketing 

Tags: Spa Advertising, Spa Business, Spa Business Plan, Spa Professionals by Spavelous
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Frank Pitsikalis, CEO of Enablez Inc., developers of the ResortSuite SPA management solution, has been selected by The International Spa Association (ISPA) to deliver the latest spa industry statistics at the 2007 ISPA Conference & Expo.

The highly anticipated presentation will cover an overview of the characteristics of the spa industry including, product and services, industry trends, growth, and strategies to increase overall profitability.

ISPA’s membership is comprised of more than 3,000 health and wellness facilities and providers from 75 countries. The ISPA Conference & Expo is held annually. This year’s conference will take place on November 12 - 15 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida.

ResortSuite SPA has been a member of ISPA since 2003, and Frank devotedly volunteers his time to other industry associations including, The Leading Spas of Canada.

ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. ISPA’s membership is comprised of more than 3,000 health and wellness facilities and providers from 75 countries. ISPA advances the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities, promoting the value of the spa experience and speaking as the authoritative voice to foster professionalism and growth. More details on ISPA.

Spas are places devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.

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Spavelous ISPA Spas

Tags: ISPA, Spa Business, Spa Professionals by Spavelous
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