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iinnLight Launches Spa Industry’s First Molecular Massage™ with New Energizing Light Therapy Delivery System
Patented Device Capitalizes on Wellness Revolution; Offers Spas a New Source of Revenue without Adding Headcount. iinnLight Technologies, the emerging leader in optimizing light to transform and energize lives, today launched [Read more →]
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Volante POS Systems “Checks In” at the Southampton Inn & Spa
Toronto based hospitality software company Volante POS Systems was contracted to consolidate all guest services at this Inn & Spa, allowing for a stress free, seamless guest experience.
Volante POS Systems has announced their first installation in the Inn & Spa industry.
A new trend in lodging, the Country Inn and Spa is quickly replacing the basic Bed & Breakfasts of yester year. More and more, people are finding it difficult to separate from the office to take that much needed annual vacation. It should therefore come as no surprise that this type of accommodation has emerged onto the weekend getaway scene. A whole new type of lodging experience, guests can now enjoy an elegant, “country” experience while indulging in some on-site Spa pampering too.
Ever aspiring to offer the latest in modern amenities to their guests, and to retain a growing business clientele, The Southampton Inn in Southampton, Ontario, introduced complimentary high speed internet to all guest rooms in 2004. Then, in 2007, Susan and business partner Tony Robins added a full service Spa and Makeup Studio. The in-house Spa is a modern facility, and offers many Spa packages and services, from relaxation and hot stone massage to both day spa and overnight packages, and a full range of esthetic services. Guests can arrange a pamper day and enjoy lunch from a tantalizing Spa menu.
As the operation grew, it became apparent that a point of sale system and reporting back office was required that would help with day-to-day operations. Toronto based hospitality software company Volante POS Systems was contracted to consolidate all the services offered at the Southampton Inn and Spa, allowing for a stress free, seamless guest experience. The installation marks Volante’s entrance into the Inn & Spa market.
It’s a testament to modern technology that a sophisticated, scalable hospitality software system can be used with ease in a smaller establishment such as The Southampton Inn & Spa. Volante is 100% written in Java, and offers full enterprise capability and stand-alone terminals with peer-to-peer design. Volante is compatible on Windows, Linux, or Unix operating systems, and is an industry leader in Linux POS solutions.
“I’m definitely not a computer savvy person,” says Closs. “But I found Volante easy to use and not at all intimidating. Besides, I’m too busy running an Inn to take a computer course. Volante’s logical layout, dynamic features and on-line assistance were very much appreciated.”
Closs also mentions that Volante’s flexibility in configuring the feature set gave her peace of mind knowing she was able to track and report on all her spa services and spa inventory, while setting the security features and managing her food, beverage and labor costs at the same time. Future plans for the system is the implementation of the Volante Gift Card Module.
“I am confident that the gift card module will increase sales for Susan along with building community awareness” Says Annette Ennamorato, VP of Operations for Volante POS Systems. “These cards are so convenient for guest payment and they are great gifts too.”
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ThermaCoolHayward-based skin-treatment company Thermage has begun shipping its new cellulite-fighting devices.
The ThermaTip CL treatment tips attach to clinics’ existing Thermage skin-tightening machines, which bathe patients in radio-frequency waves to try to rejuvenate skin. The machines have received a mixed reception from dermatologists — some are impressed by the results, but others skeptical or dismissive.
No matter how many trips to the gym or diets a woman endures, stubborn cellulite seems to be a persistent problem. In fact, a recent study by Millennium Research Group showed that 90% of women struggle with some degree of cellulite.
Thermage, Inc. has recently answered many a frustrated woman’s prayers with a new non-invasive cellulite solution that yields results after only one treatment. ThermaTip™ CL is an innovative deep heating treatment being hailed by numerous physicians.
“The Thermage CL tip represents an important new tool in the fight against cellulite,” says Dr. Bill J. Johnson. “The greater cooling in the tip allows the greatest amount of heat to be delivered to the area where cellulite develops. The result is smoother skin with fewer dimples.”
Unlike current cellulite treatments on the market, ThermaTip™ CL produces noticeable results after only one procedure–without surgery, injections or downtime. The deep heating treatment works to restore collagen connective tissues, while improving blood flow to tissues. This causes the skin’s surface to appear smoother.
The FDA approved Thermage technology has already been used on over 450,000 pleased patients and featured in over 45 peer-reviewed articles. Its popularity continues to grow as more physicians add this to their medical bag of must-have cosmetic treatments.
The FDA has approved the ThermaCool system for “temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite,” the company said.
“Cellulite offers a new market opportunity for our company and we expect the new tip to provide a solid contribution to our revenue in 2008,” said Stephen J. Fanning, Thermage chairman and chief executive.
Best Spa Locator / Anti Aging / Find a Med Spa / Facials
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Aveda Spas / Find a Spa / Spa Locator
Looks can be deceptive. When it comes to a hydrotherm massage, that is certainly the case. With reports of it being among the most relaxing of massages, the thin, blue, water-filled mattress lying there did nothing to impress on first sight.
But don’t be fooled. Hydrotherm massage has its advantages. From a pure relaxation perspective it is like resting on a toasty, warm waterbed while having a full body massage from your tippy toes up, without even having to turn over.
Used worldwide in hospitals, as well as salons and spas, it was developed in 1992 by British sports and remedial therapist, John Holman. At that stage it was a solution to wrist and lower back problems suffered by many massage therapists, of which he was one.
It has since gained in popularity as it offers the client the opportunity to have a full body massage without having to turn over and is now used in 17 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe.
“Some people aren’t comfortable lying face down due to suffering from asthma, chest complaints, neck problems, post-surgery, or for other reasons,” says therapist Jocelyn.
Greater comfort
“With hydrotherm massage, they don’t have to. They can still have a good full body massage and, because the water in the cushions remains around body temperature at between 95°F and 104°F, it encourages the muscles to relax and allows for a deep massage.
Also, when we slip our hands under the body we are working with the client’s body weight, rather than exerting our own level of pressure.”
And then Jocelyn suggests that I have the massage naked under my towel to get the most out of it. Thrown a bit by the suggestion, I go for it.
It’s that unusual free sensation of skinny dipping and, before long, I can see why she suggested it. With no underwear on, she can do long fluid strokes — some uninterrupted from my ankle to hip.
Effortless
Lying on my back on two water cushions, with another propping up my knees to relieve lower back pressure and two foam blocks at my head to keep the spinal column aligned, she starts at my feet.
With a blend of essential oils mixed into a warmed base oil, she works up my body, often massaging the front, side and back simultaneously. The massaging of each area — whether foot, calf or tummy — flows effortlessly to the next.
The sweeping strokes feel good, as does the more pointed work in my shoulders, for example. Jocelyn finishes with a gentle facial massage and, after 90 minutes, I feel like I’ve had one of the most complete massages ever.
Verdict: Due to the fluidity of the water, the long strokes and not being disturbed to turn over, I found Hydrotherm wonderfully relaxing and grounding. I liked the variety of strokes — such as the therapist slipping her hands underneath me and doing cross strokes on my back and, best of all, staying warm throughout.
Spa Business / Spa Press Releases / Spa Marketing
A large percentage of spa owners are failing to achieve even modest financial success. We have rooms full of spa operators attentively listening to a business expert explain the many reasons small companies fail to perform as expected, most hands raised when asked if the information applies to their own experience. We now see a silent but growing list of day spas on the seller’s block, and an upward swing in outright closures. And yet with all these reasons to take on professional business help why do so relatively few actually get any, or when they do, why have they waited so long to do so?
The intended purpose of this article is to help you, the potentially distressed spa entrepreneur, find help in overcoming some common impediments to improving your business’s success potential. Here’s the list of excuses:
1. Too new to know any better
The business is barely off the ground—how can one know if there’s anything unusual happening here thus far? It’s a reasonable perspective. Sure, after five months sales have not met our projections and costs are higher than expected, too. But, it’s way too early to start thinking that we may be heading for trouble. Negative thinking isn’t going to get us anywhere so we’ll stay with the program and wait to see how things go. Besides, the holidays are right around the corner and we’re sure to pick up some great gift certificate cash. As far as employee turnover is concerned, I read that it’s always fairly significant during the first year you’re open, so the four technicians that resigned recently are to be expected. Of course I’m a little nervous about the situation but isn’t everyone when they first start out? We’ll be fine.
2. It’s not me or us; it’s everything else
We’ve been growing steadily in the 16-months since we opened, and I’m glad about that, but we’re still not making ends meet very well—not even close, actually. How can you expect to get ahead when every time you hire and train a new employee they either quit or move away and take their clients with them? I’m becoming pretty negative about training, in fact. Can you force someone to pay you back for their training if they quit before a certain amount of time has passed? I’m getting tired of being ripped off like that. I also think that new day spa that opened across town is having a bad effect on our appointments though I can’t really prove it. Their services are a little cheaper than ours are—should we think about lowering our prices a little? The staff has really been pushing me to do more advertising but whenever I do the new customers don’t seem to come back more than once. People say we’re still being affected by the war, 9/11 and the recession but that was already happening before we opened. How do you find good help?
3. I’m in over my head but a good manager will fix that
Operating this spa is far more work and stress than I ever imagined! My family barely sees me and I’m running around like a headless chicken. I knew that there were things about business I wasn’t good at but I’ve got to do something about that pretty soon. I need a strong manager to help me run the place, someone organized in a way that I’m not. Staff doesn’t cooperate with me, probably because I’m too much of a softy and always give in when they want something, even though I know it’s wrong. Besides, they have these licenses to perform services and I don’t, so how do I know what they do or don’t need when they demand things? My new problem is that I can’t find this manager anywhere. A few people have applied but I don’t think they’re qualified for the job. Spoke with a spa business consultant after attending a trade show class but we’re not ready for anything like that yet.
4. My manager is good in some ways but she doesn’t seem to be on my side
I thought by hiring a manager I’d get better performance from my staff but it seems like she sides with them more than me. She doesn’t want them to dislike her so she’s not making them follow the rules here, even sticks up for the employees sometimes when I don’t like what they’re doing. I probably should try to find another manager but this one was hard enough to get and I can’t afford to take on her work right now. Read about these spa management classes that look like something I need but there’s no way that I can take the time off to go there, especially with the lousy week we just had. Mother’s Day is coming; let’s see how that goes…
5. Once more around the block
Well, I knew my manager was probably going to quit but I thought she’d have been more professional than to walk out with two days notice! So much for trusting people! Never again. So now I’m back to personally running things, which feels better and worse than before. It’s a relief to have that sullen manager out of here but I’m no better prepared to handle this place alone than ever. Worse, some of the girls are pretty negative about the manager leaving and I’m afraid some of them may follow her to wherever she ends up next. I’m going to make it harder for them to get our client contact information than it’s been. Right now I don’t feel much loyalty from my team. Maybe what I need is to clean house and start over. I could call that consultant guy but I already know what he’s going to tell me, so what good could it do?
6. We’re always short on cash no matter how big our sales get
I can’t make heads or tales of our financial picture. The bookkeeper sends me monthly reports (but always two months after the fact!) yet I’m not very good at understanding what they mean anyway. Our service sales keep going up even though our retail sales are still terrible, so how come I’m always racing to meet payroll, rent and my vendor invoices? Is someone stealing money from me? This really freaking me out now! Our product rep came in and did a sales class for the staff but it didn’t make any real difference at all. They still just seem to hate selling no matter what. A retail expert told me that our sales could and should be at least $40,000 higher by this point in the year, August, than they are but he wants $4,000.00 to come in and correct the problem. That’s a whole lot of money for a retail class! I can’t afford something like that.
8. Hey, we’re doing great now!
Wow! After 3 years I’m finally caught up with my bills and haven’t had to worry about payroll as often as I used to. That’s a BIG relief, too. But, now I’m wondering when I can make a little something for my self as well? This has been a long time to go without a personal income, though I do write my car and gas off from the business. How much is a manager or owner supposed to make, anyway? I’m afraid to start pulling money out of the business right now since we only recently got caught up financially. I feel like we’re successful at this point, as it is. Finally did talk with that business consultant. Seems like a nice guy but I’m afraid to have him look at the spa and my management of it. I’ll be too embarrassed for him to see our books or how we do things here. He’ll probably show me just how stupid I am as a spa owner. Besides, I hate things like numbers and spread sheets that I know he’ll want me to work with. If I can’t handle that information why throw good money away on it? I’ll just start to read that book I picked up last year, The 7 Traits Of Highly Effective People That May Or May Not be Just Like You! I think I can get around to that after we get past vacation season.
9. We need to make more money so I’m thinking of expanding
Weekend and evening appointments are getting pretty full, especially with all of those gift certificate sales. There’s a larger space that’s available right next door to us and I don’t want it to get away. The landlord wants me to make a lease decision by next week or else he’ll let another business take it. I think that between our remaining home equity line and a bank loan I can come up with the money for the remodel and new equipment. Besides, we need extra room to install that Dynoaquathermomassageä unit I saw at the trade show. The vendor said it would make our spa truly unique in that no one else has one yet. Now $25,000.00 isn’t too much to spend for something like that if it sets you apart from the competition, right? The staff has seemed a little unmotivated lately so maybe this new treatment will charge them up again. I know that expansion is a big deal and that I should get a second opinion but everyone keeps telling me that we should get more space or even franchise. How could you go wrong with more sales? Plus, I’m hoping that more income will finally allow me to get a decent salary.
10. This isn’t what I thought would happen…
The expansion went far over budget and took a lot longer than the contractor promised it would. Had to get a personal loan from my parents to cover the $40,000 shortfall. Now we’ve lost the holiday shopping season we were hoping to cash in on to bail us out. We also don’t seem to booking all that many more appointments than we did before moving into the new spa. Some of the new people I hired are sitting around with nothing to do and our expenses have shot through the roof. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to add on space when we did. I’m thinking that maybe I should take on a partner to handle some of the costs and management work. I thought I had more than enough to do before this new spa but now I’m way in over my head. That grand opening party cost us a fortune but hardly anyone showed up for it Saturday night. Practically had to threaten the staff to help out with it. They’re unhappy with having to do complimentary treatments as a means of showcasing their services, saying that they hate doing “free” work. Why don’t they understand that they’re doing marketing instead of just giving their work away for nothing? I certainly would do it if I weren’t busy like some of them aren’t. Maybe I ought to just sell the spa. I wonder how much it’s worth? I’ve got about $600,000.00 in it so far, not counting all of the unpaid work I’ve put into it. If I could just get my initial investment back I’d be pretty relieved. How easy is it to sell a spa?
Without exaggeration, this is an extremely accurate tour of the distressed entrepreneurial mind at work. It operates on a strange fuel of bravado, denial, fantasy, rationalization, blame, and action avoidance. Very often by the time a business consultant is brought in the owner is standing at the steeply angled stern of the ship, the remaining few feet left above water. It’s the Titanic revisited; ignore the threats lying in wait, run full speed ahead in the belief you’re your design is unsinkable, wait too long after hitting trouble to save the situation; you’ve got all of the ingredients for a perfect disaster and now the worst has come true. But, the fact is, it’s almost all avoidable.
The meaning of this story is simple: if you think you need help, GET HELP! There are many sources of savvy and experienced spa business professionals that can keep you from following this common course to failure. It takes courage to admit that a plan isn’t working, and even more to embrace the cure. But, all businesses eventually turn out to be something very different than how they were originally conceived. In the end it’s successful survival that really matters!
Planet Beach / Las Vegas NV Spas / Nevada Massage
Anyone who thinks tanning salons are passe should think again.
A New Orleans-based company has combined a day spa and a masseuse with its traditional tanning operation and is planning a massive expansion in the Las Vegas Valley.
“Las Vegas is a high-profile town, and people in the type of business we’re in need to have a presence there,” said Stephen Smith, chief executive of Planet Beach.
Planet Beach Salon Contempo Spas already has one location on Valle Verde Drive in Henderson and another on Maryland Parkway near UNLV and is looking to add as many as 40 locations throughout the valley in the next five years.
“We would like to have one for every 30,000 people in a market,” Smith said. “So we think that is a very realistic number.”
The company has more than 360 locations, primarily in the United States, and almost all of its stores are franchises.
Planet Beach started out with a focus on tanning, but company officials recognized the need to diversify when that market went flat. Smith said he noticed that many people wanted the day-spa experience on a regular basis, but either didn’t have the time for it or just could not afford it.
That’s when he realized that if people could get many of those same services in just a few hours for a fraction of the cost of regular spa treatments, he might be onto something.
“People want to look good and feel good, but sometimes, they just don’t have the time,” Smith said. “We saw the tanning business was dying, but the spa business was growing by leaps and bounds.”
He decided the best way to serve the market was to keep providing tanning services, but to do it as a complement to a more complete spa regimen.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the Planet Beach concept is that all of the services are performed without the touch of a human hand.
At Planet Beach, machines do all of the work.
The company offers several tanning options, with or without UV, several types of massages and even a facial, and all are fully automated.
The company offers a hydration station, which is a vitamin and mineral steam bath that softens and hydrates the skin and opens the pores, and an aqua massage machine.
Customers can get just about any type of massage they could get at a traditional spa, including the deep tissue or fingertip variety.
The electronic “arm” on the massage machine achieves a similar effect to a human arm, but with a consistent, mechanical precision.
“There are also some people who want a massage but just don’t like to be touched,” Kevin Sarna, a local franchisee, said.
Although the massage and day spa treatments, including the luminous facial, employ cutting-edge technology, the more traditional services, such as the tanning methods, have also been greatly improved, Sarna says.
The company model is based on a membership that can cost anywhere between $100 and $135 per month. The membership cost includes use of all equipment and the only limitations are those based on health concerns.
Although tanning was largely unrestricted when the business was in its infancy, new information and improved equipment have combined to provide a safer, more consistent tanning experience. The days when people could spend hours in substandard equipment cooking their skin are long gone.
Problems such as streaking or equipment that gives a tan that doesn’t look natural have also been largely eliminated, Sarna said.
The company limits the number of times and duration of visits for its tanning customers and uses a skin-type analysis to help determine an exposure schedule.
The questionnaire touches on eye and hair color, the color of a person’s unradiated skin and how a person’s skin reacts to the sun.
Sarna and Lloyd Zellner are the guys who are bringing the Planet Beach concept to Las Vegas. Both are franchisees, and Zellner also serves as the company’s Las Vegas representative.
“As we expand, it should help a lot with training and site selection to have a company representative with experience in the market,” Zellner said.
Unlike many companies, Planet Beach allows multiple franchisees within a market, but Smith said it prefers to sell at least a “five-pack” (five stores to one owner)within a region to a single franchisee.
Franchise owners usually prefer to have an exclusive territory to have control of the brand.
Since customers identify with the company name and not the franchisee, a poorly run store can have a negative effect on an entire region.
Zellner said, however, that because the concept is pretty much turnkey, with a consistent design and equipment model, he is not concerned about sharing the market.
The company also has an extensive training and follow-up program and the equipment does most of the work, so the customer experience is a little easier to control than some other businesses.
The company is actively seeking franchisees and offers the five-pack franchise for $65,000. Individual franchises are also available for $30,000, providing even more incentive for interested buyers to purchase multiple units.
All costs can vary depending on location and construction costs. Locally, Zellner says, it can range between $220,000 on the low end to more than $500,000 depending on where the store is.
There is a 6 percent royalty fee and an additional 1 percent national marketing fee.
Zellner and Sarna said they also do additional local marketing to target specific customer bases.
The Maryland Parkway store, for example, is near UNLV and has developed a strong customer base among students, so there is an emphasis on media that focus on that market.
The company provides more than just spa and tanning services. There is also a complete line of skin-care products, which Zellner said account for about 25 percent of the company’s business.
As the company continues to add products and services, its customer base has expanded. When Planet Beach was primarily a tanning business, its customers were primarily younger women. With the array of services the company now provides, Zellner says, the business has crossed virtually all age, racial and gender lines.
“Men are a big growth market for us,” Zellner said.
The company also offers Internet services and continues to expand that part of the business to include a more complete package of services, such as an online dietician, for its customers.
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Planet Beach / Las Vegas NV Spas / Nevada Massage
Cellulite/ Thermage / CA Medical Spas
Dr. Stewart Wang invites patients to participate in his evaluation and get a head start using a new Thermage® treatment to tighten and tone their thighs.
Pasadena board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stewart Wang is pleased to announce a joint market study with Thermage® to evaluate their latest innovation: ThermaTip™ CL. The device–FDA approved for the reduction of cellulite–can smooth, tone and reduce areas of “cottage cheese” many women and men experience courtesy of their genetic makeup.
“I’m very pleased to be conducting this evaluation of new technology from Thermage®,” said Dr. Wang. “So many of my Pasadena plastic surgery patients complain about areas of cellulite that accumulate over the years in spite of their efforts to eat right and stay in shape. It’s exciting to have a new, non-invasive treatment to offer.”
Dr. Wang is seeking around 10 patients to participate in the evaluation. Ideal candidates are within their normal weight range and have cellulite on their outer thighs. Those chosen will receive the $3,000 treatment for just $500.
Thermage® treatment involves passing a radiofrequency device over the skin. Patients normally feel a warming sensation and little to no discomfort. The energy transmitted heats tissues underlying the skin, reducing fat deposits and simulating collagen production. The results, while revealed over time, take just one session to achieve. Improvement may vary from subtle to dramatic and can last for years.
Thermage® cellulite treatment with the new ThermaTipTM CL, will not be released to the general public until March 2008. Between now and then, a few of Dr. Wang’s patients will be able to take advantage of this opportunity to get a jump start on reducing cellulite and tightening the skin of their thighs with a new, non-invasive technology.
Dr. Wang invites patients interested in cellulite reduction to call his plastic surgery practice in Pasadena immediately to explore whether they may be a good candidate. Treatments will be scheduled from December 2007 through the end of January 2008.
Cellulite/ Thermage / CA Medical Spas
Spa Business / Spa Press Releases / Spa Marketing
Over the next five years, the emerging market segments of body shaping and skin tightening will be prime catalysts behind unprecedented growth in the global aesthetic industry, according to the just-released Global Aesthetic Market research report from Medical Insight, Inc.
This report. which provides in-depth analysis and a five-year forecast of the s8.4 billion global aesthetic industry, indicates these relatively new categories will play prominent roles in record industry growth. protected to increase by 125% annually and reach s15.3 billion by 2011. Among highlights in the newest edition of this annual market study:
