Wants to Open a Japenese Themed Spa

I am very new to the spa industry but would like to open my own day spa within the next 6 months. I would like to go with an Asian theme preferably japanese. Can you point me in the direction of Asian treatments and products and asian inspired designs for spas maybe in pictures. Also i would appreciate a foundation plan. Right now i'm really confused as to which direction to turn. What type of office space would make more sense to lease (a beauty salon, doctors/dental office or just an open floor plan office space) as there is no existing spa in my area. I would like to start out small, how many rooms would i need besides the reception area if i plan on having 2 massage treatment rooms and i also want to do facials and foot massages. what type of rooms are generally found in a day spa. thanks

Dear Jade,

Before you start, I would advise that you do a Business Plan and Market Analysis to determine the feasibility of what you plan to do. If you are not sure of how to write one or how to perform a Market Analysis, then you should consider either hiring a Spa Consultant or if you do not have the funding to do that, then I would advise that you contact the small business association in your area or SCORE which is comprised of retired business executives http://www.score.org/.

In regard to Japanese Therapies, here are a few. However, these are very technical services and really require proper additional training and certification to perform. Seeing how there are no spas in your area currently, You may not find specialists in your area who can perform these services. So, hiring staff may be a challenge.

Shiatsu

Ashiatsu

Thai Massage

Anma Massage

Reiki

Accussage

Accupunture

Acu Facials

Anma Facial

Facials & Body treatments incorporating Japanese Herbs or Green Tea

Japanese Enzyme/Herbal Baths

Location is going to be key, and starting out small is a good idea. Do consider how long your lease is for, because if you need to expand you do not want to be locked in. You will probably need to be in a high traffic area. Going into a strip center with a good anchor or a location where they are already generating the type of traffic /cliental that you determine is your market audience is also important. Locations near a salon, Fitness club, yoga/palates studio is beneficial. Developing a network with dermatologists, chiropractors, and plastic surgeons is advisable.

Make sure you get all of the legalities clarified so you know what is required in your area to operate an establishment with massage, aesthetics and nail services. Verify the need for water and equipment in the treatment rooms as required by local ordinances.

To view locations for ideas, just Google Japanese Day Spas and you can get a few ideas. Or visit Japanese restaurants to get inspired on colors and features. Spa Trade has a buyers guide that can assist you with locating Equipment companies.

Good Luck if you need assistance as you move forward please feel free to contact me.

Marie Bernat

COO Spavelous

The Best Spa Finder

The $200 Pedicure

What is it really? A $200 pedicure.

It takes place at La Prairie Spa at the Beverly Hills Hotel. You slip into a terry robe and slippers and sip a cup of Introspection tea, then an attendant leads you into a candle-lighted massage room. Once you've disrobed (for a foot treatment?), you stretch out on the table and await your "reflexology." La Prairie lotion is lavished on your feet, which are then given a vigorous shake. But the reflexology never comes -- just some light petting. The robe goes back on, you're led into a pedicure room -- a really nice pedicure room, with a reclining chair that makes you feel like you're floating, and a view of a gorgeous garden. The pedicure looks and feels great -- this time there's real massage -- and then you relax in the garden while the polish dries.

The "After Shopping Paradise" is just one of a growing number of crazy-expensive spa treatments at luxury hotels.

Not so long ago, hourlong massages for $60 were easy to find, even at upscale day spas. Now a regular old 60-minute Swedish massage will set you back $220 at Montage Resort & Spa's ocean-view facility in Laguna Beach.

In the spa at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, a two-hour massage costs $385 -- but the massage oil is "infused" with rubies and emeralds.

Spa directors explain that there are reasons for the astronomical prices. As hotels and even some day spas build multimillion-dollar facilities, their owners say they're pressured to make a profit.

"In the '90s, spas were thought of as an amenity that would drive room rates," says Anne McCall, general manager of spas for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International.

The spa industry doesn't have a formal rating system, explains Maureen Schumacher, director of Le Spa at Sofitel in Los Angeles. "In the eyes of the public, we are judged by the rates we charge," she says. "The more we charge, the more exclusive we seem." (Le Spa's basic massages range from $125 for a 50-minute "So Relaxing" treatment to $145 for a deep-tissue massage.)

"The massage is often the first introduction to a spa experience," says Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Assn. "And once you have it, you're hooked

At top resort hotels across the nation and particularly on the coasts, treatment prices have shot up in sync with room rates and ever-increasing expectations. Hotels are especially adept at creating the most lavish environments, complete with prestige beauty products, marble showers, heated massage tables with silk blankets and daylong treatments. They spin the treatments as "indulgences," and charge accordingly.

Day spas also are reaching deeper into wallets as they upgrade the treatments and the trappings. The basic 50-minute massage at the 6-week-old Voda Spa in West Hollywood is already pricey at $125, and guests must also pay a $50 admission fee that allows access to a pool, saunas, steam rooms, a cafe and even a bar outfitted with Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.

Sparing no expense, the spa at Santa Barbara's Four Seasons Resort, the Biltmore, hired star architect Peter Marino for its recent redesign, which includes two-level, loft-like treatment rooms that overlook the ocean and a rose garden.

Someone's getting a raise IF the rising salaries of top spa personnel are any indication, there's lots of money being made inside those gilded treatment rooms. This year, spa directors are expected to see their average salaries jump at least by $10,000 to $85,000 a year, according to the International Spa Assn. and WageWatch.

Spa trade groups such as the International Spa Assn. say they are trying to address the issue of perception and value by instituting standardized business practices that will help unify the industry.

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The Best Spa Locator

Spas- threat to Ayurveda

Mushrooming of the so called Ayurvedic massage parlors and spas sans qualified Ayurvedic therapists is posing a threat to the health of customers as well as the credibility of the Indian stream of medicine, say experts.
During the past few years, a lot of centers have sprung up offering ayurvedic massages and therapies as part of wellness treatments and they often "dilute" the treatment methods for making a quick buck, they say.
"Even though this shows the growing popularity of Ayurveda, the attempt to dilute the system for purely commercial interests will do great harm to this stream of medicine," said Dr U Indulal, Deputy Director, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore.
Echoing his view, Dr C Madhusoodanan, Chief of the Ayurveda wing at Kumaran Hospital, Chennai, said many of the centres do not even have doctors, proper facilities, medicinal oils or qualified therapists.
"This would even paint a wrong picture about this ancient system of medicine not only among the people of the country but also the foreigners who show interest in Ayurveda."
Unlike other streams of treatment like Allopathy and Homeopathy, Ayurveda has treatments that help rejuvenation and wellness. This trait makes it vulnerable to be excessively commercialised, he said.
"To do an oil massage as per the Ayurvedic texts, we need seven therapists and a systematic method has to be adopted as per the advice of the doctor. The choice of oil, massage, preparations etc are prescribed after evaluating the condition of the patient."

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Spa Advertising

Question From Lemans -

I have a magazine in Northern VA that is eager for me to advertise some what expensive 1300.00 a month any feedback

Dear Lemans,

So much information must go into making a marketing decision like this.

First, what is your monthly marketing budget? Your monthly budget should not be more then 10% of your top line revenue a month (with some fluctuation for seasonality). In some cases due to your fix costs, your budget may be less (3 - 5%). What is your marketing budget? Does this cost fit into your budget?

Second, what is the ROI (return on investment). I like to look at it this way, how much will that ad need to bring me on the top line to pay for itself on the bottom line. If right now, you are averaging putting 20% on the bottom line each month, that would translate to for every$100,000 on the top line you put $20,000 on the bottom line. So in this example, if you spend $1300 of your bottom line, then this should generate at least $6500 on the top line to pay for itself. If your average service is $100 this means that the ad would need to generate 65 treatments to pay for itself. Can this ad do that?

If you do decide to move forward with this, you should run an ad with a coupon this way you can track redemption to see if you get the ROI.

What is the distribution of the magazine? How is it distributed (subscribers by mail, available for free in supermarkets, placed in hotels)? Is it geared toward the demographics of your clients? Have you spoke with other advertisers in the magazine to see what type of results they experienced? How long has this magazine been in business. Is it a read once and throw out magazine or is it a coffee table magazine. What is the readership of the magazine?

I am familiar with N. VA, I lived in Fairfax and I still have a sister who lives in Sterling by Dulles Airport. I will be happy to help you as much as I can with research on the publication.

Today, depending on the location of your spa, most consumers are finding their spas by word of mouth and on the internet. For $50 a month or $500 for an entire year of service, my company Spavelous will support you. We work with you on your word of mouth by having you stay in touch with your current clients with newsletters and email blasts. We assist you with building sales by posting your spa deals and spa specials on our web site and in our Spa blogs. Many of our members receive these specials daily through RSS feeds. You can review our offering more at http://spavelous.com/mkt/index.html There are four plans to choose from. At very least you should sign up for your free listing.

As you can see by my posts, I am truly here to support you and the spa industry. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me directly. I am located in AZ so I believe I am 3 hours behind you now. 888-887-7831 ex 1818

I hope you have found this information helpful and not too confusing.

Sincerely Yours,

Marie Bernat
Spavelous - The Largest US Spa Directory

Microdermabrasion

Question From Holly -

I am finally purchasing my first microdermabrasion unit for my salon/spa, though i’m now having problems deciding which one. I know the company who i will buy from but they have two different machines. One is the Skinborn Microderma S-100 which uses crystals, the other is the Dermapeel “Diamond”Microdermabrasion, which uses a diamond tip wand. The diamond peel is 5,900 USD and i read that this is the newest technology. The Skinborn S-100 is 8,300 USD, and i’m not sure why it costs more. Could you explain to me why this machine would be more. Or just let me know which one you would recommend. Thank you so much for your time.

Dear Holly,

Of the two, I would go with the Diamond Tip. For years I have looked for a microderm machine that uses vitamin c crystals instead of aluminum oxide crystals. Call me old fashion, but all of the studies that I have read, indicate that aluminum is correlated to Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other mental disabilities. I would not want to risk my health as a client or my aestheticians health for the sake of beauty.

Over the years I have spoke with many machine representatives, and they tell me that I could use Vitamin C crystals or baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) in the machines instead, but they do not know who would supply it as they do not carry it.

If you can find the Vitamin C Crystals or the Sodium Bicarbonate, I would go with that if not select the diamond tip.

Marie Bernat
Spavelous-The Largest US Spa Directory (ranked #1 by Google Search)

Opening Body Wrap Business

Question From TIA:

Do body wrapping? If so what kind of license is required?

I am considering opening my own body wrap business? I am in Indiana. Anyone know?

Dear TIA,

The requirements for body wraps vary by state. In most states you are either required to be a licensed Cosmetologist or a license massage therapist. You need to check with these two state boards to see which applies in your states.

The state laws are changing in Indiana as of July 1st,2007. As Indiana has a new license for massage therapists.

As far as I can see, a Licensed Cosmetologist may apply a body wrap as long as it is the application of product on the body and not used to treat disease. Here is the Code.

Indiana is currently becoming a licensed massage state. According to the American Massage Therapy Association of Indiana, effective July 1st of this year.

I would conclude that you need to be either a licensed massage therapist (as defined by the new law) or a licensed cosmetologist to perform these procedures. To be 100% accurate, you should contact the state board of Cosmetology the phone number is (317) 234-3031. I could only find an address for the State board of massage Professional Licensing Agency.

Attn: State Board of Massage Therapy
402 W Washington St, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

I hope that this at least points you in the right direction.

Good Luck with your venture.

Spavelous