November 3, 2008
Spa Equipment
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A Vichy Shower is a piece of spa equipment that originated in Vichy, France and has been incorporated in many spas and salons throughout the world. It has 5 to 7 shower heads positioned above a cushioned wet table, set in a wet room. Wet rooms are tiled rooms that are similar to a bathroom, but much larger with a drain in the middle. The Vichy Shower is typically used to aid in body treatments, such as salt scrubs and body wraps. Instead of having to get up to go shower off the salt or mud in a personal shower, Vichy showers allow you to remain lying on the table as the water rinses your skin. The gentle cascade of water has been described to being in a warm rainfall.
Vichy showers can rinse the skin, ease muscle tension, aid in circulation and promote relaxation. The pressurized shower heads can be adjusted to focus on specific areas, or can pivot for an allover soothing water massage. Some Vichy showers come with a face screen to protect it from spraying water. The massage table is similar to a dry massage table, but is waterproof. Vichy showers offer an “extreme” massage with warm water pumping through pressurized jets to turn your mundane massage into a stimulating experience.
September 30, 2008
Spa Equipment
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If you are in the initial stage of opening up your own spa and plan on taking out a business loan from a financial institution, then your first step is to create a financial business plan outlining projected business costs. Your financial business plan should accurately depict start-up costs, estimated profits and losses, realistic cash flow projections, payroll and compensation package costs for all employees and financial ratios for success. You may even want to plan ahead and figure in the costs of potentially selling your spa later on down the road. You never know what could happen. Those who have not accurately estimated the costs of opening up a spa could quickly face financial hardships sooner than they think.
Another aspect to consider is the cost of spa development and design. If you truly want a return on your investment, then the smartest decision you can make is to employ a reputable spa development company to help design your spa. A great spa development company can assess the location and interior of your spa site and implement design strategies and innovative spa equipment that will maximize profitability and sustainability. How well your spa is designed could significantly affect the satisfaction of your customers. If your spa is poorly designed or has out-of-date or uncomfortable spa equipment, then you could be jeopardizing your customer return rate, which could in turn crush future profitability.
Strong marketing and promotional efforts should be implemented for your spa to become successful. If your customers don’t know where your spa is located or what special services it offers that set you apart from competing spas, then the likelihood that they are going to frequent your spa is slim. Setting enough funds aside to promote your spa via the Internet, yellow pages and promotional fliers can increase business awareness as well as sales. A well-designed spa menu listing the unique services that your facility offers can also help to boost retail sales and attract more clientele.
Remember that word of mouth is the fastest way to attract potential customers to your spa. Setting the perfect ambiance, having comfortable spa equipment and properly marketing your spa and services can significantly increase your profitability and help your business find success.
August 21, 2008
Spa Equipment
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With spa procedures and trends changing everyday, it raises the question: how do spa professionals stay current with their spa equipment? The spa industry is wholly dependent upon clients’ satisfaction. Savvy spa-goers are constantly changing spa methods and shaping new trends with their likes and dislikes, requiring innovative spa equipment to keep up with their needs. If a competing spa has more sophisticated spa equipment, you could end up losing valuable clientele. Does it seem more beneficial to lease your spa equipment knowing that your brand new equipment you just bought could become outdated within a few months?
Making this decision alone can be tough. There are spa professionals available that can help you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of buying spa equipment vs. leasing. They can help determine an overall business plan that takes into account what types of services and expansion your company can afford to make for the next 5 to 10 years. If you have a new spa or are planning on opening up a new spa, the sales your company generates may not be enough at first to compensate buying expensive new equipment. Depending on your overall sales and projected loss, lease payments may be a more viable option for your company. The greatest benefit of leasing equipment is that it will save your company money in the long-run; especially if the life expectancy of the equipments is less than 5 years.
On the other hand, if you have an established spa that has enough resources to afford new spa equipment and can replace it periodically with even newer equipment, then buying would be your best choice. Consider the return on your investment. Will your business be making enough profit to pay off the expensive new spa equipment? If so, then buying would be better. Paying cash also has the advantage of receiving a discount on the purchase price of the equipment. Another benefit of owning equipment vs. leasing is that the owner will receive a depreciation tax break on purchasing new equipment.
Whether you decide to buy or lease spa equipment, keep in mind your business budget and projected profit, as well as how much your equipment will appreciate or depreciate. Spa equipment can be incredibly expensive; from microdermabrasion kits to electric lift massage tables to various other types of spa equipment, your budget could very well get out of hand. If your spa is new, leasing may be the better option. If your spa is well-established and can afford to purchase updated equipment on a regular basis, then buying would be the best option. Choose a qualified spa professional to assist you in buying or leasing spa equipment.
May 12, 2008
Spa Equipment
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In an ever-increasing world of cosmetic plastic surgery, it’s nice to know that there are alternative non-invasive procedures to help your skin looking healthy and beautiful. Plastic surgery can be incredibly costly and painful, not to mention dangerous. And for that matter, what happens if you don’t like the results? For those who want to rejuvenate their skin, but are fearful of going under the knife, then various Esthetic procedures can provide you with the results you desire. Esthetic equipment can usually be found in spas and salons, as well as doctors’ offices. Trained estheticians can provide a number of beauty treatments to refresh your skin and keep it looking young, healthy and firm.
With major advances in technology, esthetic equipment is definitely cutting edge. There are facial steamers-(with or without aromatherapy) that help cleanse your skin and open up pores to prepare it for skin treatment. Galvanic units help draw out impurities with low level and direct currents. Specialty hand held lamps, magnifying lamps and skin scanners can help detect areas of depigmentation and signs of aging that are not visible to the eye under normal light conditions. Iontoderms are used for disincrustation (deep pore cleansing) and Iontophoresis (product infusion into the skin). Rotary brushes are used at the beginning of a treatment to remove dead skin cells. Microdermabrasion is a very popular skin treatment method used to exfoliate the top layer of skin, which reduces the appearance of aged skin and reveals more supple skin underneath. Gentle vacuum action is used to stimulate blood circulation and new collagen production. More advanced esthetic equipment is surfacing year after year, providing better skin results in fewer treatments.
Many leading spas offer soothing environments for skin care treatments and offer top-of-the-line equipment. The right equipment and the right supplies are essential for an esthetician to perform skin care treatments. Spa consultants specialize in recommending the best esthetic equipment for spas and salons, and can help in the procurement and installation process. With so many options available to treat and care for your skin, it’s no wonder why more and more people are turning to spas- not plastic surgeons- to help them achieve the skin results they want. Not only are esthetic treatments cheaper than plastic surgery, they are more convenient and luxurious and there is no painful recovery time.
January 4, 2008
Spa Equipment
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Having the proper spa equipment is essential if you want your business to succeed and keep your customers coming back time and time again.Good spa equipment maximizes the approach to client’s comfort and relaxation levels.If the equipment is neither comfortable nor suited for various types of clients, then your business could ultimately suffer. Whether your client is sitting in a chair to receive a pedicure, or if they are lying down on a massage table, their comfort level should be your first priority.Every client will remember how relaxing their experience is and if you don’t have comfortable equipment then the chances of that customer returning are slim.
In massage therapy, choosing the correct massage therapy chair or table, along with adjustable headrests, armrests, table side extensions, foot rests, neck bolsters, electric table warmers, and massage cushions can significantly provide comfort to your clients. Every client will have a different height and body type, so it is important to choose a massage chair or table with a strong adjustable frame.Also, take into account women who are pregnant because they will need different padding options to accommodate their growing bellies.
Spas that offer manicures and pedicures should have the proper spa equipment as well. This includes well-cushioned chairs for both the manicurist as well as the customer, and comfortable pedicurist stools.Good pedicure spa chairs have plush seats that slide forward and back and also recline at the touch of a button, and the armrests swing open for easy access. Vibrating massage chairs are a great option to keep your customers fully relaxed while receiving their pedicure. The chair should also have an extremely quiet motor for a relaxing water massage.
Comfortable spa equipment is ideal for spas who want to offer their clients a more luxurious and soothing experience. Customers will remember the tranquility they felt at your spa if it is filled with comfort at every turn. >People go to spas to receive comfort and to ease their minds and bodies; if the spa equipment you have is not comfortable then they will seek out a different spa that can offer them a more enjoyable experience.Make sure your spa equipment fully caters to your clients relaxation levels and you will see return customers over and over again.