Tis the season to get the sniffles—or worse.

Like it or not, the flu is in full force this time of year. And the H1N1 epidemic (also referred to as “swine flu”) is making matters worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that flu activity remains high in the United States, and most cases of influenza reported this year have been identified as the H1N1 virus.

While vaccines are making their way to the general public, new cases of influenza (the common flu) and influenza-A (H1N1) continue to pop up throughout the country.

Now more than ever, it’s important to protect your staff and clientele by enforcing a strict health policy. “You may not be affected, but do what major corporations are doing. Plan for the worst and hope for the best,” says Hannelore Levy, executive director of the Day Spa Association (DSA).

The DSA has released some guidelines and common-sense principles to help you keep your spa in good health:

• Underscore that the No. 1 way to prevent the spread of flu is good hygiene practices. The need to wash hands and disinfect surfaces with something such as antibacterial wipes should be stressed.
• If staff members have children and that child’s school is closed, do they have any child-care options available? Discuss this with your staff so they can prepare.
• If an employee has any flu-like symptoms, she should not come in—no matter how full her schedule is. If you don’t have someone to cover the slot, don’t worry. Your clients will appreciate your protecting them and will become even more loyal to you.
• Staff members who become ill need to be checked out by a doctor. If they do have the H1N1 virus, require them to get a release from their doctor confirming that they are no longer infectious before returning to work.
• You might discuss with your local health department what steps to take if a staff member is diagnosed with H1N1. They may have information they can fax to you. If the health department offers any seminars, we recommend that you or your spa manager attend. Your Chamber of Commerce may also offer information sessions. (If not, you might suggest it to them).
• It’s a delicate subject, but for the safety of your staff and others, ask new and regular clients to notify you if they or their family members are diagnosed with H1N1. And establish a system to notify them if their therapist comes down with the virus within 48 hours of treatment.
• If there were an outbreak in your spa, how would it affect your revenue? What would you do if the health department recommends (or orders) you to shut down? Scary as they may seem, you should consider these questions. Keep a list of important contacts—your bank, landlord and all creditors—to notify in the case of temporary closure or lost revenue.
• Create and set aside an emergency cash fund.

“We don’t want to seem alarmist, but we urge every spa owner to take this seriously,” Levy says. “Better safe than sorry as they say.”

Deck your halls with boughs of holly—along with irresistible retail goodies, seasonal aromatherapy treatments and gift-card programs.

Something amazing happened the last time I went shopping at my local mall.

When a major retail chain announced a one-day sale last September, hundreds of people responded. Not only was it nearly impossible to find a parking spot, but lines at cash registers stretched throughout the department store. Some shoppers waited up to 30 minutes to purchase products.

A few days later, Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke announced that the recession is “very likely over.� In fact, the Conference Board (conference-board.org) Consumer Confidence Index climbed to a whopping 54% last August. Plus, sales at United States retailers surged 2.7% the same month—the biggest increase in more than three years.

Anecdotally, day spa owners and product manufacturers tell me that they’re starting to see numbers move upward. Although industry experts remain cautiously optimistic, many still anticipate a rise this month in spa visits and retail purchases as clients gear up for the hectic holidays.

Since it’s shaping up to be a jolly season, DAYSPA has assembled the ultimate gift guide. “Gift-Wrapped� is not only designed to keep your clients in merry measure, but also bring you yuletide treasure. Showcasing everything from sachets, shower gels, serums, scrubs and slippers, it provides ideas for sample-size stocking stuffers, holiday-themed gift sets and affordable luxuries that won’t pinch clients’ pocketbooks.

In celebration of the season, traditional fall and winter scents include peppermint and eucalyptus. When used in aromatherapy treatments, they help clients minimize insomnia and boost the immune system. “Scentsual Healing� shows you how to uplift a spa-goer’s spirits—and your sales. Plus, see our “Are You Going to Scarborough Fair?� Must Have for a look at skincare products containing sage, rosemary and thyme.

Finally, strike the harp and join the chorus of merchandisers who’ve embraced gift-card promotions. When it comes to giving clients more choices and flexibility, these programs are becoming more popular than paper-based gift certificates. Find out how to get started in “Counting Cards.�

“Fast away the old year passes,� as the popular “Deck the Halls� carol proclaims. And as 2009 winds down, may the upcoming holiday season bring you and your clients many blessings and joy.

Rhonda J. Wilson,
Executive Editor, DAYSPA

Despite my years covering the spa and salon worlds, I hold a low opinion of most industry-based reality shows. The truth is, most of them cover hair salons, which are always dramatic and only illustrate one side of this multifaceted industry. So I was surprised on a cross-country flight late last year to find myself mesmerized by a episode of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover on Bravo. (The show’s second season has just started airing on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern/9 p.m. Central.) “Tabatha� refers to Tabatha Coffey (at left), a 25-year industry veteran who brings her no-nonsense Australian attitude and expertise in—yes, of course—hairstyling and coloring to ailing salons in the United States.

Her assignment? Turn the facility’s fortunes around in one week. And in this economy, that’s no small feat.

A portion of the show involves Tabatha’s critiquing the stylists’ technique, but the remainder seems to be quite helpful for day spa owners and beauty professionals of all stripes. I’ve only seen a few episodes of the show, but they’ve all followed the same format. Tabatha first enters the salon armed with surveillance footage of the employees, which always seems to shock the owners and prompt a meeting between management and stylists. That ends with an announcement that Tabatha is taking over the salon for a week; all appointments have been canceled, she’s now the boss, etc. Tabatha meets the next morning with the employees to hear their side of the story, then brings in clients whom she’s hired so she can get a glimpse of how everyone works. She pinpoints problems from there and begins to tackle them, no matter if they’re management-based or can be fixed from the bottom up.

When it gets close to the grand reopening, there’s of course a makeover for the facility itself, but also a challenge for the stylists. They have to go out and drum up business for themselves on the streets. It’s not always a pleasant time for everyone, but it’s great to see them pushing beyond their comfort zones.

The show certainly has its weaknesses; I felt particularly bad for the receptionist at Candolyn’s Salon & Day Spa in downtown Los Angeles after Tabatha reprimanded her again and again for not possessing the best customer service skills. Where was the training to make sure she received those skills? (Of course, I may be a little sensitive–I’ve been that receptionist before.)

But I do think it would be a worthwhile show to watch just to observe the reactions of the employees in the face of Tabatha’s sometimes blistering questions. Some revert to eye-rolling adolescence on the spot, while others freeze up and stammer an answer, instantly forgetting their years of training and education. It’s not worthwhile because it’s entertaining; it’s worthwhile because it’s not. I suspect that we can all recognize little pieces of ourselves in these employees who let their insecurities get the better of them. By the end of the week, the stylists have reassured themselves that they did know what they were doing, and Tabatha’s methods—while heavy-handed and occasionally confusing—have succeeded. They show that we all need to have faith in our abilities so when we do come under fire, we don’t immediately feel like we have to defend ourselves. We need to trust our work to speak for itself.

But the rest of us don’t have a Tabatha to come around and show us the cracks in our foundations. So while it might seem silly to regain confidence just by watching a TV show, it doesn’t hurt to try, does it? —Allison Rost

Above image: © Bravo, Photo: Mitch Haaseth