Looking to green your spa, but worried about the expenses?
Our upcoming Green Scene ("Mayan Marvel," August 2010) contains lots of information about cost-efficient ways to incorporate eco-friendly supplies into your spa.
HereŐs a taste to get you started:
Make investments that have a proven return. John Vater, co-owner of Spa Adriana in Huntington, New York, says, "solar panels pay off, as long as you continue using them to save on energy costs."
Shop locally. When Vater and his wife Adriana recently remodeled their spa, they wanted to enrich their Mayan theme by building a faŤade with limestone from the Yuc‡tan Peninsula in Mexico. Instead, they found a local company that manufactures precut concrete. "That way our renovation doesn't have the environmental impact that would result from shipping and trucking materials all that distance," John says. "It saves a lot of money too."
What supplies, products and materials do you employ to increase your spa's sustainability? Send your ideas to Katie O'Reilly, associate editor, at koreilly@creativeage.com.
Zoya offers spas the chance to exchange old polishes for new, greener ones.
With spring in the air, and summer right around the corner, your customers are sure to ask for fun and fresh polish colors that the seasons inspire. If you find that your inventory is lacking the right hues, the 2010 Zoya Nail Polish Exchange is just the thing for you.
From now till June 30, Zoya is offering a bottle-for-bottle polish exchange for all spa and salon professionals. Send in at least six old bottles of any brand name (other than Zoya, Qtica or Nocti) and you’ll get your pick from a selection of the company’s more than 300 colors, including the new Flash & Sparkle line.
Additionally, Zoya will dispose of your old polish according to Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. This exchange promotion is free, but it requires $3.50 per bottle for shipping and processing.
Not only will your lacquer inventory get a fresh boost of color, it will also be free from formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). That’s good news for you, your clients’ nails and the earth! With deals like this, it’s easy to be green.
For more information on the Zoya polish exchange, visit www.zoya.com. —Stephanie Flores
As spring transitions to summer, get ready to pick up the pace
with this season’s promotional opportunities.
There’s a point in my commute each evening where I need
to quickly transition from one busy freeway to another. I begin in the far right lane heading southbound, slow my speed considerably to make an Indy-500-type turn eastbound, and then accelerate again to merge into another highway. In the blink of an eye, the slow lane literally turns into the fast lane.
If I don’t adjust my speed properly during this process, it creates chaos. Drivers traveling faster than the law permits often blink their lights at me or worse—ride my bumper. However, if I anticipate what’s to come, I effortlessly maneuver myself into the new flow of traffic.
When it comes to marketing, day spa owners may find themselves in a similar situation at this time of year. While most have been cruising along at a steady pace with no major marketing push since Valentine’s Day, the landscape rapidly changes in May. Before you know it, you’re experiencing the Grand Prix of promotional opportunities with the arrival of Mother’s Day, dads-and-grads season and then summer package specials.
To ensure that your strategies are up-to-speed, here are a few tips from DAYSPA’s editorial advisory board:
Nancy Trent, Trent & Company: “The Woodhouse Day Spas (woodhousespas.com) host an annual Mother’s Day Tea. Each of its franchisees encourages mothers and daughters to spend the day together to experience stillness, relaxation and balance with mini-makeovers.”
Scott Kerschbaumer, ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare: “We kicked off our Mother’s Day sales with a Cinco de Mayo special last year. Our spa matched every $500 gift certificate purchase with a free $500 bonus gift certificate. In a six-hour period on May 5, we sold more than $20,000 in gift cards—which jumpstarted our Mother’s Day promos. For Father’s Day and graduation, our Dads and Grads package offers a complimentary treatment to men who are accompanied by an existing client.”
Felicia Brown, LMBT,Spalutions!: “Do something special for military moms and dads.”
For more tips, visit dayspamagazine.com. Plus, check out the latest Mother’s Day products in “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and “Breathe In, Breathe Out.” For ways to appeal to the male spa client, see “The Best Man.”
Essie will continue to be a salon brand, according to the company. “Essie will have access to L’Oreal’s research and development department and will be able to deliver the same high-quality nail products to professionals everywhere,” says Arlene Benza, PR director for the brand. “L’Oreal’s distribution will allow Essie products to be available more places worldwide.”
A new spa in India offers lakeside luxury in its tented treatments.
The spirit of Indian royalty comes alive at ESPA at The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur in Udaipur, India. Opened last February, the spa features treatment rooms and suites ensconced in traditional Rajasthan-style tents. The facility is separated into two areas—the Haveli Spa and the Lake Spa—both of which overlook Lake Pichola. The palace is located in the Rajasthan region of western India, dubbed the Venice of the East for its intricate waterways.
On the outside, garden passageways created by architect Bill Bensley lead guests to their designated treatment rooms. Once inside, crystal chandeliers, rich-colored fabrics, and the aromas of ginger, clove and lime stimulate the senses.
The Haveli Spa features five treatment tents, aroma-steam rooms made of crystal and anthracite glass, and separate male and female relaxation areas. Patrons can also enjoy lunch and a view on the spa’s rooftop terrace.
The Lake Spa, constructed with couples in mind, includes suites with their own private pools and walled gardens.
Maintaining European ideals and ancient ayurvedic philosophies, the spa menu features Abhyanga Marma point massage (120 mins./$175) and Dosha body therapies (120 mins./$175). Essential and traditional ayurvedic oils, which contain medicinal herbs, are used in each customized treatment. —Stephanie Flores
Step up your green initiatives during Earth Month by re-examining
your spa’s commitment to preserving our planet’s natural resources.
My niece Natalie Wilson enthusiastically does her part to save the environment. For one, she rides her bike to work—a practice that many people now adopt. However, Natalie commutes daily from Los Angeles to Gardena, California, and back, which is an extraordinary feat. The 45-mile, nearly four-hour, round-trip trek includes cycling up hills, enduring the elements and dodging rush-hour drivers.
It took Natalie almost two months of weekends to train for her commute. At first, she surrendered a few times—calling on her twin brother Nicholas to rescue her from muscle fatigue. Still, she remained determined and eventually built up enough stamina to complete the journey five days each week. Not only has she lost about 25 pounds in the process, she’s also gained a lot of satisfaction knowing that her efforts reduce her carbon footprint.
Natalie is a day spa owner’s dream demographic. She’s an environmentally conscious career woman who needs to decompress from her active lifestyle. If she walked into your facility, would you be able to retain her as a client with your eco-friendly practices? Do you have energy-efficient lighting? Would you offer her water in a reusable glass? Do you use recycled materials in your decor?
April is Earth Month. If you haven’t already done so, it’s an ideal time to begin implementing the use of products and treatments containing natural ingredients. For ideas on how to look to nature for inspiration, see “It’s Good to Be Green” and “Earthly Delights” in this month’s issue.
We also profile three ecologically sound spas in this issue. These facilities understand that high-tech is losing ground to handmade as well as how to make these business strategies resonate in their communities. Take a look at Anara Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (anaraspa.com) in Hawaii; Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness (complexions.com) in Albany, New York; and Great Face & Body (greatfaceandbody.com ) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For a peek at how Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design elements translate in a spa setting, visit our DAYSPA Video Channel on the homepage.
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate unsung conservation superstars, such as Natalie, on their individual efforts. Plus, I want to send a collective thank-you to all of the day spa owners who make the preservation of our planet a top priority. Keep up the good work, and enjoy our special issue.
Here’s how some spas are celebrating Earth Month–and promoting green business practices.
The month of April brings forth sunny days, light showers and a national awareness of the earth’s well-being. In the spirit of celebrating the 40th Earth Month, we take a look at some spas that have made it their mission to promote health and wellness not just for clients, but for this vast, green place we call home.
The Spa at The Resort at the Mountain in Mt. Hood, Oregon, has a name that echoes its lush surroundings, which can be seen as its most valuable attribute. During the month of April, the facility will be encouraging guests and volunteers to help protect this all-important asset. It’s hosting a Give Back program on April 17 to ask volunteers to help raise funds for The Wee Burn Stream Restoration Project.
The initiative seeks to re-establish local fish habitats and streams, including Wee Burn, which runs through the resort’s golf course.
As a reward for their service, volunteers will have access to eco-friendly spa treatments at exclusive discounts–such as an Ancient Cedar Body Polish (50 min./$59) and Relaxation Massage (50 min./$55).
Blue Marble Spain San Diego, California, is celebrating all-things green by offering a limited-edition, organic treatment package throughout the month of April. The Earth Journey (2 ½ hours/$216) begins with a warm stone massage using organic sunflower, olive and wheat germ oils. Then, guests are treated to the Blue Marble Manicure and Pedicure, which employs California sea salts and bamboo to exfoliate skin, soy and lavender to soothe it, and vegan nail polish to finish the journey.
“Each of our spa treatments are rooted in nature and use the best organic and natural ingredients,” says spa director Kyra Johnson. “We take a holistic approach to the inner and outer beauty of our clients. Our treatments respect the integrity of the body and the environment.”
Facelogic Spa, with locations throughout the South and East Coast, is promoting the use of organic products by rewarding those who do. During April’s “Go Organic” event, clients are encouraged to bring in empty recyclable skincare product containers in exchange for a $5 Facelogic gift certificate. The spa will recycle the tubes, pots, canisters and pumps and encourage clients to shop for eco-friendly products, such as those by Eminence Organic Skin Care. Those who spend $25 will enjoy a complimentary 20-minute facial. A percentage of sale proceeds will be given to the Earth Day Network.
The Nova Vita Salon & Spain Tustin, California, began work to reduce its carbon footprint earlier this year and wishes to celebrate its accomplishments with spa guests during Earth month. For the month of April, visitors will receive a 25% discount on all organic spa treatments when they refer a friend to the spa between April 1 and 30. They’ll also receive $15 in Nova Vita spa bucks for any purchases of organic products.
Nova Vita’s green makeover included a recycling program for all paper, glass and plastic waste; switching to electronic communications; replacing all spa applicators, sheets, gauze and wax with recycled versions; and cutting down on in-office printing.
Nova Vita took cues to cutting back on carbon emissions from carbonfootprint.com.
Although the spas mentioned here have built a green practice with a lot of hard work and effort, it was those first steps that were the most important. Whether you’re a LEED-certified green spa or an organic newbie, let your clients know about your earth-friendliness through special promos and events. They’ll be happy to know that the place they go to rejuvenate is also a place that fights for their planet’s well-being. — Stephanie Flores
Anna Nelson is CND nail-art royalty, and she was treated as such at the 2010 Mercedes-Benz New York Fall Fashion Week. Nelson, whose azure animal print nail design was chosen by fans to be the best out of 650 entrees in CND’s first online nail style competition, used the company’s Colour & Effects to create her winning piece. A welcome reception awaited her when she first arrived at the CND nail studio.
After getting a firsthand look at the week’s preparations for the fashion shows, Nelson joined CND president Jan Arnold for dinner at the Japanese restaurant Koi, which is located in the Bryant Park Hotel. What was the conversation topic of choice? Nails, of course! Although Nelson is primarily a hairstylist, her second passion is nail design. She brought along her portfolio of nail tips, which impressed Arnold.
But the fun didn’t stop there. Nelson sat front-row center in some of the week’s hottest shows, which included Diego Binetti, Twinkle and The Blonds. At each, she was invited backstage to apprentice with Roxanne Valinoti, Angi Wingle and Kristina Estabrooks, some of CND’s most noted nail professionals.
“Beauty comes first, art second,” says Nelson of her labor of love. “Nails are a treasure—you can incorporate design, color and technique into a fashionable finish.” —Stephanie Flores
DermaQuest Skin Therapy launched its mineral makeup line, DermaMinerals, just last September. And already it’s winning praise from leading industry magazines–including yours truly (see “Raves & Faves” in the April issue of DAYSPA). Its latest honor came from Natural Health, the United Kingdom’s leading magazine on health, beauty and holistic living. The pub picked DermaMinerals Dual Pan Concealer as the best in that category. It also listed DermaMinerals Breathable Coverage Liquid Mineral Foundation SPF 30 as a finalist in the Best Foundation category.
Comments from the panel include this rave about the award-winning concealer: “Not only does this cover up blend in brilliantly, it comes in a double color palette, so you can match your skin tone perfectly. The solid texture is soft enough to smooth in without being too drying. Plus, it doesn’t give you the dreaded caked-on look, or leave any tell-tale signs that you’ve been covering a blemish.”
The magazine’s annual Natural Health & Beauty Awards honor the best in the industry. A panel of experts tests thousands of products from more than 120 brands. The award-winning products will be announced in the May issue of Natural Health.
… make an organic mask! Watch as skincare expert Keith West-Harrison whips up a batch of his company’s best-selling organic product.
Who needs gritty granules to exfoliate skin? Not the green folks at My Sacred Fig. The independent product line of Great Face & Body in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is green to its core–the employees even walk to work!
The company proves that you can make a highly effective enzyme mask with a few ripe bananas and a handful of other natural ingredients. Watch co-owner and celebrity skincare expert Keith West-Harrison as he shares his secret formula for the best-selling Organic Banana Dream Exfoliating Puree.
Blossoming trends in consumer packaged goods could change
the way you do business this year.
Earlier this year, London-based independent market analyst Datamonitor released its annual “Trends to Watch in Packaged Goods” for 2010. Skin-enhancing bedding, superfruits and gluten-free products are now making a dramatic entrance on the world’s stage.
Here’s a peek at how they may impact the spa industry:
Beauty Rest
Spin: Wearable skincare products utilize nanotechnology to incorporate ultrafine particles, such as those from copper or aloe vera, into bedding and clothing. For instance, SkinGlow pillows and comforters, which are manufactured by London Luxury, feature Cupron Copper Technology. It professes to smooth or reduce the appearance of wrinkles after just a few weeks of use—as long as skin is in direct contact with the product.
Spa: Incorporate the comforters into your treatment rooms. Plus, link to wearable skincare products on your website.
Superfruits
Spin: Packed with powerful antioxidants, the latest superfruits come from rain forests and jungles all over the world. They include baobab (a tart African fruit), borojo (a natural energizer from South and Central America), maqui (a berry native to South America) and yumberry (known as yang-mi in China).
Spa: These natural wonders could be the next big thing to hit the skincare market since açaà berries and coffeeberries.
Bamboo Bonanza
Spin: This sustainable plant has become the ingredient of choice for companies that want to bolster their green credentials.
Spa: Whether it’s present in your lighting, flooring, equipment or retail products, bamboo can enhance your decor and commitment to eco-friendly practices.
A Gluten-Free World
Spin: Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye. As the incidence of food-related allergies rises each year, sufferers of diseases such as celiac—an autoimmune disorder triggered when the protein is consumed—are receiving more recognition. In fact, Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics reports a doubling of new gluten-free products since 2005.
Spa: Gluten can also be found in cosmetics and skincare products. They may irritate those who suffer from celiac disease if applied near the mouth. Reach out to this population—which affects approximately 3 million Americans—by setting up special gluten-free retail areas and treatment menus.
There’s a point in my commute each evening where I need
Anna Nelson is 
