Question of the Month

If you’ve attended a tradeshow recently or participated in a networking event, discussion has probably turned to the same topic: the current economic slump. While some spa owners are crippled by the recent downturn, others are relatively unscathed—and even thriving.

      Here’s a sampling of where several spa professionals and their businesses stand.

How has the economic downturn impacted your spa?

“It’s been terrible, terrible, terrible. My business has tripled every year up until now. Every month someone goes out of business on Newbury Street.”
—Selena Belisle, owner, Spa Newbury, Boston, Massachusetts

“Things have been slower these past few months. Business has been down about 20%.”
—Tammy Schneider, owner, ZiSpa, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

“We’re seeing a little bit of a slowdown, but not a lot. We’re the most established spa in this area, so we have a built-in clientele.”
—Gina Green, co-owner, Silhouettes Salon & Day Spa, Bellingham, Washington

©Photos.com

“We’re not losing a lot of money, but we don’t have the growth that I’d like to see; so I just call it flat.”
—Sheila Paquette, owner, Chakras Spa, Greensboro, North Carolina

“Actually, we’ve been flourishing. We just had to hire another full-time therapist because we’re so busy.”
—Laura Renicker, lead of operations, St. Luke’s Women’s Health Spa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coming next month: What special events or promotions are you currently publicizing for teens? Let us know what's going on at your spa, and your answer may appear in our next newsletter. Email your response to DAYSPA executive editor Rhonda J. Wilson at rwilson@creativeage.com.