In Part 1 of this series, I discussed considering the menu as a sales tool, and staying on top of price adjustments every year. In this article, I’ll delve a little deeper into menu logistics. First, it is helpful to enter the entire contents of your existing menu into an excel spreadsheet, which makes it easy to view and manipulate your data. Plus, you can use the spreadsheet to create treatment rate or commission tables for your compensation plan at another time. Group services together by department; looking at your menu in this more abstract way makes it easier to determine retail prices for services. Once you’ve created the spreadsheet, re-order the services, and make sure to start with

When it comes to spa operations, one thing that I think is often taken for granted is the service menu. Treatments are priced and listed, and then no one looks at it for a couple of years. But how would you feel if a restaurant you frequented NEVER had anything new or different to offer? A little menu re-engineering is in order on a regular basis, so that neither your customers or your staff gets too bored with what you are offering. The recessionary environment has somewhat faded, but it was an important wakeup call for many spas. The treatments and products that we offer are not essentials, and consumers are still very careful with their discretionary dollars. The National Retail Federatio

Ever look around the spa or wellness center and feel like your staff is just going through the motions? They’re showing up at work, they’re servicing clients, but there is not a lot of energy or enthusiasm? Staff engagement is a key component of your business success, but how do you get it? And how do you know when you have it? Happy employees are not the same as engaged employees; staff members can be personally happy, but still not engaged in their work. The 2016 Global Employee Engagement Report from Aon Hewitt showed that only 59% of employees were likely to stay with their current employer, and that number has dropped from the previous year. And 15% are actively disengaged; they are dis

Growing your spa or wellness business is not a case of “if we build it, they will come.” Prospective clients are bombarded with thousands of daily marketing messages today; your spa business needs a well-designed marketing plan in order to attract their attention. Creating a Plan Unless you have an unlimited budget for marketing the business, you’ll want to begin by creating a specific plan, which helps you to narrow your options and follow a budget. The first component of creating this plan will be to revisit your spa branding and core values. You’ll want to ensure that any marketing messages you create clearly communicate these elements of your business, which helps to set you apart from y