Happy Holidays from The Scandle LLC Team!

 

Happy Holidays Enjoy the Season With the holiday season upon us, we'd like to take a moment and thank you for your dedication and support of Scandle Massage Candles & Eco-friendly Spa Accessories this year.  Whether you are a customer, retailer, or partner of Scandle LLC, our relationship with you is the best gift of all.  From all of us here at Scandle LLC, we wish you and yours a safe, healthy holiday season with many more to come!Scandle LLC offices will be closed December 25th through January 2nd.  All orders and messages will be processed upon our return. Warm wishes, From All of Us At Scandle LLC

Unsubscribe | Update your profile | Forward to a friendCopyright (C) 2012 Scandle Body Candle & Eco-friendly Spa & Beauty Accessories All rights reserved.

 

The Waiting Game

Lines. You see them everywhere, especially this time of year. You wait in line at the mall. You wait in line at the grocery store. You wait in line to see Santa Claus.

As a retailer, you don’t like to keep anyone waiting. But if you are successful, then waiting will be inevitable. The best thing you can do is keep customers from feeling like they are just waiting.

One of the key rules of the waiting game is to keep people occupied.  Filled time passes more quickly than unoccupied time...they say!  And probably one of the most frustrating line is the "invisible line" that the customer can't see.  This typically happens on customer service phone calls.

An effective way to manage callers’ expectations and wait times is with effective on-hold messaging. An on-hold message allows your spa or wellness practice to project its brand in a positive way while also encouraging callers to remain on the line until a customer service representative can take their call.  Studies show how callers with messages on hold will stay on the line up to 3 minutes longer than with silence on hold.

But an on-hold message does more than occupy a caller’s time. Effective hold messages add value to customers:  informing the about your spas/massage clinic's products and services, special promotions and other company news. Other uses include promoting a company’s website and social media channels and answering some frequently asked questions.

So be a winner at "The Waiting Game" today and provide an effective means for managing invisible lines during the holiday rush and beyond!:)

Source:  B2C - Managing Visible and Invisible Lines of Customers

Grabbing Last Minute Holiday Sales with Gift Certificates

According to statistics, 37% of gift certificates sold at spas in 2011 were purchased in December. Over 49% of those gift certificates were sold in the week leading up to Christmas. That's right people, we're only a week away from Christmas and it's your last opportunity to grab those last minute sales! Here are 4 tips:

1.) Integrate Online Gift Certificates with Your Website - Give your customers 24/7 convenience & save your staff time!

2.) Reflect Holiday Spirit with Effective Gift Certificate Designs - It’s never too late to brand your gift certificates with your logo and customize them with holiday designs. Holiday themed designs are more enticing to purchase.

3.) Embrace the Power of Social Media to Sell More Gift Certificates - This can be done on Facebook , Twitter, etc.

4.) Entice Customers to Purchase with Holiday Promotions - Many spas use a gift with purchase incentives. For instance, "Purchase a gift certificate in X amount and receive a free Scandle Massage Lotion Candle!"

What other tips do you have to encourage last minute holiday sales? Share them here!

Source:  SpaTrade - Top 5 Tips to Increase Holiday Sales

Year-end Tips for Reducing Your Tax Bill

With only a few more weeks left in 2012, there is limited time to implement ideas that will result in tax savings for the year. But until the New Year's bell tolls, here are a few last minute things you can do to make your 2012 tax bill a little easier to cope with...

1.) Section 179 Expensing: Furniture, equipment, software, vehicles and capital assets are normally subject to a write off over their useful life.

2.) Startup Expenses: Did you know that you may write off the expenses you incur in the investigatory or startup phase of your business? This deduction works once the business is operational, so if you are still in startup mode on Dec. 31, you must defer the deduction to 2013. The IRS defines an operating business as one that has opened its doors or is accepting transactions.

3.) Set up or Fund your Retirement Plan: Contributions made to retirement plans reduce your taxable income.

4.) Holiday Parties provided for your employees are 100% deductible. Parties for clients and associates are 50% deductible. But there are rules. You must have a business purpose and that consists of more than just promoting goodwill or networking and the expense cannot be lavish or extravagant.

5.) Expense Account Reimbursements: Gather together all those receipts for business expenditures you paid out of personal funds and have your business reimburse you before year end.

6.)  Charitable Contributions : Check with your tax pro to find out if you should be giving personally or if it’s better for gifts to be made from business funds. And don’t forget to get those acknowledgment letters. The IRS has been auditing and disallowing contributions without that backup document. A cancelled check is not enough substantiation.

What other last minute tax saving tips do you have?  Share them!

 

Source:  Fox News - Year End Tax Tips for Small Business Owners

Treat for Tired Holiday Shopping Feet

Holiday shopping can take a toll on the mind, body, and sole! Want a simple, frugal way to help clients treat their feet at the spa or at home? Offer them a foot soak.

From ancient times, when weary travelers were greeted at their destination with a warm foot bath, to modern spas that commence full body treatments with a relaxing foot soak, this humble ritual has survived the ages. Both nurturing and practical, the footbath was a way to prevent soil from entering the home, while honoring and acknowledging your guest's journey. In some cultures, a foot wash was also given to clear all negative energy, stress, and anxiety before crossing the threshold.

Though we rely less on our feet for long distance transport and while shoes have evolved significantly (for better and for worse) since Biblical times, the footbath is still a vital ritual. A self-prepared foot soak is a quick and easy way to unwind, relax, and nurture yourself after a long day, a vigorous workout, or too much time in unsupportive shoes.  All it takes is 15 minutes to sit, soak, and let the day go!  Here's some ideas on how to make a therapeutic foot soak at the spa or at home:

• Add Scandle's Dead Sea Salt Scrub & Soak to boost detoxification and soothe aching muscles and joints to warm water.  Then add peppermint essential oil to boost circulation, energize the spirit, and neutralize odor. Enhance the experience by incorporating Scandle Spa Massage Oil Candles, soothing music, or breathing exercises.

• Fill a large bowl three-quarters full with warm water. Add one teaspoon almond oil, two tablespoons nonfat dry milk, and a splash of lavender or rosemary essential oil. Relax and soak for five to fifteen minutes.  We also recommens concluding any sole-soaking ritual with an application of oil or lotion like our Scandle Lotion Candle and a pair of warm socks to allow the moisturizer to penetrate and hydrate the skin.

Hopefully with these tips, your clients will be able to put their best foot forward for the holiday season! :)

Source:  Healing Lifestyles & Spas - "A Soak for the Soles"

Savings on The Gift of Spaaah...for the Holidays...

Check out our latest Newsletter for savings and last minute gift ideas!

 

[caption id="attachment_4607" align="aligncenter" width="118"] Read Scandle's latest newsletter for savings and specials![/caption]

Scandle Lotion Candle Featured In North Valley Magazine

Check out Scandle Candle in the December issue of North Valley Magazine as one of  "5 Amazing Beauty Products You Won't Believe are for Real!"



http://issuu.com/northvalley/docs/nvm1212/59

Scandle Selected as Finalist in Entrepreneur Magazine's Indie Holiday Gift Guide!

Scandle Candle Lotion Massage Candles were selected out of hundreds of entries as 1 of  7 in Entrepreneur Magazine Indie Merchant Holiday Gift Guide - Beauty Category!

 

5 Tips for Dealing with Cranky Clients

Unreasonable customers are always a pain, but they're especially prevalent and stressful during the holiday season!  But keep your cool and resist the urge to "tenderize" your clients during their massage sessions with the following tips:

1.)  Remember: The customer is always right - I know this is probably the hardest to accept, but customer service experts have long said that a happy customer tells one or two friends, while an unhappy customer tells several--or in the age of social media, hundreds of his closest strangers. And these statistics can be magnified by the emotions related to the stress of the holiday season.

2.)   Train employees to cope with problem customers - Hold staff meetings between the end of October and Thanksgiving to do scenario training and discuss best practices for dealing with nightmare customers.

3.)  Hire enough holiday help to minimize customer frustration - Staffing up adequately during the holidays can prevent a lot of aggravation for both customers and employees. If someone is already upset and then has to wait a long time on line or on hold, this will only add fuel to the fire.  Also overworked employees also may mishandle customers.

4.) Don't promise what you can't deliver - Promising your clients the sun, moon and stars is great but not so great when you can't deliver.  If you say you're going to try to do it and you don't do it, their problem becomes your problem. You always try to please your customer, but don't give them a reason to heap blame on you.

5.)  As a last resort, be willing to lose the customer and the sale - If you offer your best plan for resolving a problem and the customer is still being difficult, it's okay to part company and refund the purchase price.

Winning by Pinning

Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, YouTube...seems like everyday there is another social network to keep up with? The newest of theses networks...Pinterest. You may be thinking this isn't the network for your spa or clinic because your business is not Pinterest-appropriate, right? Think again! Companies that would not classify as visually stimulating are using the site.   For day spas, it’s a slam dunk, as images relating to wellness and relaxation are some of the most frequently pinned (or most popular) on Pinterest.

Here are some expert approved tips and tools for gaining a presence on this new social network:

• Why Pin?  It's free publicity!  Pinboards and re-pinning functions facilitate virtual word-of-mouth marketing for your business.  It’s also a great way to boost your spa’s SEO (search engine optimization). The more content your spa or clinic puts out into the web, the more hits it is likely to get in a web search.

• What's Pin-worthy?  Remember all that money you dumped into fancy photography for your spa or clinic?  Here's some catagories you can put them in on your Pinterest profile:
  
  
  
  • Products we Love
  
  
  • Tricks of the Trade
  
  
  • Fan Favorites
  
  
  • Service Specials
  
  
  
  

• Pinning Practice Makes Perfect!  To successfully market your business via Pinterest, spa/clinic owners must go beyond simply creating pinboards and posting beautiful images. Offer key information about your spa:  your website, physical and email addresses,  and phone number, for instance.  Also try these tips:
  
  
  
  • Watermark your images. Include your URL at the bottom, so that when the image is re-pinned, audiences know that it’s originally from your spa.
  
  
  • Use hashtags (#) to increase exposure
  
  
  • Use other social media platforms to cross-promote your Pinterest page.
  
  
  • Keep your page fresh and up to date
  
  
  
  

Make sure to follow Scandle on Pinterest for in-spa-ration!:)  Also share your pinterest page here and let's all get pinning!:)

Source:  Winning With Pinning - DaySpaMagazine.com

Holiday Spa Treats for Fufilling Holiday Sales

‘Tis the season for the holiday hustle and bustle!  With all the upcoming festivities, who couldn't use a little holiday break to ease some tension and get some Christmas shopping out of the way? The holidays offer your clients the perfect opportunity to take some time out for themselves at your spa or clinic, while providing them with great pampering gift ideas that they can't find at "big box" retailers.  Here are a few of our favorite Holiday Treat-ments that are sure to warm your clients up and give them some in-spa-ration for stress-free holiday gift giving:

• Winter Refresh Pedicure -Enjoy the classic elements of a pedicure paired with the invigorating winter scent of peppermint. This pedicure features The Scandle Lotion Candle in Silent Night (providing aromatherapy effects of lavender and mint) along with your choice of Scandle's Dead Sea Salt or Turbinato Sugar Scrub.  Simply light The Scandle Candle (or use The Scandle Lamp) to melt The Scandle Candle.  Then, combine some of the soothing warm oil along withThe Scandle Salt or Sugar Scrub and follow with a hydrating Scandle Lotion Candle  moisturizing foot massage.   Recommended gifts for customer purchase:  Scandle Spa Trio.

• Holiday Spirit Massage - Treat clients to a full-body custom pressure massage that uses the warm scents of our Limited Edition Holiday Spirit Massage Candle (with notes of cranberries and orange zest). This massage increases circulation, soothes tired muscles and creates an overall sense of relaxation. Recommended gifts for customer purchase:  Scandle Massage Experience.

• Mint Delight Scrub - The invigorating scent of peppermint accentuates this luxurious full body gentle exfoliation.  By combining the warm oil of our Limited Edition Silent Night Scandle Body Candle along with The Scandle Salt or Sugar Scrub, this warm tempting treat is designed to stimulate circulation and reveal soft healthy skin.  Recommended gifts for customer purchase:  Scandle's Get Your Glow On.

We're sure these treatment and gift ideas will give you're clients the holiday warmth they need during this time of year and help them enjoy the season, stress-free!:) Happy Holidays!

Ready, set, sell!

The biggest holiday shopping season of the year is quickly approaching!  Do you have all your proverbial "ducks in a row" at your spa, clinic, or wellness facility to make it your most profitable?  Here are some easy-to-implement, high impact sales stimulation that you can use both in-store and online:

• BOGO – Buy One Get One – offers are potent draws for almost any business. It doesn’t have to be “buy one get one free”. 50% off the second item is very powerful and equates to a 25% discount on the total sale.

• Print compelling short-term offers – good for one week, for example – on customer receipts. An offer that’s good for a limited time will bring customers back quickly with almost no advertising expense incurred.

• Advertise a same-day or next-day sale. The sale may be limited to a few hours with special “doorbusters”, say from 7am-11am, to attract customers at a time that is normally a slow period at your establishment.

With so much going on in social media, you can create great “buzz” for your business and generate huge sales at almost no cost. Create a special promotion your followers can take advantage of – and share with their friends! Want a few examples? Try these!

• “Like” Us on Facebook and get 15% off your next purchase.

• Post a unique picture on Facebook. Offer customers who post a comment $5 off their next purchase.

• Have a special keyword phrase known only to your online followers or website visitors, giving people who provide the phrase at checkout a promotional item with your company logo – a pen, a shopping bag, a travel mug, etc. – with a minimum purchase of your choosing.

Be imaginative and watch your holiday sales skyrocket!  Happy Holidays!:)

Scandle Massage Lotion Candles Are Lighting Up The Airwaves!

With only 3 more days to the kickoff of the biggest holiday shopping day of the year (Black Friday, Nov 23rd)...The Scandle Body Candle has been lighting up the airwaves and gift guides as THE GIFT to give that special someone this holiday season!

Check out The Scandle Massage Lotion Candle on the Steve Harvey Show today (Tuesday, November 20th)...

[caption id="attachment_4460" align="aligncenter" width="210"] Scandle Body Candles were featured on The Steve Harvey Show! Tuesday November 20th, 2012[/caption]

...And on LovingYou.com

[caption id="attachment_4456" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Check out Scandle Body Candle in LovingYou.com[/caption]

 

Check out these Scandle sightings today for exclusive discounts for your holiday gift giving!

Boost Business While Giving Back...

One of the best ways to give back to the community that supports your business is by getting involved in charitable activities and The Holidays are the best time to do it since everyone’s in a generous frame of mind!:)  Not only does giving back to your community raise your spa or practice's profile in the community, it makes clients and prospective clients feel better about your business—and more inclined to spend money with you.

How do you start a giving program? Here are some steps to get going:

1.)  Choose A Cause - Your cause should be one that relates to your business, your community and your customers.  Since most of your clients are most likely from the local community, you’ll also want to pick an organization that’s locally based.

2.)  Do Your Homework - Check the background of any group you’re working with. Sadly, lots of scams are out there that appear legitimate. Even if an organization is legitimate, you’ll want to know how much of the money they collect goes to their clients as opposed to being used for overhead.  A good source is CharityNavigator.

3.)  Figure Out How You Will Help - The amount of time you have to spare vs. the amount of money you have to spare will be key to this decision.  If you have time to spare, you or your employees may want to volunteer for the organization.  If you have money to spare, you might just want to donate funds. You could also consider having special events where part of your sales on that day go to the organization, or giving the organization your net profits from the sale of a certain product (for some inspiration, check out Scandle Body Massage Candle's partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation for Earth Month).

4.)  Get the Word Out - Let your customers, community, and local media know that you’re involved with this organization by spotlighting it in your marketing materials and on your website, in social media and in signage in your store. Show customers how they can get involved and help too, whether by purchasing a product that supports the cause, donating money or shopping on a certain day.

What organizations/causes has your spa or clinic partnered with?  Please share below!

Source - "How Your Small Business Can Give Back This Holiday Season" on Network Solutions

 

Massage Your Feet for Healthier Skin...

Could reflexology be the answer to your skincare woes? With its much-acknowledged body benefits, reflexology is often hailed as a holistic wonder. But could the alternative medicine heal your skincare woes as well as healing your body?

Skin is, after all, the largest organ in the human body and acts as a protection from the elements.

So, how exactly does reflexology work? And can it offer a fabulously glowing complexion?

In short, the answer is probably. The natural healing process is based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body.

Through application of pressure on these, the feet being the main area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body.

It can help to correct imbalances within the body and can be particularly beneficial for people who suffer with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, and rosacea to name a few.

One of the main reasons it seems to work is because it can help detoxify the skin, through manipulating pressure points in the feet that help the kidneys and other organs function optimally.

The lymphatic system also benefits, and this is a key part of getting rid of toxins that may accumulate in our bodies.

So, there you have it, the glowing skin you dream of could be just a foot massage away!

Source Xpose Entertainment - Reflexology Beauty

Give Thanks This Thanksgiving

Want to build lasting relationships with your customers? Try connecting with them with two simple words, "Thank You"! With Thanksgiving just one week away, there is no better time to garner goodwill and loyalty than by thanking those who keep your business running and growing. People appreciate being appreciated, and saying so allows your spa, clinic, or wellness business to connect with people on an emotional level, beyond just your product or service.

Here are a couple of ways to give thanks:

1.)  Social Media Shout Outs - Recognizing customers shows them how much you value them. Thank customers by mentioning them in a tweet, posting a coupon on Facebook, or your blog. As a bonus, the customer will often share your efforts with their family/friends.

2.)  Personalized Emails - Turn a customer into a loyal one by giving them special attention. Send personalized emails to customers thanking them for their business. Give customers a reason to remember you in the New Year with a discount on their favorite products or services.

Let's face it...we all have choices on where we spend our time and money.  Take the time to thank them for choosing your business. Saying thanks is an easy and effective way to grow relationships—and ultimately, benefit your business!

How do you show your customers thanks?

Provide some POP for Successful Retail Sales!

No, we're not suggesting that you provide your customers with Soda Pop to help your retail sales, but being a soda junky myself, this certainly would close the deal for me!;)  What we are suggesting here is creating an environment that is conducive to shopping through enticing Point-of-Purchase Displays (POP displays).

The Holidays are the prime time to make sure that your retail area is up to snuff.  As clients are checking out, they browse the surrounding area.  This is why candy, gum and magazines are clearly visible at the registers in grocery stores, and why retail stores often place POP items on countertops.  While clients are waiting to check out with nothing else to do, they often find themselves grabbing something and adding it to their purchase.  We suggest offering retail items at a reasonable price point (like our Scandle Lotion Candle Travel Tins that are great for stocking stuffers) that encourage last minute add on sales/spending!

For more holiday POP ideas and gifts that make gift giving fast and convenient for your clients, check out our November Newsletter for new products, sales tips, and discounts!

Scandle Friday Spa Treatment Feature - Mani/Pedi While You Work

Do you provide on-site services to your customers either at the office or at home? Here's another interesting idea besides the basic chair massage service for corporate clients....Mani/Pedi services in their cubicles or conference room!:)

For clients that are too tired, busy, or (gulp) lazy...you can offer to come to them at work instead of them come to you.

By providing a convenient spa services you can meet the beauty needs of working women with little or no time while boosting profits!  Sounds like a win - win to me!;)

Any other services that you can recommend on-site?  Please share!:)

Limited Edition Holiday Fragrances, Specials, Gift Sets, and More!

 

[caption id="attachment_4359" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Try not to panic! ♥ Check out Scandle's Nov. Newsletter for Limited Edition Holiday Fragrances, Gifts Sets, and Savings![/caption]

Scandle's Friday Treatment Feature - Hot Sticks

Offered by the Okura Spa in the heart of Bangkok's downtown, the "Hot Bamboo" massage may be new to Bangkok but is in fact an ancient treatment common to both Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine. In Japan, it's called "Take" massage and it remains popular with both men and women.

The sticks themselves are about 30 centimeters in length and made from a golden species of Japanese bamboo only found in deep forest.

Once heated, the therapist uses the sticks to apply deep tissue pressure without physical exertion. The temperature of the sticks is not too hot but warm enough to penetrate and soothe. That's similar to the hot stone treatment but while the stone can burn the skin if the therapist isn't skilled, the sticks tend to quickly cool off.

When the bamboo sticks are rolled on the back or shoulders, they are quite rigid. Applied with essential oil, they become slippery cylinders and it's essential that the therapist is trained in controlling their motions.  The focus is more on a full body massage than one specific tension area, since the stick allows for a greater surface area.

Source:  "Sticks that Heal" The Nation/News Network Oct 28, 2012

5 Ways to Get More Customer Referrals

Finding new customers for your spa, massage, or wellness business is the lifeblood of its success and sustainability. Without new clients, there is no way a business can endure. Therefore, it is imperative that you retain existing customers and mine those customers for referrals. How is this done? Well developing referrals from people who have a need to like, know, and trust you should be relatively easy and effective, as long as you have a system and you are consistently earning that trust. Here are five things you can do to develop referrals from your current client base:

• Develop relationships instead of business transactions - People do business with people they like, know, and trust.  Build a relationship and you build referrals.


• Use Testimonials - Keep updating your testimonials on Facebook and put them up on your Websites.  Need some inspiration?  Check out the ones Scandle has posted on our testimonial page.


• Ask People - Identify key people that you can ASK for referrals, a testimonial, or recommendation and do it!


• Network, network, network - Meet people in person and use the social media platforms as a bridge


• Develop A Referral Habit - Make developing and getting referrals an integral part of your daily activities not a one time deal.

Put these referral tips into practice and see what they do for your practice!  Know of any other ways to get good client referrals?  Please share!:)

Enhance Nail Profits with Add-ons

With the changing of the seasons...dry hands, brittle nails, and hang-nails can be a real problem for your clients.  If you're looking for a way to lend a helping hand to your spa profits, try adding these top manicure services to your lineup!

 

 

1) Massage by the Minute:  Offer a relaxing massage for the arms and hands.  Check out our blog post on "Helping Hands for Manicure Profits" for ways to incorporate a warm, soothing Scandle Lotion Candle massage to your nail services along with hand massage techniques!

2) Nail Design/Bling Fingers: Add to either a specific finger or to every nail. Charge either per nail or $1.00 per minute for more time consuming art.

3) Hand Facial: The face isn’t the only skin that should get a facial, enhance any service with a hydrating or anti-aging mask for extremely dry hands.

4) Anti-Aging Hand Treatments: Invest in a serum to fight brown spots, wrinkles, or even a vitamin C bleaching serum—the hands on a woman show their age more.

5)  Paraffin Dip

6) Nail Whitening Treatments: Offer a nail soak in whitening solutions to get rid of yellow nails such as polident, or water mixed with baking soda and scrub with a nail brush.

7) French Manicures: Offer this manicure in a different way by reversing the smile line and creating a white moon at the cuticle area.

8) Waxing: Offer to remove extra hair on your client’s hands and/or knuckles.

9) Custom Blend a Nail Polish Color: Invest in empty polish bottles and blend a couple colors to warm or cool a polish to match their skin tone. Just by adding a drop of blue will cool or yellow will warm.

10) Mini Spa Treatment Service for the Client On-The-Go: Massage in an intense moisturizer treatment and place the hands in heated mits. Massage the clients’ shoulders while their hands are being treated.  Many of our spas use our Scandle Massage Lotion Candle in Warm Vanilla Sugar to create a fall themed spa mani/pedi treatment with other complimentary products like our Scandle Dead Sea Salt Soak and Scrub or Scandle Turbinato Sugar Scrub.

Source: "Top Ten Nail Upgrades!"  by Lauren Salapatek

 

Scandle Business Mentor - Creating Effective Spa Promos

Putting together a successful promo campaign for a new service or product for your wellness biz can be a challenge if you don't know exactly what will catch a customer's eye. Check out this awesome promo put together by one of our newest retailers/service providers Cleise Brazilian Day Spa (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleisespa) in Chicago, IL. Their promo utilizes The Scandle Lotion Candle (Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/scandle)  in conjunction with several key components to create a spa promotion that has created quite a buzz! Try incorporating some of these elements in your next spa promo for maximum sales and profits:

• Product/service description - Answers what is the new product/service being introduced concisely.


• Product/Service differentiation - Answers what makes this so unique? Why should I buy it?


• Call to Action - Why should I buy now...not later? This is done through special pricing for a limited time and provides a discount to new customers.


• Design - Effective communication of message by highlighting important promotional details and using high quality graphics.

What other key elements have you incorporated in your promos that you have found to be successful?

 

Scandle in "Big Beauty Watch Product List"!

Check out Scandle Body Lotion Candles in The Fall issue of Beauty Consultant Magazine

 

[caption id="attachment_4206" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Check out Scandle Massage Lotion Candles in The Big Beauty Product Watch List in Beauty Consultant Magazine[/caption]

Do You Know What Your Clients Really Want?

Do you know what your clients really value? Many spa and wellness clinic owners think that customer value only boils down to PRICE, when in fact, your prices only become an issue when it is presented as the only benefit of your treatments or products.

If you are wanting to increase profit margins in your business, you and your staff must establish real value and partnership with clients. This can me done by asking prospective clients PURPOSEFUL questions that will enable your practice to sell on true value and not price. Here's how:

1.) Write down your questions to show clients that you really do care about their needs and desires.

2.) Help the prospective client understand what makes you and your spa's treatments and products successful by highlighting value. For instance, if you currently use The Scandle Lotion Candle in massage treatments and sell the candles retail, point out that the candle provides an all natural aromatherapy treatment and skin soothing massage lotion/moisturizer in 1 multi-functional product.  By doing so, you are focusing on the product's value over traditional candles and not the price point.

3.) Practice makes perfect! Practice value marketing daily!

What other tips do you have for determining what your clients value most?

Don't tell me lies!

There's an old saying, "Actions speak louder than words." And when it comes to your clients...nothing could be more true. The truth is revealed through microexpressions, subtle changes in the face that happens for only a fraction of a second. A microexpression is just like any other facial expression, it's just expressed quickly before the person “recovers” to a lying expression that matches their lying words.

Once you understand how facial cues work, you can match your clients' words to their actions and “hear” the truth every single time and adjust your service/retail sales strategy accordingly to get the maximum amount of business for your spa or clinic!   Here's the beginner's guide to reading facial cues and what your client is really telling you.

source:  5 Ways to Detect Lying Clients by Reading Their Facial Cues - Mike Michalowicz

The Hairy Business of Hair Removal

Getting "fur-free" is big business for many spas and translates into one of the most lucrative services available. 

For the most part, hair removal methods basically have remained the same for some time, with the most popular ones usually being waxing, electrolysis and laser hair removal.

Because of the increasing popularity and presence of these techniques, you must identify ways to distinguish your business and its hair removal treatments from the spa’s down the street. What it boils down to is offering the "extras" that make all the difference.

One of the best ways to differentiate, ensure an better overall experience for the client, and boost revenue is to be diligent about caring for the skin after the service. One of the most common complaints from clients is how their skin suffers following hair removal treatments.

According to Lori Nestore, (aka "The Wax Queen"), “The technician must educate the client on normal and expected reactions, and how to minimize them with home care.  Home care prolongs the effects and makes the results better.”

She recommends encouraging before and after exfoliant use, as well as the use of face and body creams, smoothing lotions, AHA products to prevent ingrown hairs and products that prevent red bumps like Scandle's Eco-Shave & Shower Foam which provides an all natural skin soothing & prolonged results for hair removal clients.

By making all of these products available in your spa’s retail area and refering your clients to them after a service, you'll be sure to keep customers happy and coming back for to you instead of the competition! 

What other ideas have you used to differentiate hair removal services in your spa?

*Source - "Hyping up Hair Removal," Skin Inc.

Does Craniosacral Bodywork Have Therapeutic Value?

[caption id="attachment_4166" align="alignleft" width="300"] The craniosacral system is based on the knowledge that the bones of the skull are movable, flexible, and adjustable.[/caption]

Craniosacral therapy (also called CST, also spelled Cranial Sacral bodywork or therapy) is an alternative medicine therapy used by many massage therapists, naturopaths, and chiropractors.

A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to "tune into the craniosacral rhythm". Craniosacral therapists claim that this treatment modality has the ability to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

The results of craniosacral therapy remains controversial and is actively being researched.  CST has been characterized by some as, "pseudoscientific and as lacking a biologically plausible mechanism." Do you or have you used Craniosacral Therapy in your practice?  How would you evaluate its effectiveness?

*Source - Wikpidia

Increasing Spa Revenue with Private Labeling and Branding

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200"] Private label Scandle Lotion Candles can be a unique and theraputic treatment and retail product for new and existing spas.[/caption]

Retailing is a neccessary evil for spa businesses.  But revenues don't always equal profit, and it may be time to look for some margin leverage and some exclusivity in the marketplace via your own private label brand?

Private label products have become more prevalent in the marketplace and requires a well-thought-out strategy.  Your products should be connected to the vision and mission of your spa, perhaps including a signature aroma or using packaging with messaging consistent with your spa's philosophy.

A common misconception about private label is that it will involve research, chemists, long lead times, and a whole lotta money.  However, as with Scandle's Private Label Program, nothing could be farther from the truth!  Sure, you could spend money on developing amazing products, but many companies that offer private label have a wide array of stock formulations or can tweak existing formulas (i.e. if your spa utilizes a signature aroma, those can easily be incorporated into a private label lotion candle).

Here's a list of important questions to ask ask if your thinking about private labeling:

1.)  What are your minimums?

2.)  What are my options for packaging, product, and label customization?

3.)  What kind of customer support is available?

4.)  What kind of marketing support are provided?

5.)  How log have the products been on the market?

6.)  What is the top selling fragrance?

7.)  Can I speak to any active customers?

8.)  Do you offer help/advice on logo and label development/design?

Increasing your spa branding, image, and value are all benefits big benefits of a private label line.  Although many owners hesitate selling a product without instant name recognition, private branding can be equally successful and significantly more profitable in the long run!

Interested in starting your own private label line?  Contact us today for help on developing your own line of private label massage candles and other eco-friendly spa  products.

*Source "To Brand or Not to Brand" American Spa, July 2012

Botox for Treating Depression?

Has the changing of the seasons got you feeling a little blue?  No fear...Botox is here!:)  If your spa already offers botox injections, you might be able to add treatment for depression to your list of services.  The increasingly popular wrinkle-reducing muscle relaxant may hamper your ability to to convey emotion but researchers are finding that to be a good thing when battling depression.

For the study, researchers selected 30 participants suffering from major depression and gave half of them 5 injections of Botox between and just above the eyebrows while the other half were given placebo injections in the same places.  During the 16 week study, researchers found patients who were injected with the placebo had a 9 percent reduction in depressive symptoms, while patients injected with Botox had a 47 percent decrease in symptoms.

This  study suggests that facial muscles do not only let others know how you feel, but are also instrumental in regulating your own mood. How? The study's author, M. Axel Wollmer, a psychiatrist from Switzerland's University of Basel, says that facial muscles might not just tell other people how you feel — they might tell your brain how you feel, too. And because Botox relaxes those muscles, it may prevent your face from telling your brain that you're blue.

*Source:  The Week, "Can Botox Treat Depression?"

Welcome Fall with These Spa Treatment Ideas

Today is October 1st and the nip of fall is already in the air here in Texas.  Although I love the break from the swealtering heat, what I don't like is how the change in temperature causes instant changes to my skin and I'm sure I'm not alone...many of your clients are, or will be, experiencing the same.  Autumn is a time of transition, and the best autumn skin care routines will correct any summer damage that has occurred and prepare skin for winter.  Here are some things to focus on with treatments and product recommendations:

• Ditch the soap. Fragrant soapy scrubs might feel (and smell) wonderful after a day at the beach, but they leave skin dry. When fall arrives, switch to a soap-free hydrating cleanser.  We recommend our plant based Scandle Eco-Shave & Shower Foam, a soap-free shave foam and body cleanser in one.


• Exfoliate with an oil-based scrub. The summer sun and chlorine may leave skin feeling dry and flaky. Have your clients start the new season off with a full-body exfoliation session with an oil-based scrub.  Try our Scandle Hawaiian Turbinato Sugar Scrub or Scandle Dead Sea Salt Soak & Scrub , which utilizes the warm soothing oil of The Scandle Body Lotion Candle as a luxurious treatment option to exfoliate and hydrate for fall.


• Switch from light-weight lotion to a cream or thick lotion. As the air becomes drier, skin needs a thicker moisturizer to produce a stronger oily barrier.  To reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin and provide hydration to this layer of skin at the same time we recommend cream or thick lotion with a soy, shea butter, and jojoba base like Scandle Lotion Candles in our limited edition fall fragrance, Autumn Harvest.


• Protect your lips. Start moisturizing now to prevent dry, cracked lips this winter. We recommend a non-petroleum based lip balm for best results.


• Invest in hand cream. Hands often become dry and cracked during fall and winter. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. Try offering up a Scandle Hand Treatment as an add on service (check out our article on "A Helping Hand for Massage Profits" for treatment techniques).  This involves massaging hands with our moisture rich Scandle Lotion Candles and slipping on warming mitts during a treatment session or wrapping hands in hot towels for soft, supple hands.

What other treatments/products can you recommend for fabulous fall skin?

Scandle Friday Treatment Feature - Water Shiatsu

Coccydynia is pain of the coccyx or tailbone – the  lowest bone in the spine.  While it can be damaged in an accident, the  pain can also be caused by childbirth. Symptoms can include an ache when sitting down and rising from a seat.  Talk about a pain in the rear!;) 

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, near  Zurich in Switzerland has recently introduced Water Shiatsu to help ease the pain of Coccydynia sufferers.  Water Shiatsu is a stretching and massage treatment  that takes place in a pool. The water  allows the vertebrae to be supported,  with the spine fully relaxed as it’s carrying no weight.

The treatment starts by strapping buoyancy aids to the legs.  The client then gets into the pool with the therapist who instructs them to shut their eyes and lean back. They are then led round the pool, while floating, with their head resting on the therapist's shoulder.  Music is usually played in the background and they are moved in a figure-of-eight shapes to rotate the spine.

After this service, clients report that their back and spine feel lighter and less stiff.   Sounds heavenly doesn't it?:)

Social Media Tips for Growing Your Business

So you've taken the plunge and decided to go social with your spa, massage clinic, or wellness business.   You've got a Facebook account, Twitter account, Linked In Account, Google+, and even a Pinterest account.  So the big question you may be asking yourself is NOW WHAT?

If you're new to social media, here's 5 simple tips on how to get social:

1.)  Develop a strategy - Figure out who your target is and what is the best social outlets to reach them.  For instance, if you have a pretty substantial retail area, Pinterest may be ideal to post pictures of products to share with customers.  However if you don't have a lot of interesting pictures to share things like Pinterest and Instagram may not be for you.  Focus on content that will interest your customers to generate the best and most profitable relationships.

2.) Respond - If you don't have time to respond (typically within a 24 hour time period) then perhaps social media is not for you? Customers want to know someone is listening. The simple task of responding speaks volumes to your customer service.

3.)  Create Meaningful Content -  If you want to build a following, create content that makes you a leader in your industry.  If you don't have time to create your own, share some of the fabulous content already out there! Your followers will thank you for finding it for them.

4.)  Don't Duplicate - Posting the same thing to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the like is redundant and will cause you to lose followers. Tailor the content for each network and audience.

5.)  Self Promotion is Not How You Make Friends - Just like the real world...if you spend 100% of the time talking about yourself, people will get bored and unfriend you!  In social media, as well, you should foster conversation. It’s okay to tell your online community about a new product or promotion, as long as that’s not all you’re doing.

Need a social boost?  Post a picture of your Scandle Body Candle Service or Scandle Lotion Candle Retail display on our Facebook wall and we'll be happy to introduce you to our friends!:)

6 Unique Spa Services to Try This Fall Including Scandle in Examiner.com

Check out a recent article in Examiner.com - 6 Unique Spa Services to Try This Fall!  Article includes Scandle and retailer/service provider Silk Day Spa in New York.

Scandle Friday Feature - Bamboo Massage for Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Pain in the sacroiliac joint – where the  pelvis meets the spine – is common, especially in mothers who carry a child on  one hip.   The muscles go into spasm to try to stabilise  the area. The resulting inflammation may cause months of hip pain. In order to alleviate the pain, some massage therapists use Bamboo Massage.

The Bamboo Massage uses bamboo canes and oil to  provide a deep-tissue massage. Bamboo is covered with silica, which feels smooth  and silky on the skin. The firm pressure created by the canes being rolled up  and down the body releases muscle tension.

With this technique, therapists focus on the painful area in hip and buttocks by rolling a thick hollow bamboo cane up and  down the feet and legs. The same intense pressure is then applied to the hip  and buttock.  At the end of the session, the therapist will typically pound the hollow end of a bamboo cane hard down on the buttocks.

Have you tried Bamboo Massage or offer it at your establishment?  What are your thoughts and experiences with this technique?

 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Part 3)...

Yup...it's true!  Less than 100 days till Christmas!  If you haven't noticed it already, the leaves are starting to change color and (here in Texas) there is a nip of Fall in the air.  At Scandle, in fact, we've already started our Fall/Holiday selling season (if you haven't seen our new Limited Edition Fragrances and Savings announcement...read about it here)!  For the last few weeks we've been covering ways to start ramping up for the most important selling season of the year...the Holidays!  Part 1 discusses How to Host an October Pre-Holiday Sale and Part 2 talks about Creating Holiday Wish Lists and Shopping Nights.

Now, let's talk about one last thing that you absolutely, positively can not forget...Gift Certificates!  Gift certificate sales in November and December can carry you through the slower months of January and February, as they are being redeemed.  Oddly enough, however, most spas do not put a lot of thought in how to sell more of these for added holiday profits?

First set a goal on how many you want to sell based on previous years and then set up a promotion for gift certificates in your event fliers, etc to motivate clients to purchase the maximum amount.  Here are some promo ideas:

• Offer a free service with purchase.  Try using a service you want to build more business for.


• Offer a free gift with purchase.  Many of our customers use Scandle Travel Sized Body Candles  (which make great stocking stuffers!) or Scandles in our Refillable Ceramic Canisters (the refillable canister will encourage repeat business in the future too!) as an incentive.  When promoting this, make sure to list the regular retail value of the gift in your promotional materials so they know the value of what they're getting for free!:)

Well that's all folks!  Get creative, think out of the box, and have a hap-hap-happy Holiday Season!  Have any other successful holiday promotions at your spa or clinic?  Feel free to share them here!

Surveying Customers and Potential Clients to Improve Your Practice

Are you interested in finding out if clients are satisfied with your products or services, or if they enjoyed their visit to your spa or salon ...try running an e-mail survey to conduct some market research.  By conducting period surveys, you can find out information that will help you improve and grow your spa, massage, and wellness business. Generally speaking, there are 3 basic types of surveys:

1.)  Client Satisfaction Surveys - Ask what they liked or didn't like about products or services you offered, what can be improved or added, etc.

2.)  Business Satisfaction Surveys - Questions for business satisfaction relate to did they get the results they were expecting from a treatment, how friendly was the staff, was the location easy to find...etc.

3.)  Demographic Surveys - Ask questions relating to demographics that can be very useful for later marketing campaigns like what is your mailing address, email address, telephone number, cell number, etc.

You're probably thinking why would anyone want to take time to help me?  Well...give them a reason to!  To encourage them to fill out the survey offer them a freebie if they fill it out (i.e. sample products, free mini services, etc.).   You could also hold a free online contest or sweepstakes on your website and ask visitors to fill out a survey before they enter. You could also post your survey to appropriate newsgroups, forums and e-mail discussion lists, or hand them out at the reception desk.

Need some inspiration?  Take a look at our recent survey for a 10% discount on your Scandle Candle wholesale order!:)

 

Scandle Fall News & Specials

Check out the latest specials and limited edition fragrances in our current newsletter!

 

[caption id="attachment_4055" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Click here to read our September 2012 Newsletter![/caption]

Scandle Featured in Professional Beauty Magazine!

Check out the latest press in the latest issue of Professional Beauty!

[caption id="attachment_4047" align="aligncenter" width="266"] Click on the cover to read all about it![/caption]

 

 

All I Want for Christmas....

Today we continue our topic on planning for the most important profit opportunity of the year...The Holidays!  If you missed part one...make sure you read "It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas."

Today's tip is fun one and one that can get your spa, clinic, or wellness practice a huge spike in sales and many new clients...A Client Holiday Wish List!:)  Toward the end of October ask clients to fill out a holiday wish.  The following is just a small sampling of questions you many choose to ask:  Favorite skin care products, favortie body products, favorite shampoos and conditions, favortie at home spa equipment, favorite nail products, favorite accessories, name, significant other's name and email address, other people they would like to receive the list along with email addresses and their relationship.  After this is done, start planning (with your staff) for 2 more events in November and December: 1.)  A Closed Door Shopping Night for Guys and 2.)  A Closed Door Shopping Night for Everyone.

For the closed door event for guys, pick a date to have an evening event and email only the men in your client's Holiday wish list.   This event will pretty much sell itself because you will be able to tell him you know what their significant other wanted for Christmas!  But add gift wrapping while he waits eating pizza and drinking and beer and you've definetely got a winning event!!!

For everyone else on your client's list (i.e. friends, moms, sisters, in-laws, children) have an event just for them and possibly team up with a local bakery or restaurant to provide free snacks and tips on baking or party hosting in exchange for handing out information about their business.  To maximize the selling potential for this event, have customers fill out a card with their name and email address and other contact info and have a drawing to win prizes...that way you will have all of their contact data for later!;)  Also make sure to have enough staff on hand to answer questions, book appointments, etc.

What other ideas can you think of to engage your customers, collect data, obtain new clients and maximize sales at events?  Please share them below.:)

Source – Skin Inc August 2012

Friday Feature - Hot New Trends in Wellness & Spa World

The International Spa Association (ISPA) recently held their annual convention in New York. At the convention, several new spa trends and services were spotted including parties at the spa, treatments for stressed and time-pressed consumers, cross-cultural traditions, and a whole lot of purple – from lavender-scented treatments to mauve colored nail polish! Here's a recap of some of the latest and greatest:

Sparty - Growing in popularity are events called 'spartys' that are booked in the spa space – for weddings, corporate events, etc. At a Sparty, invited guests get spa services either in groups or individually, then gathered back for lunch, cocktails, or hor d'ouvres. Definetely a fun and relaxing way to spend time with friends, family, or collegues!

Cross Cultural Techniques - In order to turn off the stress reponse, many massage therapists are turning to techniques acquired from other cultures including Thai Naga Massage, Middle Eastern Bathing & Exfoliating, and Aboriginal Massage that incorporates listening to didgeridoo music while the therapist shakes a rain stick and applies smooth, hot black basalt stones to the body.

Speed Spa - In a hurry? A new facial treatment called Hydra- Facial, available in 2,000 spas nationwide, offers five procedures in 15 minutes. There's also a quick-dry and waterproof nail polish mani and treatment and a experience that teaches insomniacs to relearn how to fall asleep through relaxation, aromatherapy, a soak and massage.

The Power of Purple - Purple is popular not only for color but as a concept. New trends include violet clay masks, massage with violet-infused oil, lavender aromatherapy and "chromatherapy" (color therapy with purple tones), elderberry facial, lavender foot scrub, and mauve colored nail polish with glitter.

All in all, The International Spa Association's annual look at the industry by the numbers found a slight uptick in 2011, with $13.4 billion in revenue and 156 million spa visits, a more than 4 percent increase from 2010, according to an analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers of information provided by 1,000 destination and day spas in the United States.

The number of full-time employees in the industry is up, as well, by 9 percent, though part-time and contract employees declined slightly, as did the number of spa locations.

Good news for all of us in the wellness, massage, spa, industries!:)

*Source "Trends Swirl Up in the Spa World" Beth Harpaz AP

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Think back to last holiday season.  How were your sales?  Did you do the same promos, events, etc as the previous?  If you did and sales were down, don't expect anything different this year!  As the old saying goes, "Doing the same thing and expecting the same results is..."  (we'll let you fill in the blanks here)!

Now that Labor Day is over, retailers are starting to plan for this important time of year.  Stores last year started the season earlier, stayed open longer and offered better promotions.  Did yours?  It may be hard to believe that each year, consumers start their holiday shopping before Halloween to spread their spending out over a longer period of time.  Being the type of business that has a loyal, influx of repeat clients...it's up to you to take advantage of this at your spa, clinic, or practice and start cashing in on this important time of year for sales.

For the next 3 weeks, we will focus on ideas to help dirve your holiday business and strengthen your profits to increase your cash flow for the start of next year.   This week we talk about Hosting an October Pre-Halloween Sale:

Since you now know that clients like to start early to spread out their spending try taking advantage of that by pulling out items that were left over from last year.  Put specials on existing retail items on the shelf and get an early shipment of holiday items from your vendors.  For instance, Scandle has already stocking fall/holiday fragrances like Fig & Brown Sugar, Oatmeal Milk & Honey, Warm Varm Vanilla Sugar, and Limited Edition Faves like Autumn Harvest & Pumpkin Pie Spice!

Send out an email blast to clients for a period of time you know most of them have free, like 3 or 4 hours after work, for limited time specials, place announcemnts throughout our facility (i.e. in bathrooms, hand out with receipts, etc.) and send out post cards to your most important clients.

Make sure to decorate for the event, giving it a holiday feel.  Put up decorations, sale signs, and place products strategically on tables and shelves.  When the event is over, take down the decorations, etc until mid-November.

If you really want to go all out...partner with a restaurant to provide hor d'oeuvres and a quick demo on making holiday appetizers in exchange for handing out menus and other promos from their facility,

If your event is a success, you can bank on it becoming a regularly yearly event that your customers will look forward to!:)

*Source - Skin Inc August 2012

 

 

Putting A Price on Value at Your Spa & Wellness Establishment

Often times, when business owners are asked what they think is the driving force in customer business, they will say "PRICE"!  However, what most of them don't realize is that price only becomes an issue when it is perceived as the only benefit of a spa service or product.  According to a recent article in Skin Inc.,  if you want to overcome price and increase sales and margins, owners need to teach their team, "how to establish real value" and then practice, practice, practice this skill repeatedly!

Statements like "We are the best...," "We offer superior customers service...," etc. will only get you so far.  In order to determine what is of "value" to your customer you must ask purposeful questions that sell on true value and not price.  Here are some suggestions:

1)  Write down your questions

2.)  Help the client understand what makes you and your spa, practice, business...successful

3.)  Practice this "value marketing" skill everyday!

If, after talking with clients, you discover that they can't afford the product or service being offered, then DO NOT lower the price or the perceived value. Instead, find a new client for the higher-end product or service, and work with your current client to find a lower-cost alternative.  By being honest and admitting that a service/product is not the best fit, you will acutally gain creditbility and trust instead of using "slippery" sales tactics to get a client to buy a service/product they can't afford.  For the best results, owners and their teams should sell clients on RESULTS at the best price to generate longer lasting relationships.

What have you done to set your spa or wellness business apart on value based marketing?  Share your ideas here.

3 Tips for Keeping People Subscribed to Your Email List

It seems that with the popularity of social media, many business owners have lost sight of the importance of email marketing.  As one of the oldest online marketing tools,  email marketing can still bring quality customers to your spa, clinic, or retail establishment if done correctly.  Here are 3 tips to creating and maintaining effective email marketing campaigns and lessen the likely-hood of opt outs:

• Create Relevant Content - Think about it.  If you signed up for an email list and you got emails on a different subject or the content wasn't what you'd expected, you would unsubscribe right?  Keep in mind that the same applies to your customers.  Keep the content relevant by including things like skin care tips, stress reducing techniques, or information about products (like The Scandle Body Candle) that they can use to recreate a spa experience at home.


• Keep A Consistent Marketing Schedule - If you send out a capaign and then several months go by before you send out another, you will probably have a drop in subscriptions.  Stay consistent and send emails when you originally said you would when they opted-in.


• Create Interesting Content - Remember there are many spa, wellness, and massage practices out there...most of which have an email list.  If you don't have anything interesting for your readers, they will get bored and unsubscribe and go to a competing list to get what they want.  Create a survey to see what your customers would like to hear about (i.e. skin care tips, new products, coupons, etc.), subscribe to other newsletters related to yours to see what they're writing about, and look at your analytics after each campaign to see what garners the most interest.

Although these tips won't keep unsubscribes from ever happening, they will at least, minimize them.  What tips do you have for creating successful campaigns for your spa, wellness, or massage business?  Let's hear about them!

Friday Spa Treatment Feature - Untying Knots with Naga

If you're a fan of Thai massage, you might want to give Naga a whirl!;)   Based on the healing principles of Thai massage the treatment incorporates colored silk ribbons that are suspended from above and used as an extension of the therapist's body. The ribbons also help take clients into deeper stretches to release any remaining tension.

It goes beyond traditional Thai leverage-based moements into another realm with the use of aerial silks, allowing a a smooth and rhythmic flow to relax the body and promote an ease of movement. According the therapist using the technique,  a tension-less and open body plays an important role in not only balancing  the body but also promoting a peaceful mind.

5 Ways to Charge What Your Worth

Let's face it, no matter if your a spa, a massage therapist, a holistic health/wellness pro...there's always someone out there that is willing to do what you do (or claim they do) for cheaper. So, how do you make sure price isn’t a sticking point with your clients? It starts with having these five key ingredients right in your business:

1.)  Protect your brand - This is where most business owners mess up.  They have something wrong with their brand that causes clients to only be concerned about price from the get-go.  Don't fall into this trap.  Your brand is more than a logo. It’s how your ideal client feels about you. Your ideal client conjures up these feelings when someone mentions your business name.  YOU are an integral part of your brand thanks to the enthusiasm, personal flair and individual attention you present to each of your clients.

2.)  Understand Your Numbers - Copying your competitors is not the answer. Start by understanding the cost of each sale you make: what it costs to pay your therapists, to keep the lights on, the supplies your using to pamper your guests...all of this comes into play when charging what you're worth.  Once you understand these numbers, you have your bare minimum price. Then you can look at setting a price based on demand. The key is to create demand the right ways to attract clients who love what you do, not by attracting the wrong price-sensitive buyers with discounts.

3.)  Make "Thrilling" Marketing Decisions - Marketing starts with products and services that your customers can’t easily get elsewhere. Your clients should go gaga love you if you want them to pay more for you.  To do that, you need to have offerings like The Scandle Body Candle for instance that is more than just your standard massage oil or spa candle but is both products rolled into one!;)  They need to be special enough to make someone want to talk about them, and not just because of the price.  The more customized your offerings are, the more difficult it will be for anyone to copy you and your perceived value will continue to rise (for a truly unique, custom offering...you might want to look into Private labeling).

4.)  Be Original When it Comes to Promoting - Promotion is what you do to tell people about your offerings – and it goes beyond paid advertising. Try to avoid traditional advertising and focus not on reaching the masses, but instead reaching the right people who may be drawn to what you do.   This could involve holding seminars, partnering with charities, or creating marketing collateral that "talks" to your clients and makes you stand out from the pack.

5)  Don't Be A "Used Car" Sales Person - Selling better doesn't mean smoozing and wheeling/dealing.  It's about building rapport with your clients.  Get to know your customer and spend time educating them.  Find out about their skin care needs and recommend products for those needs, for instance.  Sales at your spa, clinic, or retail setting should be relationship based and the service and experience should continue after the transaction.

* Reference - Duct Tape Marketing "5 Key Ingredients to Charging What Your Worth" by Sarah Petty

Love Can Buy Employee Happiness

In these trying economic times, as a spa/wellness business owner, you're probably feeling cautious about giving out raises and bonuses. The good news is that when times are tough, ther are plenty of ways to create a positive work environment in your spa, massage practice, holistic health/wellness business.

"People will never admit it but money is not the thing they desire most from their work," says Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man's Quest to Beat Drpession and Anxiety and - Finally - Let the Sunshine In (whew...heck of a title, huh?). Here are 4 tips to happy, engaged employees...which are the cornerstone to a successful bottom line:

• Send "love" notes - Yes, you're busy but never underestimate the power of gratitude.  Writing a thank-you note when someone does something worthy can leave a lasting impression!


• Distribute Inspiration - Make buoying your team's spirits one of your goals.  Helping them see the glass as half full will not only improve their attitude but their professional and personal productivity.  Every morning, for instance, Scandle posts an inspirational quote on their Facebook Wall.  A good start may be sharing those posts with your employees!:)


• Share Success Stories - Many bad attitudes take root when employees feel as though they're being taken for granted.  Patkin advises to always praise in public as loudly as possible and criticize only in private.


• Identify Stars - Celebrate those who shine in your spa.  Instead of singling out out just one person, you might consider celebrating several every month.

Even though times may feel tough , there are plenty of ways to create a positive work environment in your spa and wellness practice.  Do you have tips on how you foster a positive work environment at your establishment?  Let's hear about them below!:)

Scandle's Freaky Friday Feature - Whale Vomit Fragrance

Know that wonderful fragrance you smell in the spa, your candles, and perfumes...guess what? It could quite possibly be made from whale vomit!

Better known as "ambergris", this waxy substance formed in the stomach of a sperm whale. It protects the lining of the stomach from sharp "foods," like seashells and large squids, and when indigestion hits, the whale vomits it up.

Even though it probably smells rank when excreted it turns into a sweet-smelling rock that washes up on the beach, slowly over time and as such is used as a key ingredient in some of the best-smelling, high-end perfumes that are sold in department stores, spa products, beauty products, etc.

Because it is very hard to come by, however, ambergris is expensive stuff (roughly about $20 per gram)!

The good news is that a new natural substitute has become available.  According to Joerg Bohlmann, a professor at the University of British Columbia, "We've now discovered that a gene from balsam fir is much more efficient at producing such natural compounds, which could make production of this bio-product less expensive and more sustainable."  

...And honestly, I don't know about you, but I'd much more prefer a plant extract over something secreeted from the bowls of a whale any day!;)