Maximising Profit in Your Wellness Business: Tips and Strategies

Are you looking to start a successful wellness business? Then, you've come to the right place. Building a thriving wellness business can be both personally and financially rewarding. First, however, developing a solid business plan and taking strategic steps to ensure maximum profitability is essential.

Here are some tips and strategies that can help you maximise profit in your wellness business:

Identify Your Niche

Identifying your niche is vital to the success of your business. While offering a wide range of services is tempting, it's better to focus, at least at first, on a particular niche. Your specialisation will assist you in differentiating your firm from competitors and making it easier to advertise to a specialised audience.

Create a Powerful Brand

Building trust and credibility with potential customers requires a strong brand. As a result, be sure that your brand matches your values and unique selling proposition. This might assist your target audience in relating to your brand and recognising your company as an industry leader.

Construct a Sales Funnel

To maximise your profit, you must create a sales funnel that converts your leads into paying clients. Begin by determining your target audience and developing a strategy that caters to their interests and demands. For example, free materials, email campaigns, and social media ads may attract visitors to your website and enhance conversions.

Offer High-Quality Services

Providing high-quality services is critical to the success of your company. Invest in education, training, and certification to distinguish your services. This can set your company apart and enhance customer happiness and retention.

Building a successful wellness business needs strategic planning, defining your niche, constructing a solid brand, designing a sales funnel, and providing high-quality services. If you're ready to take the next step in beginning or growing your wellness business, contact us for assistance with our services. We're here to assist you in optimising profitability and achieving your company objectives.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

The Power of Visual Marketing: Why It's Essential for Your Wellness Business

Hey there! You've heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words," right? This is because it's such a powerful idea.

This statement is entirely accurate while promoting your wellness business. Since individuals are constantly flooded with content in the digital age, visual marketing has become essential for advertising businesses.

Firstly, let's take a look at some compelling statistics. According to HubSpot, 90% of information sent to the brain is visual. Furthermore, visuals are processed 60,000 times quicker in the brain than text. 

Moreover, social media posts with visuals receive 650% more engagement than text-only posts. This means incorporating visible elements into your marketing strategy can increase attention and reach potential clients more effectively.

Graphical content is additionally more likely to be shared on social media websites. Users can share an image or a video more often than a post with only text, for instance. This increased sharing may increase visibility for your wellness business, attracting new customers and boosting sales.

Also, visual marketing can help you develop your brand identity and set your company apart from rivals. High-quality photos and videos aid in developing a strong, recognizable brand that customers can easily relate to. In addition, branding components in your marketing will give your company a unified, polished appearance.

Infographics, charts, and diagrams are acceptable forms of marketing in this category, in addition to pictures and videos. These components can assist in making complex information simple and understandable for potential customers, increasing accessibility.

Graphic marketing is an effective tool that can significantly impact your wellness business's success. Visual marketing is essential for any company trying to succeed in today's competitive market, given its capacity to boost engagement, build brand identity, and effectively communicate complex information. If you haven't already, include visual components into your marketing approach, and watch your company expand.

Therefore, if you're ready to take the lead in boosting your visual marketing for your wellness business, contact us right now for more information on how our team can assist you in developing a successful plan. Our goal is for you to succeed!

Blue Skies,

Sam & Sonja

Pre-Opening Checklist: A Must-Have for Your Wellness Business

Opening a wellness business, like a spa, can be an exciting but overwhelming experience. 

Countless tasks must be completed before the grand opening, and getting lost is easy. 

By using this checklist, wellness business owners can save time, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure that their business is set up for success from the very beginning. Furthermore, it provides a framework for continuous improvement, helping business owners to refine their operations and achieve their goals.

The Wellness Makers have covered every essential aspect of the business. In addition, the Pre-Opening Checklist guarantees that business owners are on track and helps reduce stress and anxiety by providing a clear and concise roadmap.

This tool is designed to guide you through 9 different sections necessary to opening your wellness business. So, if you’re wondering where to start, this checklist is the perfect starting point. 

One of these sections is "Strategy", which focuses on establishing the business's goals and objectives by answering these questions as your guide:

•             Why do you want a spa/wellness business? (your objectives)

•             Who do you want to serve? (your target market)

•             What would success look like to you? 

The remaining sections are Story, System, Services, Spaces, Suppliers, Staff, Social Responsibility, and Sales. Currently, we have the Business Pre-Opening Checklist which is an overview document available from our resources, and we’re currently working on a more in-depth resource, diving into every single step, and will make it available for you soon.

As the famous saying goes, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’

So here are 5 important benefits of planning ahead:

1.       Builds brand awareness: A pre-opening period allows you to create buzz about your business and build anticipation among potential customers.

2.       Establishes relationships: This time can be used to network with other industry players, such as suppliers and investors, and cement relationships that can help ensure success after opening day.

3.       Teaches you the ropes: It's important to have a good understanding of the operations of your business before it officially opens its doors so you are well prepared for anything that may arise.

4.       Allows for testing: You can use this time to test new strategies or services in a low-pressure environment while getting feedback from potential customers which will enable you to refine your offerings before launch.

5.       Prepares legal matters: Pre-opening allows enough time for lawyers and other professionals to go through all the necessary paperwork needed to start up and run a business successfully.

We are committed to empowering you with the knowledge and means to bring your wellness business to life. So schedule a call today to share your wellness business vision with our team. We look forward to assisting you in achieving your business goals!

Blue Skies,

Sam & Sonja

Finding the Perfect Location for Your Spa Business

As a spa owner, finding the perfect location for your business is one of your most important decisions. Your location can be the difference between success and failure, so it's essential to take the time to choose wisely.

One of the preferable items you should consider when selecting a location is your target market. Understanding your ideal customer demographics will help you choose a place that is easily accessible to them.

For instance, if your target market is young professionals, consider locating your spa in a bustling downtown area or near corporate offices. On the other hand, if your target market is retirees or luxury travellers, consider finding your spa in an upscale resort or residential community.

Another essential element to consider when selecting a location is visibility. Your spa should be visible to potential customers, so they can easily find you. Consider locating your spa in a high-traffic area, such as a busy shopping centre, or near other complementary businesses, such as a gym or hair salon.

Accessibility is also a critical factor to consider when choosing a location. Your spa should be easily accessible by car, public transportation, or on foot. In addition, make sure there is ample parking available for your customers, or consider partnering with a nearby parking garage.

Eventually, it's essential to consider the competition when selecting a location. Research the other spas in your area and choose a place to stand out. Consider offering unique services, such as a meditation room or a rooftop lounge, to set your spa apart.

Finding the best location for your spa is crucial to the success of your business. Take the time to research and consider your target market, visibility, accessibility, and competition when selecting a location. With the right place, you'll attract customers and set yourself up for success.

At The Wellness Makers, we are dedicated to providing you with the expertise and resources necessary to realise your spa business aspirations. So schedule a call today to share your wellness business vision with our team. We look forward to helping you bring your dream to life.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

Benefits of starting a Wellness Business

Do you plan to make a difference in people's lives? Starting your own wellness business is an impactful way of contributing to the industry and growing personally. 

We will go over some advantages for you – from personal fulfilment to financial rewards - that come with launching a company dedicated towards wellness.

Personal Fulfilment:

You can follow your passion and improve people's lives by starting a wellness business. Whether you work as a spa therapist, spa attendant, or spa receptionist, you can assist people in enhancing their general wellness and achieving their objectives.

As beginning wellness business owners, people have greater career control and can build a company consistent with their values and vision. You control the customers you work with, the services you provide, and the general course of your enterprise.

Creating a wellness business can provide you with a sense of joy and purpose. Seeing your company's beneficial effects on people's lives and realizing that you are changing the world may be tremendously gratifying.

Financial Rewards:

Owning a wellness business is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on an industry rapidly growing in demand. Aspiring entrepreneurs can tap into this lucrative market and create their own success stories as startup owners!

Many wellness services, like aesthetic and spa treatments, can be valuable. This indicates that you have the potential to make a decent living as a wellness business startup owner.

You can quickly expand your income sources by creating multiple ways to generate revenue by operating a wellness business. You can provide various services, including spa treatments, beauty treatments, and online programs, to help you develop a versatile and long-lasting business. Check our Spa Treatment Costings spreadsheet, which will help you with the pricing and cost of your services. 

Beginning a wellness business may be a significant and rewarding experience. It enables you to follow your passion, improve people's lives, and establish a successful business.

As the wellness market continues to expand and change, now is a fantastic moment to book a call with us and we will make it easy for you to go through this exciting journey!

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

WHAT IS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WELLNESS BUSINESS OWNERS?

As a wellness business owner, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world around you.

Social responsibility is an essential part of being a responsible owner, and there are many ways you can incorporate it into your business. Being socially responsible can help create a healthier and more sustainable world for everyone.

It involves demonstrating a commitment to making your services accessible and equitable for all customers. 

Additionally, being socially responsible means actively advocating for inclusion, diversity and social justice issues within your community. 

It also concerns considering the impact of your services on the environment and finding creative ways to reduce that impact. 

Wellness businesses have an essential role to play in society when it comes to promoting good health practices, but they also have a responsibility to ensure they do their part for the community they serve. 

This means that these businesses strive to be not just profitable but helpful and responsible citizens who recognize their impact on the environment and work to improve the lives of their customers and local communities. 

In addition, social responsibility helps create a positive workplace culture that encourages employees to take pride in their job and invest in their wellbeing - all of which contribute towards building a healthy business.

You can get started by nurturing sustainable practices, such as environmental initiatives or philanthropic activities in your local area. It's important to consider your resources available, such as your available staff or budget, and evaluate relevant laws and regulations when planning socially responsible initiatives.

As a wellness business owner, you have the unique opportunity to use your platform for good. Whether it's through promoting eco-friendly products or partnering with local organizations, there are many ways to make social responsibility a central part of your brand. Not only is it the right thing to do, but aligning your business with these values can also help you attract and retain customers who are looking to support businesses that share their same beliefs. 

With creativity and dedication, you can make a meaningful impact on your local community while still focusing on delivering quality services to your customers.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

Staff: The number one problem of Wellness Business Owners

The heart of any wellness business is its people, yet finding the right personnel to fill roles in your wellness business can be a challenging endeavour.

You need to find people who are passionate about their work, understand the industry, and will fit well within your team. It is vital that you take your time when recruiting so that you make sure you get the best candidates for each position.

Spa Manager

They are the face of your business. You need someone who can effectively manage staff, provide exceptional customer service, and ensure that your spa remains profitable.

Therapist

They should be experienced and qualified in providing a range of treatments, from massage to skin care. Ideally, they should have excellent communication skills and the ability to work with clients individually.

Receptionist

They are the first point of contact for your customers, so you need someone with a friendly and professional attitude at all times. In addition, they should be able to handle bookings, payments, and any customer inquiries.

Attendant

The one who's responsible for the day-to-day running of your spa. This can include setting up rooms, preparing treatments, and cleaning and stocking supplies.

You must find employees who are a good fit for your business. Take the time to properly assess potential candidates so that you end up with a staff committed to providing the highest level of service.

If you're a spa owner looking to pick the right candidate to be part of your team, we highly recommend you look at our Staff Resources.

Recruit and retain the best with our job descriptions, manuals, handbooks, and resources to guide the way. Our resources are designed to help you be successful and thrive in the industry. We provide the necessary tools to ensure your spa is well staffed, productive, and profitable. 

Keep in mind this quote from Baltasar Gracion, "The path to greatness is along with others."

By taking the time and finding the right people, you can ensure that your team is well-equipped to meet the demands of your industry and grow your business. Investing in the right employees is essential on your road to success.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

GET YOUR WELLNESS BUSINESS FROM IDEA TO OPEN

Wellness businesses are becoming increasingly popular as society becomes more health-conscious.

If you have a great wellness business idea, it's important to get started on the right foot so that your business can be successful. However, if you're not sure where to start, this blog post will give you 4 points that you'll have to prepare to get your wellness business from idea to open.

1 | Define your business idea - what are you offering, and who is your target market?

It all starts with solidifying your business idea.

Don't be afraid to dream big, and...

• Identify the services you offer,

• Who needs them the most and,

• The value your product will provide.

Consider your target market--who is likely to find it useful? The enticing combination of unique services and a focused target audience can quickly create success for your business. Answer questions like these before making serious decisions about moving forward.

With this crucial groundwork in place, taking the next steps to launch your business should be easier.

2 | Research the competition - what other businesses are offering similar services?

When developing your wellness business idea, it's wise to take the time to research what other businesses are offering similar services. This can be a great starting point in determining the viability of your idea and potential areas where you can create value or differentiate from existing competitors.

Remember, taking an informed approach is key to creating a successful plan of action that will help make all of your hard work and effort pay off, so find some time to explore and understand who else is out there giving their best advice on wellness services.

3 | Create a business plan - this will help you map out the steps you need to take to get your business up and running.

Creating a business plan is a great first step to mapping out the necessary steps needed for your wellness business idea.

With a clear idea of what your mission, vision, and strategy is, you'll be well on your way to bringing success and prosperity to your venture.

A successful business plan often relies on combining specialized knowledge and what you know about yourself - so don't forget to factor in the personal elements as well!

4 | Funding - whether it's through your own money, investors, loans, or grants, you'll need to find the money to get started.

You'll need to secure enough funding to get off the ground. When it comes to finding the money you need, there are a variety of options available. Investors, loans, and grants can be powerful sources of capital that can give your business a kickstart when executed correctly. It's important to do your research and understand the complexities associated with each type of financing, so you can make an informed and practical choice on which best serves your needs.

Once you have everything in place, it's time to start working on making your dream a reality.

When you have narrowed down and finalized your ideas for a wellness business, the next step is to jump in and get started. This may feel daunting at first, but it's important to stay focused and organized.

As long as you are committed and stick to the established systems, success is within reach.

We highly recommend talking to consultants like ourselves for advice, and checking existing resources, especially if you have the budget for it. You might feel like you don't have the experience to enter the wellness industry, but there are people 'with experience' and resources 'tested by time' that you can rely on to make properly informed decisions. You can check our learning modules here and the resources that we've developed and made accessible for everyone.

With a clear idea and understanding of what you want your wellness business to achieve, as well as who your target market is, you can start taking the necessary steps to make it happen. By researching the competition and creating a detailed business plan, you'll be able to map out exactly what needs to be done in order to get your business off the ground. And finally, once you've found the funding you need to get started, it's time to take action and turn your dream into reality.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

WELLNESS BUSINESS: DO YOU NEED TO INVEST IN BRAND DEVELOPMENT?

You may be wondering if your wellness business needs to invest in brand development.

The answer is that it depends on your goals and objectives for your business. If you want to create a strong and recognizable brand, then investing in brand development is essential.

However, if you are just starting out and are not sure what direction you want to take your business, then investing in brand development may not be necessary. Ultimately, the decision comes down to what you want for your business and where you see it going in the future.

Defining "brand"

When it comes to wellness business owners investing in brand development, it's important to understand the meaning of "brand".

Simply put, a brand is how a business markets itself, its values and its identity; it's how the world perceives it.

A good brand will clearly express an organization's core objectives while differentiating them from others in its field. Ultimately, brands are developed over time as people learn more about the company.

Why wellness business owners need to invest in brand development

By understanding the core values and unique features of your brand, you are able to establish an identity that sets you apart from competitors.

This helps customers recognize your business and provides them with an expectation of the quality of service they can expect to receive before even stepping foot in the door.

Brand development also enhances customer loyalty by reinforcing why your business is the best option for their needs. Whether it be products or services, investing in defining your brand will surely serve you well in both short-term and long-term goals.

The benefits of brand development

Investing in brand development is a valuable asset for any wellness business owner; it provides multiple benefits such as creating a recognizable identity, allowing an organization to easily stand out from the competition, and cultivating long-term customer loyalty.

A successful brand conveys trustworthiness, which is key in growing your business.

Branding also helps communicate core values to your audience and provides continuity in a company's messaging; this allows customers to feel as though they are forming genuine relationships with businesses due to their familiarity with the branding itself. Smart branding also ensures that your reputation is protected; by consistently promoting a strong image rendered through effective visual communication, you can ensure that potential customers will be drawn to your specific offerings.

Therefore, investing in excellent brand development techniques opens up multiple opportunities for growth and success within the wellness space.

How to get started with brand development

To get started, it's essential to define your brand's core values and mission statement. Once you have identified these attributes, create visuals that encompass them – like a logo or colour palette – before engaging with customers through social media, email campaigns, and digital advertising.

Of course, don't forget to take stock of what your competition is doing – understanding their strategies can help you identify where your offering stands out.

There are creative agencies and freelancers who can help you with brand development. They can take in your input and guide you through your options to help you develop a brand that speaks your business.

With the framework we developed ourselves as consultants, a big part of the The Wellness Makers Method next to Strategy is Story - click here to check our resources that can help you craft and communicate your vision in a way that is clear, consistent, and compelling for your customer. 

If you're not sure where to start, try these first:

1. Define what makes your business unique. What do you offer that no one else does?

2. Develop a tagline or slogan that reflects your brand identity.

3. Create a style guide for all communications related to your business (this includes everything from social media posts to email marketing campaigns).

We look forward to witnessing your business thrive!

Blue skies,

Sam and Sonja

WHAT'S YOUR WELLNESS BUSINESS STORY?

As a wellness business owner, you are integral to helping individuals take control of their health and well-being. You provide products or services that enable people to lead healthier lives, which is why it's important to have a story behind your work.

Your story connects the purpose of your business with the customers you serve, helps build relationships and trust with existing clients, and encourages potential customers to make meaningful connections.

By sharing your story, you can bring more awareness to your wellness business and create meaningful connections.

Let's explore how understanding and delivering on key components- your concept and branding - within your wellness business will help share what makes it unique.

Concept

A concept is an idea or foundational element of any wellness business, serving as a blueprint that provides guidance on how to approach and run a wellness enterprise.

For wellness business owners, understanding a concept is essential in communicating the unique value that their services offer clients, and for staying true to it in every aspect of their wellness business. Having a distinct concept that relates to the wellness industry also helps wellness businesses stand out from their competitors.

Through having a strong concept, you can ensure that clients know what is expected when they visit the facility and purchase services—creating an experience that improves clients' health and wellness.

Branding

Branding for wellness business owners is an important aspect of their success. Building a brand requires considering how you want your customers and prospective customers to perceive your wellness services, products, and overall business presence.

Through brand development, you have the opportunity to create a unique and compelling story that inspires potential clients to take action and become lifelong advocates for the business.

A brand is much more than just its logo.

Components of branding include creating an emotional connection, developing a distinct style, defining your target audience, and creating valuable content. It's important to focus on the details such as your colour theme, message consistency, typography selection, and consistent visual identity to connect with customers on a deeper emotional level.

It's also essential to think about how you will promote your brand both online and offline through social media channels and physical locations in order to maximize potential customer reach.

The story is one of the chapters in our Foundational Course for Creating a Wellness Business and is part of The Wellness Makers Method - to find out more about this course, you can click here.

We hope to see your wellness business thrive!

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

SPA OWNERS: WHAT'S IN YOUR INVENTORY LIST?

As a spa business owner, it is incredibly important to have the right inventory items on hand. The evidence is clear; having proper resources at your disposal can lead to increased customer satisfaction and retention, improved efficiency in daily operations, and greater overall success of your efforts.

By carefully understanding what makes up the necessary ingredients for running an effective spa - from essential treatments to office supplies - you'll be able to ensure your spa reaches its highest potential.

Creating your inventory list

This should begin with an accurate assessment of what treatments or services your facility will provide and what rooms or areas you will have.

This will set the framework for other related items that may be necessary.

For example, a facial spa may require items such as exfoliation scrubs, masks, moisturizers and toners, while a massage therapy business would need massage oils, sheets, bolsters, and lotions.

It is also important to include items such as cleaning supplies, towels, robes, and marketing materials to help promote the business.

As spa consultants, we create a comprehensive list of inventory items for our clients depending on the features, the services, the physical rooms, the products, and the dedicated areas of their spa. Through years of development, we've built this spreadsheet of inventory lists for a complete spa. Each sheet holds the inventory list based on the specific space and is further broken down into areas within the space.

It's a complete shopping list with supplier recommendations. We highly recommend you look into our Inventory List - Complete Spa - from the product page; we also included a video introduction so you can see for yourself how this resource will add value to your spa business.

Having an accurate inventory list helps you gauge the amount of each item you will need for a certain day or week and can also provide useful data for forecasting when restocking may be necessary.

Ultimately, having an inventory list can prove invaluable when it comes time to restock and keep your spa business running efficiently. It's important to remember that inventory is a vital component of any successful spa business - so make sure you have the right resources and supplies on hand.

5 useful tips when creating an inventory list

1. Set up categories: One of the most important steps when creating an inventory list is categorizing your items. This helps break down the types of products, so it’s easier to keep track and also allows you to forecast future needs effectively.

2. Take a physical count: Make sure not to rely on estimates when taking a physical count of your inventory. Ensure that all items are accounted for, and take into consideration any spoilage or damaged products.

3. Utilize a spreadsheet: Spreadsheets allow you to keep track of items more easily, with the ability to sort by categories, track amount and cost per item, and forecast future needs.

4. Stay organized: Create a system for organizing your inventory list, including colour coding and labelling products to keep them in order and easily accessible.

5. Monitor usage: Pay attention to the amount of each item being used so that you can anticipate when restocking or ordering more items is necessary. This will help prevent any shortages or delays in service.

By managing your inventory list effectively and utilizing the right resources, you can ensure that your spa business runs at optimal efficiency and achieves its maximum potential. With a well-organized list, you will be able to restock items quickly and efficiently, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and improved overall success for your spa business.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

WHAT'S YOUR WELLNESS BUSINESS STRATEGY?

Are you a wellness business owner looking to start or expand your business?

Taking the time to define and refine your overall strategy can help ensure that your efforts are focused, efficient, and will deliver the best results.

What is strategy?

Strategy at its core, is the process of planning, prioritizing and organizing resources in order to achieve goals. It involves developing a long-term plan that outlines how you will use time, finances, personnel, and other resources to reach objectives.

Why is strategy important for wellness business owners?

This type of planning encourages you to think ahead and envision future opportunities as well as potential pitfalls so you can take effective action to maximize outcomes. Establishing a meaningful strategy not only helps you successfully build your companies but also allows you to remain competitive in ever-changing markets.

When is the right time to start thinking about strategy?

Considering a business's strategy is a critical part of any wellness business owner's success. Although it’s never too late to implement strategies, the earlier these are considered, the more likely owners will be successful.

Ideally, wellness business owners should start considering their overall strategy from the very inception of their concept. Taking into account key factors such as competitors and target market not only helps improve a business’s competitive advantage but also ensures that wellness business owners can maximize their return on operational activities.

Being strategic is an important factor in guaranteeing that wellness businesses meet their goals for success.

What needs to be considered while building up a strategy?

Frankly, a lot needs to be considered when building up your strategy for your wellness business. We actually dedicated a whole chapter of our course to strategy, we're currently planning to reshoot the course, but still, it's available online if you need much-needed help and advise, click here to find out more about our Creating a Wellness Business - Foundations Course.

For now, here are some questions you can put your time and efforts into answering:

What's your business vision? What is your company's mission statement? How will you differentiate from competitors?

What's your business mission? What are your short term and long term objectives? What tactics will you use to reach these goals?

How are you going to finance your business? How can you make sure you have the right resources in place?

What does the current market look like? Who are your target customers, and what do they need?

What resources (financial, personnel, and other) do you have available?

What product or service will you be offering?

When do you anticipate launching your business and introducing new products/services?

What are the goals for your business? How will you measure success?

These are just some of the questions to consider when creating a successful strategy for your wellness business. Taking the time to plan and define your strategy will help ensure that all your efforts are focused on achieving success.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja

SPA OWNERS: WHEN DOES YOUR CUSTOMER JOURNEY START?

As wellness business owners are aware, the spa customer journey is an important factor in building a successful business.

It consists of effectively establishing a relationship between the wellness establishment and its customers—from their initial contact forming an impression of your spa through to the experiences they have when visiting.

Crafting memorable experiences with smooth transitions from one touchpoint to the next is essential for a successful customer journey, as it has been proven that well-designed service interactions can establish loyalty and trust with your customers. With well-thought-out strategies for creating seamless customer experiences, wellness business owners can provide their clients with enjoyable spa experiences and improve their overall satisfaction.

If you're a spa owner or planning to open to your spa, we highly recommend taking a look at our Spa Guest Experience Audit.

For spas, when does the customer journey start?

Many would assume that a spa customer's journey starts the moment the customer walks in through your doors, but the reality is that it starts way before that.

It starts when the customer isn't a customer but rather just a person who's unaware of your services and your business. How do they get to know your business? What's the first thing they'll see that will introduce them to who you are and what your business is? What will pique their interest in contacting you or booking a service?

Many times, it's online reviews, social media posts, or your website. If a person is interested in a type of service you offer, they will search online to check their options or chat with a friend to ask for recommendations. In our digital age, it's rare for people to just walk into your spa for a first impression. They would have already made that first impression when they saw your social post, your website, or online reviews about your services.

This is why it's important to ensure that all of your digital presence works together to create a positive first impression and encourage customers to get in touch with you. You can also provide additional information on your services, packages and other offerings through various channels, such as email marketing or engaging content on social media.

It's also important to work on your business branding from end to end - it's not just about the physical store. It needs to be effectively applied to all possible touchpoints like your website, social media pages, and collaterals.

Creating an effective customer journey is key to ensuring your spa business succeeds. By understanding and optimizing your customer journey, you can provide a more enjoyable experience for your clients, drive more bookings and increase loyalty.

We hope this article has been helpful in giving you an overview of the importance of the customer journey and where it actually starts.

Blue skies,

Sam & Sonja | The Wellness Makers

THE SECRET TO ENSURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FOR WELLNESS SERVICES

As a wellness business owner, you strive for excellence in customer service. You have to accept that satisfaction is defined differently by each customer, and so one customer journey may work well with one customer but be frowned upon by others.

For spas, it's especially important to understand what your customers want - not after the experience, but before a service is even recommended. This way, even though each customer's expectation is different, you can tailor and personalise their experience to fit their individual needs, and this would ensure each and everyone is satisfied with the type of service or products they receive.

This is where consultation forms come in.

A consultation form allows spa staff to gather accurate information, which can then be used to effectively plan the care and service they provide, thus ensuring clients leave feeling confident that their wellness goals have been thoroughly addressed. The information gathered through these consultation forms also helps inform decision-making around product purchasing and staffing, ensuring that spas operate efficiently while providing high-quality experiences for their customers.

Depending on the particulars of a spa's business model, consultations can take various forms and occur at different stages throughout the customer journey. Some spas may require relatively short consultation forms to be filled out prior to the appointment, while others may have longer, more comprehensive ones which are conducted during face-to-face meetings or phone conversations with customers. In any case, it is important for spa owners to ensure that their consultation forms are accurate and comprehensive enough to give them the details they need to recommend and safely implement their services or products.

Because aside from how a customer would prefer to receive a treatment or service, another important purpose of consultation forms is to acquire your customer's health information and product-use history. With this on hand, you can prevent accidents from happening like allergic reactions to certain oils or skin reactions from overlapping skin care products.

Finally, it's essential that spa staff use the information gathered from consultations to create an ongoing relationship with each customer based on trust and mutual understanding. Doing so will ensure that your customers feel comfortable with your wellness business and encourage them to come back again.

If you don't have a consultation form as of yet, we recommend taking a look at our Spa Consultation Form Template. This is a resource we developed through our years of working with spa business owners as we helped get their spa businesses from idea to open.

Blue skies,

Sam and Sonja

ARE YOU IN THE PROCUREMENT PHASE FOR YOUR WELLNESS BUSINESS?

Procurement is an important process for wellness business owners to understand when opening a new business.

The procurement process involves researching and finding supplier partners who can provide the products, goods, or services necessary for your wellness business to thrive.

Knowing where to shop for quality items or services can be tricky and time-consuming.

Identifying reliable suppliers who are trustworthy and have competitive prices can help you plan and save resources in the long term. It would be best to do your due diligence when researching potential suppliers and factor in how they will meet your expectations when making appropriate decisions.

You should also be aware of the different procurement methods available to you when purchasing items and services. Popular procurement methods include direct purchases, requests for quotes (RFQs), tenders, auctions, and catalogue orders.

Working with spa business owners as consultants, we find the procurement phase to be the most challenging. The products, supplies, and services need to be aligned with the spa's vision, mission, and overall design. And for us to be able to find the perfect supplier, we had to spend hundreds of hours browsing all possible options.

We finally compiled these suppliers into a comprehensive spreadsheet and added functions, so you can easily find suppliers based on the product or item that you're looking for. If you're in the procurement phase for operations and are looking for equipment and supplies in setting up your spa business, we highly recommend you look at our Supplier List - Operations - which we made available through our resource store.

If you’re looking for spa partners and retail brands, we also have a supplier list for you - Supplier List - Spa Partners & Retail Brands.

What are the primary things to look for when choosing your supplier?

1. Price - It's important to compare prices with other suppliers, as well as their terms and conditions.

2. Quality - Make sure that the products or services supplied meet your business's standards and expectations regarding quality.

3. Design - Be sure to look into the design of the products if relevant, and ensure it aligns with your business's aesthetic.

4. Delivery Time - This is especially important if you are expecting orders for a certain timeframe. Make sure that the delivery times match up with when you need them and that there are no hidden fees for rush orders.

5. Payment Duration - It's important to know how soon after ordering you are expected to make the payment and what forms of payment are accepted.

6. Customer Service - Check out reviews from past customers to get an idea of the customer service you will receive. If possible, ask questions to test out the level of responsiveness and support that a supplier offers.

With the right suppliers, you can ensure that your spa business runs smoothly and efficiently.

We hope this guide has been helpful in providing insight into the procurement process for wellness businesses!

Blue skies,

Sam and Sonja

5 TRIED-AND-TRUE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL WELLNESS BUSINESS MARKETING

Marketing is an important part of running a business, especially in today's ever-connected digital world. It is the process of communicating the value of a wellness business to potential customers.

At its core, marketing is the practice of understanding customer needs, crafting persuasive messages to communicate with them, and delivering products or services that meet or exceed their expectations. It provides wellness businesses with a way to differentiate themselves from their competitors while also wanting to stay true to their core values and mission.

Wellness businesses can use marketing efficiently to spread awareness of their services, build relationships with customers, and make growth for their business possible. It requires careful planning and research into your target audience in order to get the desired outcomes.

If you're a spa business owner still finding your way through marketing, we highly recommend taking a look at our Spa Marketing Handbook.

Here are 5 tried-and-true tips for successful wellness business marketing:

Harness the power of branding. Make sure your branding is consistent, recognizable, and memorable.

Create content that adds value to customers’ lives. Share health tips and tricks, success stories, testimonials, and more. Make use of social media platforms to create engaging posts, use relevant hashtags appropriately, and interact with potential customers often.

Invest in understanding your unique target audience. Gather demographic info about your potential customers to craft specific messages for them. Understand the customer journey and discover where your potential customers are on their journey and what messaging is necessary to move them through the process of becoming loyal customers.

Understand the value of networking. Connect with thought leaders and influencers in within the wellness industry and reach out to potential customers in a meaningful way.

Focus on customer service and satisfaction. Ensure that your services meet or exceed customer expectations, keep communication lines open, and provide feedback opportunities for customers to help you improve your business.

As most consultants would say, customer service is the key to success. Good customer service can turn first-time customers into regulars and word-of-mouth advocates for the business, allowing it to reach new heights of success and longevity.

By taking care of individual customers, wellness businesses create a positive reputation for their services; this helps build trust and loyalty between them and their clients. Moreover, providing an exceptional customer experience is a powerful form of marketing that costs nothing but yields great results - from return visits to improved online reviews.

Embrace good customer service, and you'll be able to guarantee quality services and excellent experiences that lead to lasting relationships with your wellness clientele.

Blue skies,

Sam and Sonja

UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR CUSTOMERS PERCEIVE YOUR WELLNESS BUSINESS

One of the most important aspects of running a successful wellness business - no matter how big or small - is understanding how customers perceive your services.

Outside perspectives can help respond to changing demands in the industry and open up new opportunities for your business, as well as provide invaluable insights into what drives customer satisfaction levels. It will help you identify areas for improvement and growth, uphold quality assurance, and build better relationships with your customers.

Different ways to get customer feedback

Surveys or Feedback Forms are one of the most effective ways to gather customer feedback, as they allow you to ask customers directly about their experiences with your business immediately after a service or product has been rendered. With these forms, you can also ask specific questions about your service, so it's a great way to get insight into aspects of your wellness business that customers wouldn't normally provide feedback on.

Whether you choose to acquire responses to your surveys digitally or manually by a physical form depends on your business structure, the services you offer, and your customers. Online forms or surveys offer a great way to export the results easily and are geared towards a customer base that is more tech-savvy. And while physical forms would require additional time to collate, it may be the easier way for wellness businesses that have physical stores to get the responses they need. It won't require any device to fill up and can simply be handed to the customer after the service has been rendered.

From our experience as spa consultants, spa business owners mostly opt for physical forms because it allows them to get immediate responses and is generally easier for their customers. Another thing they consider is whether asking their patrons to pull out their phones or providing them with a computer station to acquire feedback digitally can potentially work against their purpose of providing a conducive environment for relaxation

If you're a spa business owner or you're in your planning phase of bringing your spa business idea to life - we highly recommend taking a look at our Spa Feedback Form Template. It's a professionally designed feedback form we've developed through our years of consulting for spa business owners. We also left there a video introduction of the resource so you can better understand how it applies to your business.

Online Reviews such as those provided through your website, a site mainly for reviews like productreview.com.au, or your Google Business Profile account allow customers to voluntarily leave reviews and comments on their experiences with your business.

Going through these reviews will give you information about gaps you may need to fill and services you can improve on. These reviews are also publicly visible, which is a great way for other potential customers to understand your services or products better and encourage them to try them out for themselves.

Social media can be invaluable for gathering customer feedback from your followers. Keep an eye out for mentions, comments and reviews and use them as opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with your customers. Aside from the ability to actively engage with your customers, another great value of social media reviews for your wellness business is that it allows you to reach an extended audience through your followers.

No matter which method you choose, customer feedback is essential for the growth and success of your wellness business. It encourages better customer service, helps you improve and develop new services, and ultimately leads to a stronger relationship with your customers. With the right tools in place, gathering customer feedback can be an easy process that will help you stay on top of trends and ensure satisfaction for your patrons.

Continue providing excellent services as well as customer-focused initiatives to ensure that customers are happy with the experience they get in your wellness business. You can also set up reminders and notifications on your management tools so you won't forget to contact customers for feedback and surveys, or better yet, include feedback gathering in your customer journey process!

Blue Skies,

Sam and Sonja