6 min read
How do you research the products, supplies, and equipment that go into one of your most important investments—your spa? Do you really know the companies you work with? Do you know how long they’ve been in this industry? Are you sure they are serving the professional industry? Most would say why does it matter? Well figure this: a new microdermabrasion machine just came into your skin care center. You are so excited and you got it at the best deal over the Internet. Times are tough but you need to stay up-to-date and compete with the local skin care centers in your area. More and more, the clients coming through your door are more and more educated and asking for more technical skin treatments. So you scrimped and saved and finally were able to get the microdermabrasion machine of your dreams. You unwrap the package and start setting up. Uh-oh, there seems to be a problem. The wand appears to be missing and the tube connection is nowhere to be found. Two of the most valuable pieces are either defective or missing. So you call up the company you bought the machine from. The gentleman profusely apologizes for the errors Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
3 min read
Let’s face it (no pun intended): aesthetic equipment is an investment. By following the manufacturer’s care and maintenance guidelines, you may prolong the life of your machines beyond the warranty as well as practicing safe aesthetics. When it comes to caring for your equipment, cleanliness is next to Godliness. If you think the spots, cloudy water, dust, or wax drips go unnoticed by your clients… think again. As a spa client, the first thing I do when I enter the room is observe my surroundings. I expect that whatever is being used on my skin is disposable, sterilized, sanitized, or disinfected and is in good working order. If I observe aesthetic equipment in need of repair (drippy steamers, tape on the H/F holder, rust or sharp edges on a skin scrubber spatula), I’m outta there! Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
11 min read
by Janet McCormick Most aestheticians love their job; they live, breath, and constantly discuss their work. Their vacations are spent at skin care shows, and their gifts to friends and family are free treatments. But they usually have a favorite service they do, and most have at least favorite one that they dread when they see it on their book. During my research for this article, I asked aestheticians across the country about their favorite and least service services to perform. Who knew that there would be an aesthetician out there whose favorite part of her services is to sell home care? Linda Orsuto, spa director and working aesthetician, 800 West Salon and Day Spa, Marlton, N.J., said her favorite thing to do for her clients is to recommend and explain the home care products they need. “I love to explain product to them, how they work, why certain ingredients are important in them, and how they must use them,” she says. She’s proven over the years that selling home care increases the results of treatments and retention of clients, she says. “I have an article I give to my clients on the difference between over-the-counter and professional products,” she Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
10 min read
by Nina Curtis Another Year Gone By! What’s new? What’s now? What’s hot? What’s not? Have you asked yourself these questions lately? If you’re looking to sustain, grow, or expand your business in 2008, these questions should be on your mind. I started thinking about this in June of this year! As this year comes to an end and the new year approaches, it is an important time to evaluate where you are and where you want to go. Let’s take a closer look at this by answering this question: When reviewing your current treatment offering, what are your cash cows, stars, question marks, and dogs? Let me explain. Cash Cows are low-growth, high share treatments and products. These established, successful treatments and products need less investment to hold their market share. Thus they produce a lot of cash that your business uses to pay its bills and to support other business investments. These treatments are those that are always booked and that have low cost attached. Think of waxing as one huge ‘cash cow’: skin and body care treatments that don’t require a lot of investment but give good return, especially when you retail the home care products needed Read More
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4 min read
by Mary Van Photos courtesy of Jason Wynn Make-up by Nikki Burress and Mary Van The trend this holiday season offers you a couple of different looks from which to choose. Deep red lips balanced with a neutral eye or the smokey, expressive eye with barely there lips. Shimmer is in and is the perfect festive look for the holidays. Classic Crimson It's the return of the fabulous 40's classic look: pale, creamy skin with defined, red lips. We'll all be doing double time with our busy schedules so be sure to begin with a face primer over the entire face including the lips and eyes. You will see changes in your skin immediately; lines will soften and disappear, skin tones will even out, and make-up will stay on longer. Next, apply your favorite foundation. Keep the skin light by applying a foundation that matches your skin, or may even be ever so slightly lighter. Blush should also be in an understated peach or pink tone and applied on the apples of the cheeks and blended away to a sheer hint of color. Keep the eyes soft and neutral, allowing the emphasis to stay on the lips. Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
3 min read
Skin care clinics, like any other small business, face the possibility of work injuries, business interruption, and disasters - all of which have a profound impact resulting in economic and legal issues. This article is designed to provide an overview in the following areas: 1. Present sobering disaster-related statistics on the effects of small businesses. 2. Provide the owner/operator with an overview of disaster planning and what they can do to safeguard their staff, patients, and business enterprise. 3. Learn how to minimize business interruption and increase the chances of survivability after a disaster. Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
11 min read
Theory of Corporate and Business Planning, Conflict Resolution, Human Resource Managers, verbal and written reprimands and warnings, OSHA, ADA, and ACLU are all important topics when it comes to owning a business. After pondering these topics for oh… 15 seconds, I came to realize that the main reason we became business owners is because we love the industry and are passionate about our work. The employees that we surround ourselves with at our place of business, although with many differences, are all practicing the same end philosophy, 100 percent customer care that is physical, social, and therapeutic. As an aesthetician (18 years) and a skin clinic owner (over 15 years), I wish to share some of my experiences to assist in your business employee relations. I believe everyone is brought into our lives for a reason. Some individuals stay for a very long time and become lasting relationships; others come and go quickly. Half of my current staff has been employed with me from the day we opened our doors. We have all been through a lot together: marriages, kids, success, growth, and even death. I can honestly say most of the people that have crossed over my tracks have Read More
- Published in Uncategorized
9 min read
by Denise R. Fuller Bosses! Just saying the word can send chills up one’s spine. Our direct supervisor is the one person who can be the biggest ally in our career or make our lives miserable. When it comes to employment, there will always be someone there who is the boss! The Cheerleader Some bosses are always nice and happy with a peppy, cheerleader-type attitude. They don’t like confrontation. If someone takes a problem to them, they tend to listen, nod their heads and say “yeah, yeah”, but nothing gets done. Similarly, they will avoid correcting an employee who is clearly in the wrong. The less motivated workers are content because no one ever questions them. The better ones are unhappy, because nothing gets done. This kind of boss flourishes in well-established and large organizations or monopolies where concerns about individual performance are secondary. Their job is focused more on public relations. However, once an organization goes through a financial crisis, then this weakness becomes evident. How long can a business survive with under-performing employees? Eventually, people begin to realize that the nice, pleasant, and non-confrontational boss is a liability. While everyone likes having the cheerleader around, the lack of Read More
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10 min read
by Felicia Brown Imagine this scenario… you’ve had a long day behind the chair with facials and bikini waxes scheduled one right after another. Your feet are tired; your neck hurts… even your hair feels like complaining. You’re dying for some relaxation and pampering of your own and can’t wait for your next appointment with your favorite massage therapist. Now towards the end of your shift, you’re sitting in the break room waiting for your last client… finally. As you sit there, rubbing your temples trying to keep a headache from creeping on, you feel a set of hands on your shoulders unexpectedly. Startled, you turn around to see one of your co-workers, James, standing behind your chair. “I know you need a massage,” says James. “Just let my fingers do the walking over your aches and pains.” You think to yourself, “Wow, I really need a massage, but I don’t feel comfortable with this. I feel like I’m being hit on. Is something wrong with me? Should I ask James to stop or would that come across as ungrateful?” Before you can decide, you are alerted that your remaining client has arrived so you jump up, muttering a Read More
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