Stop doing. Now. Yes, you heard me, stop doing whatever it is you are doing right now (except, of course, reading). Whatever you are doing, is completely, patently useless, unless you are wholly, completely present - in this moment - right now. I would like you to trust me and take a leap into the unknown for just a few minutes, with the possibility that your life, your business, might just never be the same again.

There are many luxury treatments that we can discuss, but I would like to address the issue of acne, and with it, your youngest clients. Why? It is vitally important that our children receive the help they need through diet, education, and emotional support in order to overcome difficulties associated with acne, and the confidence issues that it brings. By giving your best efforts and demonstrating your knowledge and a professional approach, you give your clients all the reason to trust you and to trust that their acne condition will improve. These are your future clients - once they believe in you, they will be your followers for life.

Have you ever asked your clients what it is that keeps them purchasing their favorite skin care product? Do so and you will hear everything from “It reduces the fine lines on my face” to “It feels great on my skin” and “I love the smell.” These answers, and others, speak to the art that is skin care product formulation. Through a delicate balance of ingredients, chemists create products that cleanse, moisturize, lighten, protect, or reduce the signs of aging, with features such as pleasing consistency and pleasant fragrance, characteristics that appeal to consumers’ senses.

How do retail stores entice you to enter their doors and linger over their shelves full of irresistible products? Visual merchandising is a skill that department stores, shopping malls, and chain retailers have spent many years perfecting. Retailing and merchandising is an important part of your overall business plan and it will dramatically increase business profitability at your skin care center, salon, day spa, or medical spa. Lauren Gartland is the president of Inspiring Champions, a business training and coaching company specializing in the beauty industry. Gartland, along with Salon Spa Cash Flow expert Gary Ahlquist, regularly advise business owners on how to instantly boost their profits with retail.

Raise your hand if you are familiar with social networking. Maybe you have a Facebook profile or Twitter account. If you are currently engaged in these activities, is it for business, pleasure, or both? If you answered both, are you maintaining separate accounts or just one?
In everyday life we have very well established protocols regarding the separation of these activities. For instance, you would never allow your children to accompany you in the treatment room with a client or discuss your personal matters with her other than superficial pleasantries.

Most of us know the advantages of selling retail products well, so for the sake of argument let us look at the dark side of not selling our clients their home care products. In other words, what are the consequences of our failure to play the role of expert in recommending products for the day-to-day maintenance of our clients skin?
First, clients will end up buying department store products, drugstore, or infomercial brands. Not only will these products typically under-perform, they will generally not be suited to our client's skin type or needs, and thus, will fail to provide proper results. Our client will become frustrated.

The true value of a product can only be determined by the consumer, however it takes a passionate advisor to present the benefits and features of a product that establishes the worth. Think about it.
The rule of sales states it is better to have 100 satisfied customers than 1000 prospects! More sales are made with friendship than with salesmanship. This and another old business adage says “All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends” and if you have fostered your skin care business to care and help people, garnered trust based on your skills, personality, and client follow through - 

Sinking down into the soft Frette sheets for my one hour signature facial, I relinquish all my worries to Anna, my aesthetician. After a thorough cleansing, she begins to analyze my skin and says, "Ms. Hanson, would you like me to clean your brows. It is only $10?" "Of course yes, thank you, I reply." And as her hands touch my skin, she recommends that I add on the collagen-fleece mask for an additional $25 to take care of my dehydration issue, and I say, "Great." Here is a classic example of an upgrade and an add-on, so well done that "it did not hurt a bit."

Woodhouse Day Spas are appearing all over the country, but they are not your average spa nor is the company complacent to settle for the status quo. The Woodhouse team strives to improve and seek solutions to better serve its franchisees and ultimately the guests they serve. Since opening its first set of doors in 2001, The Woodhouse and its business model have proven to be a success. While each guest may receive different treatments, the total experience will always be the same. The company has developed a series of steps that spa employees must deliver to each guest, thus ensuring that all guests receive the same signature elements that are both unique and therapeutic.

The more you know about patient care, business, the arts, or just life in general; the more you can offer to your patients, your community, and your career. Professional and personal development improves existing and adds new skills, builds on your existing knowledge base, and gives you fresh perspectives of the world around you. As you develop yourself professionally and personally and apply what you learn to your practice, you increase your credibility, improve patient results, add to the level of professionalism in the skin care industry, and build your bottom line.
Deciding on where to invest your time and money for your development can be tricky.