Join us getting to know the man being the Spa Industry Association…
Who or what inspires you?
I was fortunate to have to amazing mentors; my Dad who taught me street smarts and my father-in-law who taught me business.
What’s your favorite part of the day?
Absolutely a morning person. I’m always excited to get out of bed.
What makes your company unique?
Our association has a free membership option. I started this when I took over in 2010, recognizing the recession gave our members limited resources, but needed the information we provide.
What’s the most fun part of your job?
The people. I’m a relationship person and I feel like I have 10,000 friends in our industry.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Be better at slowing down. I feel like a cook in the kitchen and have to work hard to meditate, massage, slow down in general.
What keeps you up at night?
I sleep like a baby.
What part do you find most challenging?
Lemons to Lemonade. I’ve always embraced the challenges, bring them on!
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I am a voracious reader (and I love action movies).
What’s your favorite family activity?
Having them around. I’ve been married 33 years, 3 kids, 3 grandkids and it makes me smile when we’re together.
A gentle soothing mask designed to calm and minimize irritated skin. A cocktail of skin soothers and extracts formulated into a very light weight hydrating mask sets the tone for de-stressing and calming irritated skin. Enjoy this mask anytime day or night. Includes DELICATE SKIN BOOSTER SERUM. Does not contain parabens or chemical colorants.
*Available in retail sizes for at-home client care
A gentle soothing gel delivering all the botanicals designed to calm irritated skin. This lightweight gel leaves the skin feeling calmed and nourished – not greasy. Specialized ingredients quickly penetrate to maximize results; and minimize redness and discomfort. A cocktail of skin soothers and extracts formulated into a very lightweight hydrating gel sets the tone for de-stressing and calming irritated skin.Does not contain parabens or chemical colorants.
* Available in retail sizes for at-home client care.
Featuring freshly harvested tea leaves, spices and fruits, Zephyr Tē uses only the highest quality natural ingredients. Experience rejuvenating blends to restore balance and relax with our Refresh & Renew Iced Green Tea, Peace of Mind Black Assam Tea, English Garden Rose Tea and Island Breeze Peach & Pineapple Tea. Each of the Zephyr Tē variant comes in packs of 18 triangle tea bags per box.
For More Info:
Iliki Valencia
Meigi Creative Inc.
5730 Ayala Avenue
Irwindale CA 91706
(626) 447-0088
Fax: (626) 701-3332
iliki@meigicreative.com
According to a new market research report “Medical Aesthetics Market by Product (Facial Aesthetics, Cosmetic Implants, Skin Aesthetic Devices, Thread Lift Products, Body Contouring Devices, Hair Removal Devices), End User (Hospitals, Medical Spas, Home Care Settings)–Global Forecast to 2025”, published by Meticulous Research®, the global medical aesthetics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2019 to reach $22.2 billion by 2025.
Medical aesthetics market comprises advanced products and technologies used by skilled medical professionals or aesthetic specialists for improving physical appearance of patients. Various invasive and noninvasive procedures are primarily designed for the significant enhancement and cosmetic change in patient’s appearance, and these are collectively termed as medical aesthetics procedures. Currently, there is an increasing demand of cosmetic procedures among the millennials and younger generation with increasing influence of social media, which is driving the growth of the medical aesthetics products market. Growing technological advancements and wider acceptance of cosmetic procedures among the diversified geographies across the globe is also contributing to the growth of the medical aesthetics market. The innovation in this market is primarily focused towards developing convenient, faster, and low risk products and procedures for patients. Furthermore, the growth of the medical tourism industry in APAC and Latin America region focused towards cosmetic procedures is also expected to create a greater demand for technologically advanced medical aesthetic products in these regions, thereby supporting the growth of the global medical aesthetics market over the forecast period.
CareCredit, a part of Synchrony Bank, has been helping patients access care for 30-plus years. CareCredit’s health, wellness, and beauty credit card offers promotional financing options to help your guests fit the treatments and procedures they want into their monthly budget. Mina Chang, Relationship Manager with CareCredit, has 9-plus years of cosmetic industry expertise and relationship-management experience.
The spa industry has gone through a bit of a renaissance over the last decade or so. Once primarily the preserve of the rich and famous, a visit to the spa is now more affordable and accessible.
We have also seen a surge in the rise of the middle class, which has allowed for a shift in consumer habits. What we’ve seen, particularly in the last decade, is a rise in wellness and self care.
How is the current fashion for wellness changing the spa industry even further? Let’s take a look.
Wellness travel boom
A quick trip to the local day spa is no longer enough. There’s a burgeoning market for wellness tourism today. Millenials have become much more lifestyle focused in recent years, and with that we’ve seen a rise in the number of trips being taken – over the purchase of physical goods.
Combined with the impact of social media, millennials use their social platforms to celebrate and showcase their travels. Platforms like Instagram have made spa vacations not only aspirational, but a priority for the majority of users. The wellness market is growing rapidly through travel, with spas offering bespoke packages, engaging with social media to promote it’s aesthetics and investing in influencer marketing.
Time spent during a single stay is increasing, with customers opting for spa weekends and staycations. When traveling, guests are opting to continue to use the fitness facilities and as a result, the wind down spa facilities too.
In 2017 the world’s wellness tourism market was worth a huge $639.4 billion, with an annual growth rate of 6.5%. As discussed, much of the market was in ‘secondary wellness tourism’, with people traveling domestically to hotels and utilising the spa facilities. For some time a spa was simply considered an add on to hotels, however with today’s traveller, it’s often an essential.
Focus on ingredients and ethical produce
Consumers are focused on nutrition more than ever. They want to know exactly what they’re putting in and on their bodies. Not only this, they also want to know how and where it was produced. Social responsibility and consciousness has become another trend that spas have the ability to harness. From offering packages that include a vegan afternoon tea, to workshops that allow customers to create and make their own face masks.
Spas are offering more experiential and transformative treatments to allow customers to feel involved and in control of the process. As the wellness trend continues to flourish, customers will seek the new and exciting, as well as the ethical. This is an opportunity for spas to establish their brands and experiment themselves with the treatments and packages they provide.
DIY
In addition to spa treatments, people are opting for self care products and practices they can administer at home. This will increase the opportunities to up-sell and cross sell products in your spa. While customers may only be able to afford to visit quarterly, this is an opportunity for spas to continue to build the momentum and a sense of loyalty.
There are a number of treatments that can be done in the comfort of people’s homes, including facemasks, hair masks, aromatherapy baths and steam facials. Building a reputation for caring about your clients will encourage brand loyalty. Focus on equipping your clients with knowledge and expertise, so that they feel compelled to return out of appreciation for your support and the services you provide.
Spas aren’t going anywhere
Now’s the time to really optimise your spa offering. Follow trends, plug yourself into lifestyle influencers and engage with the audience you hope to convert to customers. The wellness trend will only grow and amplify, with the demand for spas and health treatments increasing daily.
Selfcare looks different to each individual. While one might favour ethical, natural remedies to improve health and optimise beauty, another may favour non-surgical treatments including the likes of collagen fillers and microdermabrasion. Establish the business you identify most with and invest in online marketing efforts to drive your business forward.
About the author:
Dom Stapleton Marketing Manager Boost Capital Tel: 0800 138 9080
NEW YORK — Spa visits and the money they generate reached record highs last year in the US with $18.3 billion in revenue driven by 190 million pampering trips, according to the International Spa Association.
The leading industry group for spa professionals recently held its 25th annual event for media to show off trends and services among its 2,300 members. Garrett Mersberger, the association’s board chairman, broke down a few highlights for The Associated Press:
A march of men
“We’re seeing a lot more men going to spas,” Mersberger said. “It used to always be a female-driven thing. We’re now seeing 50-50, if not swinging more toward the males.”
The trend took off as long ago as 2017, when the association reported 49 percent of spa customers were men, up from 29 percent in 2005.
“They’re much more aware that it’s not just a thing I go to to get pampered. It’s an actual lifestyle choice with benefits to my body, to my wellness. It’s part of my routine now. It’s not just about going for relaxation,” Mersberger said.
Every detail we hear about this Google summit only serves to make it more intriguing. Bradley Cooper helped Oprah on a bike? Bradley Cooper helped Katy Perry off a boat? (OK — it’s mostly about Bradley Cooper.) But a new detail has emerged: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got pedicures before Harry’s (alleged) barefoot speech at that same summit. That’s right! For a brief moment of time, Bradley Cooper, Prince Harry and Oprah were all in the same room (possibly barefoot). What a sight that must have been — and joyously, Harry’s feet were appropriately groomed for the occasion.
If you’re wondering where Duchess Meghan is in all of this, she reportedly did not attend the summit, but enjoyed a spa day with husband Harry at a UK hotel before he flew off to Italy. A source told Entertainment Tonight that Meghan and Harry received pedicures and massages at Coworth Park, a high-end hotel in Ascot. Page Six reports that Harry gave a barefoot speech about climate change once he arrived at Google Camp, but the extreme secrecy surrounding the goings-on there make it impossible to confirm. This is the seventh year running for the Google event, which always attracts A-list stars eager to discuss climate change, human rights and other pressing issues affecting the world today.
Julia Sutton currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for exhale enterprises, Inc, a leading lifestyle brand in the spa and wellbeing industry that operates 28 properties in 11 markets. As a member of the founding team, Ms. Sutton developed and scaled the Company’s operating infrastructure that today successfully delivers dozens of award-winning wellbeing, spa, and retail programs and supports an employee base of 2000.
Ms. Sutton is a recognized spa industry leader with a successful track record for developing and launching spa, fitness and retail in a number of different markets. Prior to joining the exhale team, she served as National Spa Operations Director for Wellbridge, where she directed ten spas across the country from Honolulu to New York.
Ms. Sutton has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Business from Manhattan College. She also completed the OPM program at Harvard Business School. Julia belongs to several groups (COO network, American College of Sports Medicine, HBSCNY) and enjoys coaching basketball, playing tennis, hiking and surfing.
