Spa visits are often seen as luxury experiences. They’ve been stereotyped over the years as being expensive, or non-inclusive to people who are on a budget. While it’s true that some spa services are meant to enhance beauty and make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, other treatments can actually benefit your mental and physical well-being — especially for those who are struggling.
With that idea in mind, it might be time to consider sliding-scale pricing. Offering your services on a sliding scale simply means adjusting the prices based on a variety of factors, including income.
For people who want to make spa visits part of their regular wellness routine but can’t always afford certain treatments, sliding scale pricing can be an incredible incentive that will expand your target audience and customer loyalty.
Still not convinced it’s the right move for your business? Let’s dig a little deeper into why it’s beneficial.
People Are Struggling to Get By
There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on many people’s financial stability. Thousands lost their jobs. Others faced budget cuts. Even as we enter a post-pandemic society, inflation is extremely high and there are many people still struggling to find consistent work. As a result, more people are budgeting for irregular paychecks than ever. Things like regular trips to the spa are likely to get cut from those budgets quickly — unless they know they’ll be able to rely on a sliding scale.
By opening up your business to sliding-scale pricing, you can expand your current audience. More people will start to recognize that your services aren’t just for the “elite.” When you price your services based on income, that audience will continue to return more frequently. It’s also a fantastic way to boost your word-of-mouth advertising. Who won’t want to tell their friends about your business when you’re offering your services on an income-based pricing scale? It’s a great PR practice, and because you’re likely to bring in more customers more often, you might end up making an even bigger profit than if you kept your pricing the same for everyone.
Spas Promote Self-Care in More Ways Than One
Preventative care is extremely important, especially in underserved areas. Some people don’t have easy access to doctors or specialists, so it’s essential for them to take care of their mental and physical health as much as possible. While going to a spa might not prevent anyone from getting sick, it can absolutely reduce stress, boost the immune system, and improve overall wellness. Some of the benefits of preventative healthcare include:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved weight management
- Greater life expectancy
- Decreased likelihood of chronic conditions
If you offer some of your preventative healthcare services on a sliding scale, you’re opening up greater opportunities for people to take care of themselves and reduce their risk of getting sick. Something like acupuncture, for example, could be used as a way to reduce stress and boost immunity. You might consider asking your clients what they’re able to pay or offer a “range” so those who can’t afford the high-end can still receive their treatment.
When you promote preventative wellness practices and people are trying to take better care of themselves, they’ll be more likely to come back frequently, and you’ll establish healthy, trusting relationships with your clients that are more likely to last for years.
Offering sliding-scale pricing might seem crazy, at first. However, when you start to think about how it might benefit your existing customers, draw in a bigger audience, and help to build lasting, loyal relationships, you can take comfort in knowing your spa is truly focused on promoting wellness and inclusivity for all. That’s something to be proud of, and something that is likely to help your business find success for a very long time.
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