Let's Talk Spa

Pricing is one of the most important aspects of your business

2009-01-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to blog about this subject for the last two weeks as I am reviewing my pricing for Spa Boutique and have had to revise my pricing THIS WEEK due to a few reasons. Pricing is one of the five P's of traditional marketing. It will drive whether you stay in business or not. I want to share what has worked for me in the last few months. We are going through a trying time but

Spa and Online Business Planning for 2009

2009-01-16T16:29:00.001-08:00

Well, I hit the road running literally this year and now i'm sick...figures I ran into a wall! Anyways, happy to say that most of my business planning is done for 2009. Having a plan/roadmap/sales forecast, whatever you want to call it, will help you stay focused and will be a cause for celebration when you hit your targets. So for Le Petit Spa, we hit our 2008 target and were actually 1% over

Word of mouth advertising - how powerful is it?

2008-12-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

Dear fellow entrepreneurs, I built my business on word of mouth advertising. It was critical to our growth especially since we are a service provider. Customers came in and had a great experience. They then told their friends. We now differentiate ourselves with our ambience. Our tagline is "Discover our secret". So part of our secret is to make sure that we tantalize the customer's senses

New menu/brochure strategy

2008-12-05T13:11:00.001-08:00

I am just launching a new menu this week. It's quite a process as you usually need to include other people therefore everyone has their own timeline. It's been three weeks now and I will be picking up my menus from Minuteman Press at 4pm today. Thank you Mike for stepping up to the plate and making it happen in three days! The first step in this whole process was taking a long look at what

Take care of your Decollete

2008-11-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

The areas that show our true age are eyes, hands and décolleté (neck and upper chest). Most people are very aware of the eyes and hands and have a routine to help slow down the process, but the décolleté is often ignored. Remember that this area is often exposed to too much sun and pollution and needs to be protected as well. The skin can become thin and become dehydrated, looking older than it

Why videos on Youtube are a great idea

2008-11-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

The social media world is growing very quickly and the interest is enormous. It is personalizing our messages and targetting customers in a different world. Customers are bored with email and enewsletters so video ratings on YouTube and discussion forums on Facebook are creating new ways to chat and communicate with customers. As marketers, we need to respond to these new trends and "get on

Media Opportunities for Le Petit Spa

2008-10-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last week, we were asked at the last minute to be on Breakfast TV with CITYTV. I thought to myself - "Yes, of course!" It turned out well but I did not have any control over the segment and had to wait two hours so I was not as quick on my feet as I normally am. I was told it was very good but felt a bit deflated about it. Now I feel guilty typing this admission but when you get free

Having Plump and Juicy Lips

2008-10-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Pucker up! As it is starting to get cooler and windier, it is important to protect your lips to keep them plump and juicy. Drink lots of water. Just like other parts of your body, your lips need to stay hydrated. You’ve probably noticed when you have been drinking coffee or alcohol, that your lips can become tight and maybe a little flaky. Water helps to prevent the cracking that may occur

Is it all gloom and doom or is it a lesson?

2008-10-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Small business is in a good position right now because we must always manage our cash flow closely and look for inefficiencies. When we don't, the doors close. The stats show that 50% of small business fail the first year, and then another 50% of the remaining fail as well. Ultimately, those entrepreneurs that become good business people are the ones that survive. It's quite simple but

Training - How important is it?

2008-09-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

As busy entrepreneurs, it's sometimes difficult to slow down and make sure that our employees truly understand our vision and how to do their jobs. Over the years, I have had to finetune and work diligently at making sure my team understands how to run my business. The coaching, mentoring and monitoring do not stop ever. From a financial standpoint, if you do not take the time to train and do a

Dark Circle SOS

2008-09-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Ever wake up on the day of a special event only to find those dreadful dark circles under your eyes? Don't panic. We have some helpful tips to help you prevent or lessen dark circles. Let's face it, dark circles are sometimes genetic. However, having plenty of sleep and less stress certainly help minimize the appearance of dark circles. Be sure to drink enough water. Dark circles are usually

Professionalism

2008-08-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

We have had many discussions with my staff about appropriate professionalism. How close should you get with your customer? We often do not promote providing personal information about ourselves yet over time it is inevitable. Also, the ability to promote your services and products to your long time customer may decrease if you become closer to them? These are interesting questions. After

"Sun" Proving Your Skin

2008-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone is becoming more and more aware of damages that can be caused by sun over-exposure. Some of the consequences are melanoma, hyper and hypo-pigmentation, age spots, premature aging, dehydration, as well as many others. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself: Always use a sunscreen. A minimum of SPF 30 is recommended for the face, and 20 for the body. Remember to reapply every

Time off is REQUIRED, MANDATORY, OBLIGATORY

2008-08-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

I just took nine days off and headed back east to visit family and friends. Great trip except the weather was dreadful. Lots of rain and clouds. Hopefully we'll have a warm fall. Before I left, I was thinking about when was the last time I had nine days off in a row...it's a good question for an entrepreneur. I have a home office so if I am home, then I tend to work a lot. Weekends are

Customer Service - what's the big deal?

2008-07-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

In my heart and soul, I know that I inherently understand what great customer service is. I am surprised at how often I am disappointed by lack of caring, lack of training or lack of understanding what is GREAT customer service. So what? Why care? Get over it? Mediocrity is not something I understand. I have a passion for making customers happy, including my staff. I am always trying to

Massage Etiquette

2008-07-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Relax your body, calm your mind, improve circulation and relieve muscle tension while you unwind with a massage. Full body, hot stone and reflexology massages are all available at Le Petit Spa. A full body relaxation massage is a great way to introduce you to the many benefits of massage. What should you expect? You can expect to be treated to a unique experience. This is your time to think

Nancy's First Blog

2008-07-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking of blogging for the last year and then it took me about 6 months to figure out what to say and how to do it. Little did I know that it would be so simple! Technology can seem intimidating yet today it is developed intuitively and usually straightforward to use. I have been guilty of thinking that perhaps my age (now 40) was perhaps why I have been having so many delays.

How to Achieve Perfect Polish

2008-06-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how to get the most out of your polish application at home? Here are some helpful tips in achieving that perfect polish you want at home: Before you apply anything, make sure your nails are completely free of any product or polish. Wipe each nail with a non-acetone polish remover or rubbing alcohol to neutralize any oils that could be hanging around on the nail bed. Next,

Beautify Your Hands and Nails

2008-05-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

With spring comes spring cleaning and working in the garden. Here are some tips for keeping your hands and nails healthy and beautiful. Always wear gloves when cleaning, washing dishes, or working in the garden. Not only do gloves help protect our hands and nails from water, they also prevent bacteria from getting under nails.The more you hydrate your nails, the more

Protecting the Delicate Eye Area

2008-04-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Preventing damage to the eye contour area is always easier than correcting problems that you may get in the future. Here are some ways to help prevent any damage to your eye area. When cleansing the eye area, apply makeup remover on a cotton pad first. Then, place and hold the pad on your eye for about 30 seconds. This will help to dissolve the make up and make removing eyes shadow and mascara

Exfoliation

2008-03-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Exfoliation is an important part of face and body care. It is recommended to be done on a regular basis. Twice a week is a good routine. When exfoliation is done correctly and regularly, it leaves skin smoother and fresher looking. It also helps skin absorb other skin care products, such as serums, moisturizers, and masks. When was the last time you exfoliated? Too busy to exfoliate? Here's an

Wrinkle Prevention

2008-02-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

Has your skin recovered from the cold weather yet? Are the fine lines look even more noticeable than ever under the sun? Here are some useful tips for preventing wrinkles: Clean your face thoroughly twice a day Exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells at least twice a week Avoid direct exposure to sunshine Wear products with minimum SPF 15 all the time (even when it's cloudy) Have facials

Microdermabrasion for Young Skin and Brides

2007-06-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

Microdermabrasion: Not just for mature skin An excellent advanced exfoliation method. Not only is Micro for mature skin types to decrease fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating blood circulation and promoting collagen production but it is also great for those with young skin. Young skin benefits from Micro because it promotes healthy skin turnover, reveals a smoother complexion and rids the

Spa Services for Men at Le Petit Spa

2007-05-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Services for Men at Vancouver’s Le Petit Spa Spa services for men have greatly grown in popularity over the last few years. Day spa’s are no longer “just for women” - a true man nowadays realizes that groomed hands and features could make or break a date - or a even a job interview. Le Petit Spa has set aside Thursdays just for men. Featuring spa services to clean up his chiselled features,

Seaweed is Cellulite's Enemy!

2007-05-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

Seaweed is Cellulite’s Enemy! Did you know? Cellulite affects more than 80% of the women in the world? There isn’t one ethnicity that isn’t affected by cellulite. What is Cellulite? Cellulite is an area or pocket of excess body fat that is trapped between the layers in your skin. This usually happens on the back of your thighs and buttocks; where blood circulation isn’t strong enough to flush