Spa and Online Business Planning for 2009

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 target for the year. December was a nightmare due to the SNOW more so than other factors. Staff and customers could not get to the spa or did not want to venture out into a dangerous situation (and rightly so!). We asked our customers to rebook to avoid a penalty which seemed to be a win-win on both sides. Thankfully, we have an online store at www.lepetitspa.ca for purchasing online spa gift certificates as we rely on an overwhelming amount of sales at this time of year. I am happy to say that we were only 10% under target so not bad. I was not able to drive my car for 3 and a half weeks!

For Spa Boutique, we finished 8% over target. Meeting your targets helps you to make sure you are setting the "right" goal to make enough money to pay all of your expenses. I find the hardest part is to STAY ON TRACK. It's so easy to forget about the plan, get excited about something new, come up with "new and exciting" marketing ideas...you get the picture. As an entrepreneur, it's our weakness - we love creativity and feel stifled with numbers.

Business is all about the numbers. You need to know your numbers and understand your cash flow at all times. I review my numbers monthly with my manager and quarterly with my staff at the spa.

The online business, www.spaboutique.ca, is small and we can review the plan weekly which is really important so that everyone is aware of the goal and there focus is on how to generate sales and keep customers happy. I really believe in profit sharing. Brian Scudamore, from 1-800-GOT JUNK, recommended The Game of Business book which really helped me to explain to my employees how the business works and how important the numbers are. I heard Brian speak at a SOHO event and was able to visit his business a few years ago so I understand now why he is successful.

Some tips to help you:

• To set numbers for this year, review the past few years
• Do a SWOT analysis - what are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?
• Be realistic - it's going to be a challenging year; we set Le Petit Spa at 5% under 2008 sales and we feel very positive about this goal and for Spa Boutique, we set the goal much higher as we are opening a retail store in 2009
• If you are looking at expansion, then make sure you have done your research and you know there is a need out there
• At some point you have to make a decision on your numbers and bite the bullet
• Next step is to create a marketing plan - how are you going to promote your business? What marketing messages are going to be important for you? Social media is key to many businesses - FACEBOOK, TWITTER, BLOGGING, WEBSITE content
• Final step is to communicate to your staff and commit to the plan

It really is not that difficult but I think it's a bit scarey - did I set the right goals? Will we reach them? Make sure the goal feels right to you. If you have done your research and you are currently in business, then you are on the right track. If you are new to business, you will have to "take the plunge" at some point. Use experts, organizations like Women's Enterprise Centre that have business analysts, or take courses to increase your comfort level.

It does get easier each year. You need to put aside time to do the strategic work (which sometimes is the hardest part) and then "Just do it!" Enough of the excuses. Get on with it.

Here's to a GREAT year!

Nancy

Pedicure Information, Tools and at Home Tips

Did you know that people take on average 10,000 steps in a day, adding up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime, enough to circle the planet four times? How are your feet feeling? With the average woman walking 10 miles per day and average man treading 7, a pedicure is the perfect thank you to your feet their continuous support.

A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet, and their nails. It basically is a manicure for the feet. The word pedicure comes form the Latin words pes, which means foot, and cura, which means care. It also means the care of the feet and toenails. A pedicure can be helpful because it can prevent nail diseases and nail disorders.

Whether you opt for a spa pedicure or would like to try one at home, a pedicure will leave your feet looking beautiful and feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Materials and Tips for a home pedicure:

Pumice stone or foot file , Toe separators or cotton balls/roll, Emery board, Cuticle remover, Cuticle oil, Orangewood stick, Color nail polish, Base coat, Top coat, Nail polish remover, Quick dry spray, Nail clippers, Dish pan, Cotton balls, Towels, Cuticle nippers, Lotion , Nail buffer, Thongs, if desired.

1. Thoroughly saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and use it to remove any old polish you may have on your toenails from you last pedicure.
   
2. Fill the dishpan with enough warm soapy water to cover your feet. Soak for at least five minutes.
   i. Note: Whenever you are working on one foot, the other foot should be soaking in the warm water.
   
3. Dry your foot and apply the cuticle remover at the base of each nail. Wait one minute for the remover to soften the cuticle. Use the wedged end of the orangewood stick to push the cuticle back. If desired, carefully snip off the excess cuticle. Repeat this procedure on the other foot.
   
4. Using the nail clippers, cut off any nails that are too long. Length is a personal preference, but make sure the nail is shorter than the toe. Be careful not to cut the nails too short as this can cause ingrown toenails and can be quite painful. With the emery board, file the nail into a square shape.
   
5. Use the nail buffer to smooth any roughness or ridges on the surface of the nails.
   
6. Wet the pumice stone or foot file in the dishpan. Rub any areas of dry or flaking skin gently. Rinse the foot and dry.
   i. Note: Do not ever use a filing tool with a blade that cuts your skin or allow one to be used on your feet. Not only is it unsanitary, but you may cut too deeply, causing pain or even drawing blood. It is important to have a bit of callus on the bottom of the foot as well, to prevent splitting.
   
7. Apply a generous amount of lotion to the foot, massaging it in and taking care to cover all the foot, especially the dry and flaky parts. Massage the lotion up your legs to your knees. Close your eyes and relax for 10 minutes, allowing your skin to soak in the soothing lotion. You could also wrap your feet with saran wrap after slathering on your lotion, and put on a pair of warm socks out of the dryer for intensive moisturization.
   
8. Rinse feet in warm water and dry off with towel.
   
9. Saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and go back over your toenails, making sure that all lotion residues are removed. This is important, since the polish will not stick to any surface that still has lotion residue on it.
   
10. Press the toe separators or cotton between the toes, so that each toe is not rubbing on the next.
    i. Note: If doing a group pedicure, make sure that each person has their own pair of toe separators, for the sake of hygiene. If toe separators are not available, use cotton balls or a roll of cotton. Be very careful to keep the cotton away from the nails themselves, as cotton fibers will ruin the look of the polish.
    
11. Brush 1 coat of the base coat over each nail. Allow it to dry for one minute.
    
12. Apply 2 coats of the nail color. Allow it to dry for 5 minutes.
    
13. Apply the top coat. Allow it to dry for 1 minute, and then spray your nails with the quick dry spray.
    

Your pedicure should be completely dry after 30-45 minutes. Be sure and wear open toed shoes to allow for additional drying time. Your pedicure should last about two weeks.

If you would like to obtain additional information on any beauty techniques or spa services, visit www.lepetitspa.caor www.spaboutique.ca.

You can also e-mail me with your questions and watch for my reply in a future blog.

Stress Less with Le Petit Spa, Vancouver's Number One Day Spa

In the middle of the hectic holidays take the time to destress. Making time to relax and letting your stress go is especially important during the craziness, but also needs to become part of your regular ritual. Possible long-term effects of a stressful lifestyle include hypertension, hair loss, and digestive disorders. Thinking about that is stressful! But the good news is there are simple ways to let your tension go and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

TAKE TIME OUT Create a quiet time for yourself. The stillness allows your body and mind to catch up with each other and get in sync. Your quiet could be meditation, reading a few pages of a book, soaking in a bath by candlelight, or sipping your favourite herbal tea while watching the world go by.

CREATE CALM SURROUNDINGS Create a tranquil space with peaceful music - avoid heavy beats and lyrics. Mellow vibrations help your heart rate and blood pressure physically drop to a slower pace.

BREATHE FULLY Your breathing will be your tell tale if you're in stress mode or not. 8 to 10 breaths per minute indicates normal, healthy breathing. 15 or more signifies you're in stress mode. To unwind find your breath and continue to breathe as you were. Through your nose inhale and exhale long, complete breaths for 10 to 30 breaths. You'll see the effects as your body relaxes and looses tension.

More destressing tips in tomorrow's posting.

How to Save your Nails

Diet and lifestyle can affect the health of every part of your body, right down to your finger tips. Buliding healthier fingernails can easily be accomplished by using a high quality nail strengthener, such as OPI's Nail Envy.

How does nail strengthener work?

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener helps build harder, longer & stronger natural nails. With it's high-gloss formula, it contains strengthening protein, calcium and an antioxidant to help broken nails.

You can use it as a base coat when applying coloured polish or separately if you prefer a more natural look.

OPI Nail Strengthener is available at Le Petit Spa in our retail area.

Questions or comments, please email us at : info@lepetitspa.ca and we'll post it on our weblog.Visit our home page http://www.lepetitspa.ca/and sign up for our Newsletter/Promo updates and we'll thank you by entering you into a draw for a massage at Le Petit Spa, Vancouver, BC!