How should I incorporate salon services into my spa?

Research is always the beginning to success. To start, do your homework. Check your competition. How many salons have a spa? How many spas have a salon? How many are successful? What makes you different? Where is the client base? Consult with a person well-versed in the salon industry.

Many spa consultants that I have encountered do not believe it is a good financial definition to add salon services to a spa. Hotel, resort, destination, club and cruise spas may have demographic, wellness and seasonal issues that must be addressed before deciding if any type of salon services would be beneficial.

However, a recent independently conducted poll of spa owners and operators from around the U.S. stated that 74 percent of the participants believe salon services are important to the overall package. The greatest number of research participants were from the day spa sector. Many salon owners offering spa services have achieved success by creating a 50/50 balance in traffic within both departments.

Salon payroll can be an issue because salon technicians have a tradition of commanding higher commissions or salaries. A business plan that includes a salon manager is a good idea. Creating a plan that integrates a salon into a new or existing facility should include joint marketing and public relations strategies. Remember to leave room for expansion in your design layout. Try to limit contact between your spa and salon traffic. They are totally different departments and should feed each other but remain separate.

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