Kivivi Blog

For the first time in 2009, salon/spa owners reported a net increase in service sales, meaning more owners reported higher sales than lower sales. Thirty-eight percent of salon/spa owners reported an increase in same-store service sales between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009, while 36% reported a sales decline.

Although salon/spa owners reported an improvement in service sales in the third quarter, they continued to report soft retail sales. Forty-seven percent of salon/spa owners reported lower retail sales in the third quarter while 36% of salon/spa owners reported higher retail sales between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009.

Salon/spa owners are also much more optimistic about stronger retail sales in the months ahead. Sixty-one percent of salon/spa owners said they expect to have higher retail sales in six months (compared to the same period in the previous year. In comparison, just 9% expect their retail sales to decline in six months (compared to the same period in the previous year).

Plastic surgery and other medical treatments that improve appearance were once largely the domain of the rich and famous. New technologies have changed that, bringing a host of less invasive cosmetic procedures within the financial reach of a much larger swath of the population.

The demand for services such as Botox injections, chemical peels and laser abrasions — and the willingness to pay out of pocket for them — has also made them an attractive option for physicians. At a time when many doctors are struggling with lower payments from public and private insurers, cash-only medical spas have become an increasingly popular way of relieving the financial pressures.

But as the medical spa industry continues to expand at a breakneck pace, oversight of these facilities is lagging behind. New cosmetic procedures and devices are increasingly blurring the line between the practice of medicine and the field of cosmetology — and putting some patients in the hands of less-qualified individuals.

It's not uncommon for Elizabeth Maleko's clients to open their eyes mid-way through a Swedish massage and see a leap of leopards. The 26-year-old therapist is used to working in the wild. At Sanctuary Olonana, a luxury tented camp on the banks of Kenya's Mara River, the spa is surrounded by squawking secretary birds and moaning hippos (and, mercifully, a functioning electric fence). The sound of East Africa's menagerie is all around. It's a great place to catch a glimpse of the park's Big Five; the remote, calming spot clearly appeals to the elusive big cats and their cubs, says Maleko. "Last week we saw three playing on the bank.

Lyrics:
It's Spa Day, a day to unwind.
We'll walk on your spine, we'll be kind.

It's Spa Day, P & F on the scene.
Gonna slather you with mud and make you feel like a queen.
Get you sittin' in a hot tub. (Loungin'!)
You're thinkin' this place is a-(stoundin'!)
Hot steam, hot stones, hot water, hot wax.
We're pipin' cool new-age music, can't help but relax!

It's a spa day! (Yeah!)
Shiatsu! (Gesundheit!)
Thank you very much!
We got a salt scrub, a mud tub!
What's it gonna be?
A foot bath, a facial, aromatherapy.
Yeah, aromatherapy.

It's Spa Day. (Yeah!)
Shiatsu. Where ya from?
I'm Pennsylvania-Dutch.
Sippin' cucumber water and a big slice of lime.
Throw your clock away, you're on P & F time!
It's a Spa Day!

-Courtesy BarlowGirl101

The stress of working and living under tough economic conditions is enough to trigger the urge for a trip to the spa. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough cash around to lay out for that perfect facial or relaxing massage. Rather than give up, however, most Americans are compromising. Shorter treatments are becoming more common, as many realize that something is better than nothing.

In June this year, the International SPA Association found that treatments lasting 30 minutes or less grew in popularity. Forty-six percent of the ISPA's 3,200 members reported an increase in these shorter services ... and close to have saw the amount spent per visit fall year-over-year.

Your burning spa questions answered.

• I have never been to a spa and I have no idea what to expect. What do I do? First of all, take a deep breath and remember that you are the customer, and any good spa wants you to be happy. Many spas that have Web sites include handy little tip sheets, so check those out. Call ahead and ask questions. Don't be shy to say you're a newbie. Just about everybody who loves their work also loves to talk about it; salon and spa operators are no exception.