SERVICE & RETAIL
What is the best part about working with makeup services in the spa industry?
The best part of my job is helping people with their confidence! It’s a very special thing to be able to make people feel like their best selves. Seeing their reactions when I’m finished and watching them hold their head up high is without a doubt the most rewarding part of my job.
When did you decide to implement makeup services in your spa menu?
From the beginning! Eyelash extensions and both permanent and semi permanent makeup services came along with facials as the first treatments I decided to offer in my spa.
What approach did you take to implement these services?
I spent weeks researching different services that I wanted to be able to provide in my spa. I invested the time into training myself and into getting as many certifications and qualifications as I possibly could.
What is the most difficult part about offering makeup services in your facility?
For me, the hardest part is making sure that every service I offer is completely customizable. Every person has a different idea of what “beautiful” is and because of that it is important that I am able to accommodate everyone, whether they prefer a natural look or a glamorous one.
Which of your makeup services has the most success?
The most profitable service at my spa is microblading. There are very few people in the area who offer this service, so there is a huge demand! With the eyebrows becoming incredibly important in the esthetics industry this year, there has been an explosion of people interested in getting their eyebrows microbladed!
What other special makeup services do you offer?
We offer eyelash extensions, makeup artistry, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, chemical peels, facials, waxing, lash tinting, lash perms and brow henna.
MAKEUP AREA
Please describe your makeup area.
The room where we do our makeup services is about the size of the average bedroom. We have a table in the middle and cabinets around it with the products and equipment we may need. In our lash room we have a massage chair. The process for lash extensions can take several hours so we have this massage chair to make sure our clients are comfortable during the entire process. Overall, we keep our space professional and clean, while also incorporating personality with different colors and décor.
Do you tweak the area for specific events or promotions?
Yes. If we have a double facial or two clients who wish to get their legs waxed together, we move two beds into one of our rooms. We try our best to accommodate every possible situation for our clients to help them feel as comfortable as possible.
TEAM MEMBERS
How do you select your employees/ makeup artists?
I look for people that are not only qualified and talented, but also have a bright personality and are hard working. It is very important to me that our spa has a personality and that it shines through daily to each of our clients. I also like to have employees that are specialized in different areas. For example, my partner is a professional makeup artist whereas I am certified in microblading. It is important to me that each new employee I bring on board offers his or her own asset to the spa.
What specific qualities do you look for in a member of your staff?
Aside from talent and personality, I look for an employee that is driven, motivated and eager to succeed in business. I envision my spa as a long-term business and I expect my employees to reflect that.
How do you keep members of your staff incentivized?
The main incentive I have with my employees is allowing them the opportunity to grow along with the spa. The more time and the more clients they book, the more opportunities they have and the more money they will make.
Also, we pay our employees a split of the profit from each service they perform. For example, if they perform a $100 facial that our cost is $20 for, our profit is $80. The $80 is then split 50/50; the spa making $40 and the employee making $40. Our employees also keep 100 percent of any gratuity they receive.
MARKETING
How do you promote your makeup services?
The main method we use for marketing right now is social media. Social media is very important and we very much choose to capitalize on that. We post promotions on both Facebook and Instagram every week and encourage our clients to share them with different incentives, such as 10 percent off their next treatment.
Are your estheticians trained to promote different services after each treatment?
Yes, all of my estheticians are trained to promote our variety of services. I have found that this is great way to encourage repeat clientele! On the other hand, we never sell our clients into something they might not necessarily need.
How do you use email platforms for promotion?
I send out an email blast about once a month. Each time I use the email blast to promote a different one of our services and offer discounts on certain treatments.
INSIDER TIPS
What trends are you currently seeing in the industry?
Right now the biggest trend I’m seeing in our industry is people wanting a low maintenance, yet glamorous look. One of the huge benefits of microblading is that because it lasts for a while, it saves a huge amount of time getting ready every morning!
What does your business do that makes it UNIQUE from the competition?
We are unique because of the range of services that we offer and also the fact that every one of our employees is trained to the utmost extent. People can recognize quality and that’s what keeps our clients coming back! Along with that, I think that our personalities and the vibe that we’ve created in our spa has set it apart from our competitors.
What advice would you pass along to other spa owners?
Make sure to read up on any service you are planning on offering. Have as much training as possible and make sure that whatever service you offer in your spa, it is the highest quality that it could possibly be.
