You've asked us for the ability to reward select groups of clients using referral (or promotion) codes, and, just in time for your spring marketing strategy, it's here!

I'll run through a quick tutorial on how to create and use referral codes, and this guide is also available as a Help Topic, or just search Help for "referral".

Here's how to create your first Referral Code:

1. Go into your Marketing tab and choose Events from the left sidebar.

2. Create a new Event, and select the brand-new type "referral code" from the drop-down list.

3. Type in a name, description, and the code you'd like to use.  That code is what you can give to your clients.  If you're sending via email or the web, a weblink is also created in the textbox below, ready to copy & paste.

4. Choose your date range by typing in the date, or using the pop-up calendar

5.  Now, just select the type of special you'd like to extend to your clients - Featured Services, Buy One Get One, or Percentage Off - and just set those up like you normally would.

In this case, we're taking the usual $75 massage and offering it for just $62, as you'll see:

6.  Distribute the code in any number of ways - cards at your front desk, email marketing (through your SpaBoom account or your 3rd party solution - all you need is the link!), flyers you drop into purchase bags, your Twitter account - any way you'd like!  Be creative and have fun with the codes.  You could even link to it on your website, giving the perk to anyone who visits your site often.

IGC Purchases With Referral Codes

With the referral code link, when they click on the link it will send them directly to your IGC page with the type of GC you are promoting already up on the screen, ready for them to choose it:

With the code only, the purchaser will be prompted for their code on the 3rd screen in the checkout process:

Notes About Purchase Options

1.  Tax, if you add tax to your GC purchases, will be calculated on the discounted price.

2.  Gratuity, if you feature that option, will be calculated on the NON-discounted price.

3.  Mail delivery option fees are assessed as normally configured.

4.  The IGC after purchase - just like with any other special - shows only the full value or name of the service to the recipient.   If the promotion is a Buy One, Get One, your purchaser will receive their bonus GC just like normal.

Let us know what you think and how you plan to use your Referral Codes this holiday or all spring long!

Imagine a lovely hotel in South Beach; swaying palm trees, a lovely sun-warmed breeze and a relaxing massage in the afternoon. The Swedish massage is fantastic and the therapist could not be more delightful. Add to this perfect equation, a spa facility replete with amenities designed to relax and delight any travel spa client.

Unfortunately this beautiful experience ends abruptly, with a frustrating shower test of the spa’s private label products. It manages to instantly end the bliss. The skin feels tight, hair is an uncontrolled rat's nest and the perfect moment is broken. It turns an ideal spa experience into a real downer and gives the client pause to recommend the hotel spa to local friends and family. All the warm fuzzy feelings wash down the drain with mediocre products and the client is now left with a film of disappointment. It can blemish the entire spa experience.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The good news is that there are wonderful private label product companies that use quality ingredients to meet your spa needs and increase revenue. The trick is to find the one that works for you.

1. Be willing to use the products yourself, on a regular basis. This doesn’t mean the spa products in the shower area have to be from the line used during treatments but as a spa owner you still need to stand behind the products. A client’s ability to test the product leads to an increase in purchases so make sure it is up to your personal standards.
2. If a product company promises the stars, moon and sun, chances are they will fall short. Stick with the straight shooter, your private label company will be a partner and their objective should be to develop quality products to keep you happy long term. Empty promises will lead to disappointing product sales in the spa so follow your gut.
3. Remember, it has your spa name on the bottle. Your marketing plan should include a strategic vision for the products your spa carries; private label spa products are an extension of your spa’s brand. Clients that purchase your products will be taking them home, and each time they are used it will remind them of your spa.
4. Word-of-mouth is a good start. It is worthwhile to do the research, talk to other spas, and find a vendor that will work hard to meet your spa’s needs. It will make all the difference to your clients and it will improve your spa brand.

No one wants private-label letdown. Spas work diligently to help clients live more meaningful, happy lives; it is the power of spa in action. Remember, the spa experience does not end until that completely satisfied client leaves the spa ready for the next occasion. It will make the full hotel elevator ride truly blissful.

Business owners often find themselves disseminating their usual marketing message without taking a fresh look at reaching the right spa clients with the right message. In reality, a spa’s client base may evolve over time or change quickly due to the economy or other conditions. It is very easy to overlook a demographic target that is in need of your services and is able to spend the money on regular spa treatments.

The market shifts, a major retailer driving traffic to your center moves, what do you do? Take the time to reevaluate and research your target client. In the Wall Street Journal, Willa Plank provides fresh insight to businesses seeking to acquire new clients and meet revenue goals.

Read the article.

First, you must identify your ideal customer.  "Do you know your target?" says Tom Patty, a volunteer small-business counselor for the Orange County, Calif., chapter of SCORE. "What do they do? What do they value?" Mr. Patty, a retired advertising executive, says he worked with a video biography company that attracted more business by simply shifting its focus to younger customers—baby boomers rather than seniors. –Willa Plank, Wall Street Journal.

Her advice is very applicable to the spa industry.

1. Go to where the growth is. Day spas and salons need to clearly understand what the growth potential is for their business. Increasing your customer base requires time and research.
• Is there a population in your area that is not being adequately serviced in spa? Get the specifics, design treatments to meet their needs and put effort into attracting them to your spa.
• Is there a well educated/professional demographic your area? If so, are you in an urban (single, young) area or more suburban setting (married, children). As you conduct your research let your answers guide you toward a new client target and set a course to increase your client base.
2. Ally with other businesses. Developing creative partnerships and community relationships is critical to the long-term success of your spa.
• Seek out partners that have a proven track record with your target demographic.
• The synergy of a well-suited partnership can increase revenue, streamline business practices and provide insight that can lead to new customers.
3. Use online tools. Redesigning your website can have a dramatic increase in your spa revenue. Why? Transitioning to a dynamic website puts the control in your hands.
• You can update the look and feel of the site to attract a new audience. It will enable you to easily add content, sell instant gift certificates and communicate effectively with your email contact list.
• In addition, a spa blog on your website adds content which can improve your ranking. As you improve your Google ranking you will see an increase in target traffic.

More from the Wall Street Journal:

Marie Danielle Vil-Young, owner of event-planning company À Votre Service Events LLC, says she is redesigning her Web site to attract a specific audience—young, professional brides—by changing the site's colors to black, hot pink and white. Ms. Vil-Young said social-networking is important; her intern's sole responsibility is to research and write for the company's blog. –Willa Plank, Wall Street Journal.

This is a perfect opportunity to adjust your target customer and seek out ways to reach them. It can improve revenue and bring a fresh set of clients seeking relaxation, tranquility and peace.

A big "Thank you!" to those who attended our webinar on Tuesday.  If you couldn't make it, or you'd like to go over the materials again, we have a video of the whole session, as well as our presentation in pdf format (see below for the download link).

Or, click to download and follow along with our presentation [PDF] 

Don't forget to give us a call for assistance with your Valentine's Day marketing ideas, how to use some of the features we've discussed, and ask any other questions you might have!

As a spa business, it is your job to make an impact on clients each day, to make their lives perceptively better, more balanced and richer.

That impact is incredibly inspiring, the notion that you can make a person’s life better, and it must carry your staff through the most challenging and hectic moments. There is no question that your spa produces a valuable impact on individual health and wellness.

Remember, the wave of spa synergy begins before the client reaches your threshold. It is wound up in the little things your business does, the follow-through, the 'in the moment' opportunity to exceed expectations. When you ponder client needs, looking for ways to harmonize and improve the entire spa experience consider these loyalty-building fundamentals:

1. Give clients multiple methods to reach your spa.  It is so important to have a website that is easy to find online and content that leads clients directly to your spa. That means your target customer must be able to communicate with your staff using their preferred vehicle: email, phone, face-to-face, Twitter, and Facebook.
2. Personalize their experience.  Value radiates from spa experiences that incorporate tailor-made treatments to meet a client’s specific needs.
3. Respond to client needs 100% of the time.  If there is a problem, respond and resolve it. It is your best advertising at work, and that action leads to glowing recommendations.
4. Give clients as much control as possible.  Hand it over whenever possible, it shows that your spa understands the value of convenience. Allow them to book their appointments onlineand don’t wait to confirm their appointments, give them a prompt response.
5. Give clients more than they asked for each time.  It is called a bonus and it will be memorable to them.
6. Follow up with clients.  Keep the communication flowing and let loyal clients teach you how to improve your business. It is very valuable to see your business from a different perspective; you can listen, absorb the information and gauge its value to your organization.
7. Go to your clients first.  Use email marketing to promote your business. Existing clients are already engaged and aware of your business. They are much more likely to respond to promotions, events and new spa treatments.
8. Reward immediate action.  If you have a series of unexpected schedule openings, announce it on Twitter and then reward clients who respond right away. Once clients experience their reward they will be watching and waiting to take advantage of the next unexpected spa opportunity.
9. Exceed expectations.  First, know what they expect from their entire spa experience and then make a point of exceeding it.

Small businesses are definitely feeling the squeeze and are increasingly using social media as an important tool in staying connected to their customers.

According to a report that was sponsored by Sage Spark, an online business network:

More than 260,000 small businesses in the United States and Canada currently use social networking for business purposes.

Small businesses understand very clearly that customer engagement is paramount to success and are looking to social media to bring them closer to clients. Small businesses are taking the leap, learning what they need to get started in social media and liking its progressive approach to building their business.

This great article by Lauren McKay, associate editor of www.destinationcrm.com, reveals that small businesses face fewer hurtles in their jump to social media, the biggest challenge is making the decision to add it to their marketing programs.

Read the article.

We know spas are increasingly using social media right along with other small businesses to keep in touch with clients, offering up last -minute deals and an assortment of spa promotions. Has your spa taken the leap? What barriers did you overcome to get started? We would like to hear your story.

According to a current spa industry research report, over 60% of the avid spa respondents went to a spa at least 3 times a year and more than 9% went 10+ times per year.

Read the report.

It begs the question, could a spa membership program entice more avid spa goers to your business over the course of a year?

We all know that repeat customers are extremely valuable and tend to spend more at each spa visit. A Spa membership program ensures that high value clients visit the spa every month and creates new opportunities for you to build revenue.

There are definite advantages to spa membership programs but I am curious what local spas think, so leave a comment and let us know what your experience has taught you.

Are you using everything you have to promote Valentine's Day for your Spa or Salon? Join Janell to get a fresh perspective on some simple promotions to increase Instant Gift Certificate revenue and create effective promotions for the upcoming holiday of love.

Title: Create Love for Your Spa or Salon
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM EST

Space is limited.

Reserve your webinar seat now!

System Requirements:

PC-based attendees require Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees require Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Our Celebrating Romance Edition of Joy of Spa News is ready for you to make it yours! The Celebrating Romance edition touches upon choosing great spa gifts, learning to care well for oneself, as well as trends we're seeing in spa as a whole.

If you're signed up for the Joy of Spa News, it will launch to your clients on February 1st.

Remember, the Joy of Spa News is branded with your spa's logo and when your client clicks to read more, the website is branded with your logo, too! While the Joy of Spa News is complete as is, we recommend your taking a look at it and tailoring the special introduction area to your exact preferences. Be sure to send yourself a test email after making any edits, and remember that Events that encompass the February 1st date will be included in the email as well.

Not yet signed up to send a beautiful, branded newsletter to your clients on a regular basis? Now is your time to get onboard! Go to Setup, Basics to put Joy of Spa to work for your spa!

There is a reason, as Tech Crunch reported, that Google was looking to purchase Yelp, an online local review website. Local review websites like Yelp are becoming very important in the mind of the consumer. More and more, consumers are looking to their peers online to help them make every day purchase decisions. Managing your spa's online reviews has never been more important.

These sites, which include Yelp, CitySearch, UrbanSpoon, Yahoo Local and MenuPages, rely, in part, on voluntary, user-generated reviews of local companies. And they are becoming increasingly influential among consumers. — Diana Ransom, Wall Street Journal

Read the article.

Pay attention to what consumers are saying about your spa online and look for ways to resolve any negative reviews quickly. Businesses that deliver quality service and tangible value consistently to their clients will see positive online reviews increase.

As always, building a strong relationship with loyal clients continues to be very important. Expand your effort and get to know new spa customers. The handshake and extra time spent with a new customer may bring forth a review that builds momentum for your business.

A new business is helping you start out 2010 with a clean slate. A few keystrokes can kill the parade of web 2.0 drivel that many of us live with (and help create) on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, et al. You can read all about the Web 2.0 Suicide Machine on your own, but the real question is why?  What has become so unbearable about social media that just when small businesses are opting in, the cool kids are jumping out the window?

The reason is simple; some users have suffocated the value in  medium.  For many it has become just another venue for soul-sucking self promotion and narcissism. When you consume media (magazines, TV, radio and web-portals like Yahoo.com  for example) you know that part of the deal is you become "eyeballs" that are sold to "advertisers" who are buying your "impressions." By contrast people who see your social media are generally your "friends" or "followers." When you bury them in a toxic combination of personal minutia, Farmville updates and corny "buy from me"  tweets, they just might slit their digital wrists.

What to do? More important is what not to do. Do not share/tweet/post personal musings about your pet to your customers or prospects. Yes, some personality is generally welcome. Just ask yourself "who is my target, are they my friends/followers and will they find this post/tweet helpful, annoying or inane?"

Some simple guidance: have a separate business and personal accounts for Twitter. For example: you can follow me (sethgarden) or SpaBoom (spaboom) on twitter. You will see a difference in the content! On FaceBook, set up a "page" to promote your business. Use that page for events, announcements and promotions, while keeping the scanned 80's photos of you, uploaded by old friends with too much time and and a scanner (I'm not bitter; Denice and Rob), away from your professional contacts, customers and prospects.  If that sounds like too much work, try using tweetdeck.com, which will let you monitor and update multiple twitter accounts and FaceBook from one control panel. It if still sounds like too much work perhaps you need to rethink your online branding strategy.

Social media can be a great way to communicate with your clients and your local community. Just don't smother them-and don't forget email. A good Facebook page or Twitter stream does not replace email or an updated website as a medium for clients (and it won't get there in 2010). If you have any questions, call us. We can help you set up email, website and social media marketing without driving your customers to consider something drastic.

Who knew that Twitter would be an effective tool to galvanize revolutions and spur an impromptu snowball fight in Washington DC over the weekend?

But one of the beautiful features of Twitter is its power to bring about quick fits of promotion response that can be felt almost immediately. That tangible result is very important to small spa businesses and your local community. Instant ROI (return on investment) is very important to small businesses, maybe even more so than a promotions overall effectiveness in the long run.

I recently checked my favorite local spa’s Twitter page and found they were offering a 15% discount on spa treatments for that day only. Twitter is an effective tool for filling open appointments in your spa schedule and it keeps loyal members of your community coming to the spa for treatments.

Twitter gives local businesses a vehicle to deliver value to their community inexpensively and effectively. Use the next year to develop a social media strategy for your spa; it could pay off instantly.

SpaBoom email marketing is a uniquely effective marketing tool for spas, if it is executed correctly. It facilitates and initiates transactions, drives customers to your website and ultimately to your spa.

There is a huge misconception that volume is key, the more email contacts on your list automatically translates to higher response rates and conversion. The truth is that each ISP (Internet Service Providers) like Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail has become increasingly sophisticated at filtering out emails that consumers don’t want to receive. The quality of your spa’s email list will always trump quantity.

What defines a quality email list and how can you ensure the spa emails get to existing clients? Follow these simple steps and you will more effectively market your spa to existing clients and potential customers.

Building a great list begins in your spa every day. The trust you build with clients while they are in the spa will bring success when you communicate with them utilizing email marketing. Loyal clients will be much more likely to share their email address and respond to your communication. If the emails offer consistent value to clients, then conversion rates will go up.

Take the building of your email list seriously. Make sure website visitors can add their email address online and make the list a priority for the front desk by having email addresses gathered when a reservation is made. Your spa email list will grow rapidly and it will be a terrific list of qualified and relevant addresses from your existing client base.

Keeping spa emails from triggering spam filters and from being blacklisted is an ongoing effort but worth the time to ensure that the maximum number of emails sent are actually received.

Double Opt-in your email list on a regular basis.

Double Opt-In means that once a client has given you their email address you send them an email to confirm it is their email and obtain their permission to use it. That means that they must respond to your email, usually with one click, or they will be taken off the list.

This ensures that only the people who want an email from you receive it. Life happens, consider that 1 in 6 Americans move each year, 16.8%, and your email list must adapt accordingly to account for clients who are no longer active or just don’t want to receive your emails.

Double Opt-in also lowers the risk of being tagged as a spammer by confirming that the email address is correct before sending out a mass mailing. If you are blacklisted you can forward your record that shows the client did opt-in to your emails.

Give your clients a way to unsubscribe.

An unsubscribe (Opt-out) option in email communications garners trust. It puts the communication control exactly where it should be, with the client. It builds trust, awareness and ensures client privacy has been honored. The unsubscribe option takes clients who choose not to receive your email off the list.

Avoid words and phrases that trigger spam filters.

There are more than 250 words that can trigger spam filters but spas will most likely be limited to a few words: Free, Limited-Time-Offer, promise, all natural, free sample, great offer, cash, money, specials, promotion, guarantee. Try not to use these words in the content of your email, especially in the subject line.

For a complete spam word list you can Google, 'spam filter words.'

Keep email communications simple.

• Avoid heavy graphics in your emails. Graphics in your emails can adjust in the transfer to the client’s in-box and can reduce response rates and trigger filters.
• Avoid all capital letters in the subject line.
• Check for typographical errors.
• Do not include punctuation to the subject line.

Personalize emails the way you personalize spa services.

Be direct and relevant in your emails to spa clients. If you offer value or communicate relevant information to your clients they will respond positively. They will continue to want to receive your emails, stay active and you are less likely be blacklisted by ISPs.

Check the Blacklist for your spa, despite best intentions.

The Blacklist is a list of email senders who are determined to be sending unsolicited spam emails. Legitimate businesses can be blacklisted; you should check your domain name on a regular basis. This means that each time you send out an email communication it will be blocked by the ISP that has blacklisted your domain name. There are a number of online services that allow you to check your domain name against many of the lists of blacklisted senders, just Google 'check email blacklists.'

When you develop email communications always keep clients top of mind. What would be valuable to them? It could be an offer, promotion or relevant spa information. Email marketing is a valuable way to keep the line of communication open, just make sure you honor them first.

Every communication with clients should be measured by whether it is worth their time and effort. This perspective requires that spas deliver value that directly enhances their life through spa. Taking this responsibility ensures that each communication enhances the relationship and builds your reputation.

We've added a Valentine's Event and two Email newsletters to your Marketing, so please take a peek and tailor them to your exact preferences. If you use Events and don't make changes, the Events will automatically appear on your website for the range of dates listed. If you've opted in to our Email Marketing and you don't make changes, they will automatically fly, on the dates below.

Event:
Valentines Love Relaxation (runs 1/5 — 2/15/10)

Email Newsletters:
The Perfect Valentine's Gift (launches 1/14/10)
Valentine' Day Pampering (launches 2/8/10)

You have the power to edit any Events and Emails we've created from within your SpaBoom account. Simply go to Marketing, Choose Email Marketing or Events from the list on the left side of your screen and edit away!

Note: We always recommend sending a test Email to yourself to ensure it looks exactly how you'd like it to look. This gives you an opportunity to make changes to content, graphics, or even the colors if you like, before your clients see it.

As always, if you have questions about any of this, just give us a call and we'll help you out!

Grappling with personal existentialism is a worthy and inevitable holiday undertaking, to reflect on the quality of past decisions, both business and personal, as time sets its sights on a New Year. As that New Year, fresh and untarnished, looms in front of us, it is critical to set a deliberate course for business success in 2010.

Trying to predict next year's economic temperature is nearly impossible, independent businesses rarely rely on leading economic indicators because they often don’t apply in their town or state. Many spas have spent the past year unloading overhead and streamlining business practices, which puts them in a position to take advantage of any possible recovery.

There are concrete steps to take to ensure your spa is ready, regardless of what the New Year brings to your business.

Update Your Spa Website.
Your spa website is the very first thing many new customers see even before they enter your spa. The website speaks for you, represents your brand and the trust you have built with clients. It is extremely important that your website be up-to-date, easy to navigate and expresses the look and feel of your spa in a true and simple way. Give your customers the information they need to find your location easily and provide valid contact information.

Create a Healthy Work Environment.
Your spa may have cut back on extras but you can still make sure your spa is a great place to work. That means you create a professional, clean and harmonious environment for your staff that consistently enhances their well being. A great work environment, that is pleasant to come to every day, can compensate for a great deal in lean times.

Create unconventional employee benefits.
Many spas have had to cut back on the number of employees they staff, which implies that you have retained the best and brightest. Let great employees know that you appreciate their hard work and encourage them to continue to work hard.

It is very important to stress that while you are a lean staff now that will change as the economy improves and will create an opportunity for staff development. Loyal, hard working employees can be rewarded with new responsibilities and benefits as the spa adds staff in the future.

Implement creative employee benefits that are less costly but directly improve staff work life. It can be as simple as recognizing hard work and rewarding staff for excellence in customer service. Surprise and delight your staff with rewards that will create more work/life balance for them individually. In addition, empower your staff, let them make decisions that will improve revenue and have a side benefit of improving their feeling of control.

Get to know your clients.
Set the bar high and show the spa staff exactly how you want them to interact with clients. Employees might not be able to do it 'just like you' but they will take your lead and see that it is important to you. Let the spa staff know that they should take an active role in communication and make an effort to know clients, new and old. If a new customer feels comfortable in your spa they are much more likely to rebook and come back for more treatments.

The ultimate goal is to engage your staff and provide them with a satisfying work environment. Getting the spa in shape and retaining the best spa talent during difficult economic times will ensure that your spa will come out of it stronger, wiser and better able to beat the competition.

Just a reminder, we'll be adjusting our hours a bit to celebrate the upcoming holidays.

When: December 24, 2009 — Christmas Eve
What: We close at 2 p.m. Mountain.

When: December 25, 2009 — Christmas Day
What: Closed

When: December 31, 2009 — New Year's Eve
What: We close at 2 p.m.

When: January 1, 2010 — New Year's Day
What: Closed

Enjoy a safe and warm holiday, SpaBoomers!

Team SpaBoom

This year holiday online sales have taken an important and positive turn in the minds of the average American. Savvy on-line consumers have known for a long time that the web is a source for price comparison and expediency. Now, the average consumer has stepped away from frenzied holiday shopping rituals and taken their fist step into transferring those purchases to online retailers.

While sales conducted at brick-and mortar stores are about flat this season compared with 2008, online retailing grew 4% from the beginning of November through Dec. 18 to $24.8 billion, according to Web tracking company comScore Inc. Online sales on Dec. 15 totaled $913 million, marking a one-day record for the industry. Geoffrey Fowler

Read the article.

Online holiday promotions have been particularly aggressive this year and have helped more traditional shoppers look online for deals instead of trudging to traditional brick and mortar retail locations. The result, online shopping is up dramatically among large and small retailers.

But Web analytics company Coremetrics Inc. reported that sales Friday and Saturday broke expectations to increase 24% compared to the Friday and Saturday before Christmas last year, as snowstorms in the eastern U.S. prompted some consumers to do last-minute shopping online. Geoffrey Fowler

Spa Instant Gift Certificate transactions continue to ramp up nationwide and we will see sales swell right up to Christmas day. Instant online transactions create a significant advantage over mass retailer websites who are confined by shipping deadlines. Their sales will begin tapering off today.

The 3300+ local spas using SpaBoom’s online instant gift technology have the edge over mammoth retailers this holiday season.

While Amazon and Wal-Mart seek out processes to reduce shipping costs and increase online shopping efficiencies, spas that offer online instant gifts can provide the perfect 'instant' gift with zero shipping costs. In addition, purchasing instant spa gifts online allows consumers to by-pass the mall, long lines and full parking lots this holiday.

The Wall Street Journal reports on Wal-Marts efforts to use their retail store-power to increase online sales. Wal-Mart is using its store locations to offer consumers free shipping from its online store. If a consumer purchases a product from www.walmart.com they can pick it up from their closest Wal-Mart store. It is a strategy designed to reduce shipping costs by using their brick and mortar locations. It is also testament to the consumers' demand for quick, easy and simple purchase experiences.

While e-commerce represents less than 5% of American retail spending, merchants are finding that even technologically unsophisticated consumers start their shopping on computers or mobile phones, perusing product reviews and price comparison Web sites.

ComScore said Monday total online orders rose 3%, to $19.9 billion, from November 1 through Dec. 11 compared to the same time a year ago. Miguel Bustillo and Geoffery A. Fowler

Read the article.

Take advantage of your spa’s local brand presence but also shout the ease and convenience of your spa’s online instant gifts. Instant Gift Certificates give your spa the power of quick and effortless without the cost and hassle associated with shipping gifts this holiday.

To help you prepare your spa for the holidays I found inspiration in the Twelve Days of Christmas, creating a handy list for you to re-connect with your clients and make this a great holiday for everyone.

I hope you had fun with the first set of 6. Here are the final 6 - use them, enjoy, and have a great "spa-liday" season!

The Twelve Days of Spa Tips

On the seventh day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Seven Products Selling - Products are a great way to enhance your clients' spa experience and further your own brand, especially with private-label goods

On the eighth day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Eight GCs Printing - Don't forget that your SpaBoom account can print out GCs for clients - whether you sold them through SpaBoom or not! Track your retail GCs to keep all of your records in one place

On the ninth day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Nine Clients Dancing - Dancing for joy about your promotions? Maybe, but you could also host an open-house in the week after Christmas to remind them of all your de-stressing potential as they wind down from a busy few weeks.

On the tenth day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Ten Percent Off! - Use our Percentage Discount feature to offer a sale price on all of your gift certificates across the board, to encourage last-minute gift giving.

On the eleventh day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Eleven Brochures Stuffing - Slip those Instant POP printouts from Day One into retail bags to remind your clients they can purchase gifts from your website 24/7.

On the twelfth day of Spa Tips, SpaBoom gave to me:

• Twelve Smiling Greetings - After all, this is about your relationship with your clients. A smile and warm greeting from your staff sets them up for a wonderful spa visit and gives everyone the same warm fuzzies I feel when I see decorations and piping cups of hot cocoa.  (In fact, why not offer hot cocoa while they wait?)

If you have holiday tips or practices that you'd like to share, please submit a comment - we'd love to hear what works for you and your clients.

Have a great week!

Happy Holidays, SpaBoomers!

A couple of announcements about hours of operation this holiday:

When: December 18, 2009 — this Friday
What: We close at 4 p.m. Mountain.
Why: Our annual Holiday Wild Rumpus

When: December 24, 2009 — Christmas Eve
What: We close at 2 p.m. Mountain.
Why: Because it's Christmas Eve

When: December 25, 2009 — Christmas Day
What: Closed
Why: Because it's Christmas!

Wishing you joy and peace, warmth and relaxation, and all the eggnog you can possibly enjoy!

Team SpaBoom