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Spa
The spa industry in
the United States has been thriving over the last several years. With
thousands of spas scattered throughout the land. It's now one of the
country's biggest leisure industries. While many sectors of the economy
are downsizing their domestic work forces due to off shoring and
consolidation, the opposite is true for the spa industry.
What type of spa is the most popular? Not the fat farms where you pay
thousands of dollars for a weekend living on sprouts, miso soup and
carrot juice (Okay. It's not that bad.) But the day spas, some of which
are humble, but some of which are upscale indeed, where people plunk
down hundreds of dollars for a treatment or two before heading off,
refreshed, to their McMansions.
Lunch time treatments are a growing trend, where people get somewhat
shorter versions of typical wraps, facials, massages, and other
soothing treatments. So are workplace treatments, where the
practitioner comes to the worker. Spas that are combining educational
aspects are also getting positive feedback. This is where people maybe
come in for a facial and then get instructions on how to do mini
facials at home and advice on what types of products to use. Kits with
instructions and sample sizes of products are sometimes included in
what can be called a workshop or seminar event.
According to the International Spa Association, there are an estimated
12,000 spas in the United States right now. This is a whopping 25
percent increase over just three years ago. Day spas occupy about 8,700
locations countrywide. That is a 20 percent increase in day spas since
2002. Resort/hotel spas are the second largest category, and club spas
come in third. Spa visits from men are on the rise. They comprise 29
percent of all spa goers. Due to this upswing, spas throughout the
world are devising treatments that appeal exclusively to men. (Don't
frets, men this doesn't mean is competing for the "fairer sex" moniker;
it just means they're learning to take care of themselves.)
Gift certificates and discount coupons help to draw people in. So do
special occasions, such as bridal parties the day before the wedding,
or even birthday celebrations. Skin care services remain very popular,
and so do the traditional salon hair styling and nail services. Body
services, such as hair removal, as well as makeup application are also
in demand.
Some really great news is that most people who use spa services are
happy with them. All of this means that if you like to help people feel
and look better, owning a spa or working in some aspect of the spa
industry might be just right for you.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
