Hold My Mail……and Cell, and Blackberry - I’m on Vacation   By Liz Galloway

Unfortunately my vacation existed more in my mind’s eye than a real escape. My last vacation unsuccessfully combined my work with a family getaway. The reality of it was, I spent my time with clients and students, while my family had a vacation, minus one. Me.

If you’ve ever felt you need a vacation after your scheduled vacation, schlep around a cell phone and laptop on the beach, or think its a good idea to combine work with bonding moments, it may be time to rethink your vacation goals. Though you may carry the red badge of courage for overtime and dedication at work, are you able to apply those same attributes to being the ultimate traveller? Forego vacation deprivation and getaway guilt and find out what kind of traveller you are. It can tell you a lot about yourself. How you handle critical thinking, project management, adaptation and flexibility to change, oversight of many different personalities, and stress relief. Use a vacation as a learning experience and bring a fresh perspective to your work. That time away can be extremely valuable.

As a provider of educational workshops and getaways for both spa and wellness professionals and savvy consumers, its apparent that people have a yearning to combine enlightenment with stress relief. Which is exactly why we create specially tailored getaways that provide opportunity for purpose, education and a well deserved vacation. Vacation goals may be different for everybody, but its time to get back to the passion that inspires us when we let ourselves just be, rather than continually doing. Take that into consideration when planning your next edu – vacation.

There are many variations on vacation themes. Don’t know how to choose? If your looking for a good example of an excuse to take your vacation time, join our 2008 Cruise for P.I.I.N.K., a charity wellness retreat in support of breast cancer awareness. October 13-18. I know, I know. Your ambitious, and take it upon yourself to get things done at work. Have mounds of responsibilities that you could never ask a colleague to take on. The reality is, you can and should.

A healthy work environment and a healthy individual requires a balance. That balance is time for yourself. People typically go on vacation for several reasons, and according to tourism and resource boards here are some of the top;

People want to build and strengthen relationships. Vacation time is also family time. Especially with a typically family schedule that leaves little for quality time together. A vacation is a perfect time to get a fresh view of family away from home stresses and workstresses. Along with family bonding, this is an ideal time for children and adults to socialize and make new friends.

A need to improve health and wellbeing. Physical and mental well being is vital to everyday successes and a balanced work/family life. Health and well being getaways can include physical outdoor activities, and other ‘themed’ vacations that include nutrition, spa, relaxation, stress relief, education, sports etc. These are lifestyle focused.

Desire to rest and relax. Third on the list is reason to escape from work, schedules, worry, and everyday demands and just relax. Many cruiseships for exmple play up this goal by providing easy access to many relaxation methods in one spot. If you can find a cruise style that offers an itinerary that fits with your purpose its even better. Get a fresh view.

Enjoy new adventures. Many travelers find popular destinations with adventure getways. Eco adventures, Extreme Sporting adventures, Detox/Boot Camp adventures, Wine Socials, and even Naked cruising top the list. Adventures are to evoke new emotions, and experiences, what ever your goal may be. Romance, heightened sensation, visual stimulation, danger, its all at a travellers fingertips with the right planning.

Just to escape. This can mean many things, and is usually when people are looking for

something that is deficient in their daily lives. Something different. Different climate, quieter surroundings, better scenery, a slower pace of life, culture, learning, or anything else that may create a passion in peoples lives.

Knowledge building and learning. People are savvy, and have demands placed on them daily that require a high level of knowledge, pulling them in many directions. That knowledge also motivates today’s travellers. Better educated, and motivated for additional learning and stimuli, people travel to explore language, cultures, spirituality, mind-body connections, health, gourmet foods, and many other pursuits dedicated to knowledge and personal development. They want to see, touch, or feel something unfamiliar, yet apply their knowledge to a cause.

Celebrate special occasions. Some travelers take vacations to celebrate milestones in their lives: new relationships, marriages, birthdays, or professional achievements. Vacations that mark special occasions are usually taken with loved ones and provide memories that last a lifetime.

To save money or time. Although going on vacation almost always costs money and

time, where one goes on vacation can influence costs. You can still vacation and save money with mini vacations close to home, or on a scaled down version of another vacation. Virtually every budget can find a vacation that fits.

To reminisce. Many people travel to relive fond memories. Some will revist old places, or people to rekindle memories from a previous vacation, childhood or other memory. All of this focus on travel, food, and souvenirs, is really about buying an experience, and a sentimental journey.

There are nine perfect reasons to start planning your next vacation. Our upcoming cruise is a tenth reason. Many of us can be reluctant to understand the importance of time away from routines and stress factors. This is mostly a self induced state. Let’s make it a new generation of downsizing working vacations, and start understanding that it is not only our work that defines us, but our true calling and passion. Though we may feel we have a lot to lose at work. All of us have a lot more to lose if we can’t grasp the importance of enjoying the here and now.

Liz Galloway © 2008

Liz is the guest blogger for this article and the owner of The Lotus Effects.  Check out her website at

http://www.thelotuseffects.com/ and joins us for the cruise on October 13th-18th.

The start of day 2 included visiting the builder for cost estimates of doors, painting, building changes, and other repairs.  This would start what I called the “good ole’ boy day”.  Everybody we would talk with or ask or see was part of the VST network.  Everybody knows everything about everybody.  Sometimes this is good, sometimes this is great and sometimes…well…..

Of course, the builder didn’t have all of the estimates, but he promised the final before our bank meeting in the afternoon.  Next stop, occupational license office, I wanted her to make sure the spa met the code and zoning restrictions in this town.  After visiting the office, I could see there were no zoning restrictions…they just seemed happy to see a warm body.

Along the various stops, we took a tour of the competition, their facilities and the pros and cons of each place.  Essentially, we could mark that off the list, there was and is no competition.

Mid day brought the analyzing of the name of the spa, simplifying the spa menu, and finding a niche for the spa.  Of course, this only touched on the subjects, but proved that when discussed enough, we found that she would need additional help to make these items perfect and marketable.  The spa-goer in a small town is just learning about a spa and often does not know the more sophisticated menu selections.  I discouraged her from offering “bamboo massage” as only one therapist was trained.  If she really wanted to introduce something more nontraditional to the spa menu, one way is to offer it as a monthly promotion.    Marketing, branding is probably the MOST important item next to your facility and location when determining success in the spa.

Later in the afternoon included bank meetings to obtain funds for expansion and more discussion on whether to move the spa.  The banker was very friendly, and my client had done a very smart thing….she had a very small luncheon where she invited 20 of her very best clients.  She told them her plans, and her thoughts on moving the spa.  What did they think?  What did they want to see in a spa?  Well, who would have known that the city bank manager remembered the details of the lunch down to what they ate.    Brillant on the part of my client and something we should all think about when we are making big changes that include our clients.  This was very positive in the banker’s analysis of the numbers, the loan requests, and the interest rates that she remembered all the details of the spa.

What’s next?  More check lists, negotiating equipment, and implementing budget controls, and a re-vamped spa compensation plan.   It will great fun watching the ugly duckling turn into a swan right in the middle of a very small town.  Twenty years ago, who could have thought we’d have a spa in a V.S.T.?

You drive into town and there are 2 state highways and the downtown area.  The highlight amid scores of fast food restaurants is Appleby’s.  On a Sunday afternoon, it is packed with families eating something, fried, battered, dipped, or covered.  There is no naked food here, nor healthy.  Yes, they could all use a spa, a healthy eating spa, with lots of treadmills—not kidding, I saw 75 heart attacks waiting to happen.

Now to focus on the client, a 4 year day spa veteran, she had battled the “I don’ know the business syndrome”, to build a nice little business in a very small 26,000 person town.  Her big question, “my business is at a standstill, here, my lease is up, my current facility is not being repaired by my landlord, what should I do?  Should I move? Or Should I renew the lease? Or Should I just close the business and work for someone else.”

All very loaded questions—but questions that need to be answered.

1.      Move?

2.      Renew Current Lease?

3.      Close Business?

Prior to arriving in this Very Small Town (VST), I had reviewed the P & L, the problems, the current market conditions, the demographics, the target market, and the competition.  My first thoughts were, productivity was not above 50%, no profit , close business and go work for someone else.  But after asking questions about the expenses, and determining that a large sum of money had been loaned to a relative, and seeing that another large sum has been spent to determine business decisions…the business could have been profitable.  Looking at the current facility, this spa owner had done a remarkable job of turning a small space into a cozy, warm, relaxing place.   But the landlord was letting the building dilapidate; rotting everywhere…no she could not stay here and grow.

Now the decision is to look at the new facility.  Is the location great?  Is the building okay?  Now, this is not a spa with locker rooms, or a wet room, but a house which will be converted into a spa.  Parking is fabulous, palm trees abound, the facility needs some work probably around $30,000…but this will work and the rent is not outrageous.  The location is prime real estate-on the main highway-with tons of signage area….this means all 26,000 people will drive by everyday and see you, your specials, your gift ideas, your promotions.  Visibility saves in advertising expenses and can add “mucho dollars” to the bottom line.

Then it was to the numbers.  You know it is all dreams, kicks, and fun until you start crunching the numbers.  Is that why they say measure what you treasure?  Crunch, crunch, crunch, down to how many skin treatments, how many massages, how productive, then onto expenses, and more expenses, and more expenses.  Finally after 4 hours of crunching and 8:00 pm approaching, we decided that yes it could be profitable, and yes, a move was possible.  My client was elated, but tomorrow would prove to be just as agonizing.  Moving a spa, looking a costs, and determining feasibility still plays in the decision making of when to spend the money, when to hold the money and when to lay down the money.  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

As you grow in any industry you will always find sources and resources that are trusted and those that don’t fit your spa niche or simply don’t provide the right information.  One resource that you can always depend on is www.SpaTrade.com.    SpaTrade was founded in 2000 and acts as a resource knowledge base filled with articles, information, sources, and podcasts on just about anything in the spa industry.

I asked Nancy Griffin, the tireless, founder of SpaTrade what makes SpaTrade so unique and special.  She replied that:

• SpaTrade is “by the people for the people”. The site has survived due to the participation of our membership–member-generated content and active forums compliment the news and expert articles in the knowledge base.
• The site has focused recently on providing tips for day spas to survive during these turbulent time and creative marketing strategies to attract a new generation of spa-goer
  

Given the growth pains of the industry, SpaTrade gives spa owners, directors, and managers a resource that provides solid, valuable information.  There is a knowledge base (one of my favorites), an ask the expert, and special resources from the spa industry.  From the year 2000 to the present over 10,000 members have joined SpaTrade.  Use it and trust it like a friend.

Sometimes we don’t know what we are missing until we have the “real” thing…especially in our business life.  As you learn over the years from being an esthetican to a business owner to building a spa, you don’t know if you are missing something if you’ve never had it.  Now that I have seen and experienced the “real: thing, I can assure you that my expectations for a spa designer are over the moon.  Below are just a couple of things to expect from your spa designer and architect.

8.  we provide the operational input by submitting a ‘red-lined’ mark-up plan for electrical, mechanical and plumbing
9.  we will need your operations ff&e list of equipment - if you do not have one, then we can create one for you; the equipment ‘technical requirements’ plus our technical services brief (i.e. acoutstic standards, accessory/amenity requirements (i.e. treatment room sink vanity/counter millwork details + sink/faucet fixture - provide 9″ clearance between bottom of faucet to bottom of sink)
10.  we also provide recommendations and plan review comments on the following > materials/finishes, lighting, audio-visual, communications; plan elevations, millwork, signage, accessories - coordination with interior designer (to support and represent the operator and owner)

I have just put the spa consultant, Lisa Henry Jacobs, on the plane to Colorado and my brain is all a twitter.  The original plans for the spa according to her advice are STOP, Back up, Reverse.  I knew there was a reason that I hired her and this was it.  Somewhere in my gut, something told me that it was all wrong.  It is great to have all of the treatment rooms, but you need storage, laundry flow, and prep areas.  Plus the clients, must think they are at Disney, where you never know what goes on “behind the scenes”. 

We walked and talked for 2 days, up the stairs, down the stairs, into the parking garage…you see if you are going to build a spa in a resort hotel, well it must be the best spa in the world.  It does not have to be the biggest, just the best.  She finally hooked us into her world of spa design and development with some of the best and the brightest with Cary Collier and Chris Tyler, from Collier & Collier.

We agreed to re-design of the space and expansion of the second floor to become the new home for the men and women’s locker rooms.  The new space was starting to have a flow and feelings.  Where ever I could I was grabbing space, under stairs, in the “dungeon”…now we were going to see a new vision.

Life gives you all kinds of puzzles…you just never know when they are going to put the pieces together.  I had been researching pedicure chairs for months and months. I had looked at all of the models, read all of the spec sheets, and then reviewed the sanitation, i.e. the pipe situation.  You see the pipes hold bacteria, mold and all kinds of surprises.  I finally decided on SaniJet    Look at this chair, it has all of the bells and whistles, it has lights, heat, massage, lumbar, and the footprint is small. 

This is our chair on their website and you can learn all about the chairs—we are very proud of these chairs…they are bacteria-free.  We also have a special cleaning technique, which I will go into later that ensures that our clients will never have a fungus or disease from the spa.   I special ordered the fabric in the most beautiful blue suede and I bought four chairs.—What a bargain.

So I spoke many times with Phillip at Sanijet..when I was having an oops about the architect’s plans..Phillip had told me about how he was the recommended vendor for Blu Spas.  He ended up giving me Lisa Henry Jacob’s name and a phone number.  Thank goodness for puzzles.  Lisa was one of the pieces to a puzzle and I got her through a pedicure chair!