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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
The spa business is booming. According to a survey from 1999, spas across the nation took in $5.3 billion, ranking just below other leisure activities such as golf, cruise ship vacations and movies. Between 1997 and 1999, visits increased by 70 percent, resulting in a 152 percent rise in revenues.
Spas are not only attracting more clients, they’re becoming an ideal place to work, as well. Massage therapists can potentially earn high incomes while working in some of the world’s top travel destinations.
So, what has fueled the growth and popularity of the spa industry? Well, more than half of the country’s population is middle-aged or older. There’s a general concern for health and an overall goal to look younger and feel better.
By offering massage therapy, spas have also become ideal solutions for controlling stress, which seems to plague nearly all of us.
As demand for spas has increased, so has their accessibility. A visit is no longer a one-time chance while on vacation but an everyday reality as day spas have opened. In Salt Lake City alone, I’ve counted at least a dozen. And I recently had the opportunity to visit one—The Brick House Square Retreat Salon and Day Spa in Sandy.
While there, I met owners Treena Jones and Debbie Pimm. Together, they have nearly 20 years in the salon business. But it was only a year ago that they opened The Retreat spa.
The Retreat lives up to its name. A step inside is the first step to stress relief as peace and serenity surround. There are eight message therapists and a total of 50 employees, providing everything from facials and body wraps to hair make-up design. Many of the treatments use natural materials such as seaweed, honey and essential oils.
Treena and Debbie’s years of experience gave them the insight to pursue the concept of a one-stop spa. And The Retreat does just that by offering a variety of spa packages. Guests can enjoy a two- to three-hour escape, which includes a manicure, pedicure, aromatherapy scalp treatment and hair styling. Or they can opt for The Total Experience—eight hours of pure indulgence. No wonder, the spa business is booming.
For Zions Bank, I’m Fred Ball. I’m speaking on business.
