Spa Gift Certificates Do's and Don'ts

Some day spas have not been able to weather the storm of the recent recession. It makes sense that consumers want to be confident about any gift cards they are giving. The following are some guidelines for choosing a spa that will be open and thiving in the future to provide high quality spa services.

1) Look at the retail area. Are the shelves fully stocked? Is there a large selection of brands ? Does the spa regularly introduce new products? A spa that is having cash flow problems may not have credit with product lines and almost certainly will not be adding new lines of products. A spa that is doing well will take the money and the time to research and regularly introduce new product lines to their clients.

2) Look at the paint, floors, furnishings and other décor. Maintaining the appearance of a spa is critically important, but expensive. Details like new artwork or even fresh flowers can be a signs that a business is doing well.

3) Spa packages. If a spa encourages purchasing packages of treatments by getting money up front and offering a discount, be aware. This is not necessarily a bad business practice, but in this economic climate, spas that are stable and not experiencing cash flow problems will likely honor multi-treatment discounts even without getting payment upfront in order to instill confidence in their clients.

4) Memberships. Some reputable spas do offer memberships, but, for some spas, memberships may be a way to get money up front when things are difficult. If a membership offers savings that seem too good to be true, there may be cause for concern.

5) What is the demeanor of the staff? It is true that often staff members learn of a spa closing the same time the public does. But, often, before a spa closes, benefits like health insurance or retirement plans are cut. In some cases, there are even pay cuts, and staff may feel more pressure if the spas management or operators implement quotas or high pressure strategies for bringing in revenue.

Most spas that have made it through the last year will likely be here to stay. Support your favorite spa and treat yourself and loved ones by scheduling appointments, purchasing retail products and purchasing gift certificates, but use the above tips to be sure you buy a gift card from a spa that is here to stay.

Kile Law is president of Blue Water Spa in Raleigh, NC www.bluewaterspa.com Blue Water Spa is celebrating it's 7th year in Raleigh, NC with a charity food drive and an opportunity for clients to visit the spa's newly expanded retail center. For more information call 919 87-6066