I’m currently wrestling with a couple of my clients about raising their prices.  Is it safe?  Will it risk business? How are our guests going to respond?  We’re still in economic recovery. Money-wise, our clients are in that weird space about whether they should be spending money on guilty pleasures.  Groupon has shown us what […]

After my last post “Whose Responsibility Is Marketing?”, there were a number of great comments about the specific kinds of marketing people were doing for their businesses and who they thought should be responsible for those tasks. After reading the remarks, I thought sharing a better explanation of what I believe constitutes marketing would help […]

Felicia Brown’s latest Spa Insider post “Whose Responsibility Is Marketing?” points out the pros and cons of engaging your spa staff in marketing activities. Felicia’s commentary got me thinking about the importance of involving everyone in your organization in marketing. Whether it is making outgoing phone calls or participating in social media, your staff must […]

Recently I was involved in an online discussion about marketing. A service provider was complaining that she was being forced to call past clients of the business on her own time to try and get them to come in for free introductory services with her. She was unhappy with this since she was only compensated when […]

Ellen Clark Since 1968 there has been a 40% decrease in the number of animals used in biomedical research and testing in the United States. —Animal Testing Facts There is ongoing debate concerning animal testing in the personal care industry. Some feel that it is necessary for safety and toxicology reasons, while others assert that […]

At the recent Global Spa Summit, renowned research company Diagonal Reports presented the results of their latest research into consumers and the US beauty market, entitled “Consumers Speak About New Beauty Trends:  Are Spas Listening?  Or Are Spas Missing Out?”  Jacqueline Clarke, Research Director, delivered the presentation, which was moderated by Anna Bjurstam of Raison […]

Have you made your plans to attend IECSC Las Vegas June 18-20? The Universal Companies team will be there offering free education on a variety of spa industry topics. Plan your schedule now to make sure you don’t miss these amazing classes! Oxidants, Antioxidants, and Skin Aging: Separating Fact from Fiction. Saturday, June 18, 9:00-11:00 […]

During  our new Control Corrective Skincare Systems rebranding launch, we invested in some terrific  samples, and we happily give these attractive multi-dose tubes away to very appreciative customers. Everyone likes to try a product before making an investment in it, and while this is one of the reasons we give out samples, it isn’t the […]

The sun is (or at least should be) shining; it’s that time of year. And, May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. All in all, it is time to reveal some myths and facts about sun exposure, sunscreens, and sunburns. Here are some tips to help you and your clients separate fact from fiction when it […]

In the US, there’s an inherent fascination with European women. How can they be so thin despite eating so much cheese? How can they be so healthy despite drinking wine, often at lunch? How do they achieve their quintessential elegant look? How come they seem to age more gracefully? Perhaps these are questions that you’ve […]