Additionally, the likelihood of your target audience using the Internet and responding to your marketing efforts should also be considered into the equation. This article will outline the potential for success in an Internet marketing campaign. Read more ...

Having produced the annual Day Spa Expo in Las Vegas for the past five years, Patrick Witherspoon, President of Bentley International Group explains why the need for regional events. “Request from attendees has prompted us to plan a series of regional events to bring the Day Spa Expo and Business Forum closer to their area. With the financial restraints being what they are, it makes sense for attendees not to incur a lot of travel expenses to see what’s new for the Spa and Salon industry. Atlanta has been slated for the first regional event because of its proximity to major cities that are within a short distance from Atlanta.  A three to four hour (or less) drive includes: Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. A short flight widens the range for many more attendees from the Eastern Seaboard, the Midwest and other USA regions”, stated Witherspoon. Read more …

NEW YORK, July 9/PRNewswire/ — The Spa & Resort/Medical Aesthetics Expo (www.spaandresortexpo.com) has been redesigned this year to give attendees an enhanced experience that focuses on new resources, tools, treatments and professional education that will help their business grow and succeed. This empowering event will be held September 28-29, 2010, in conjunction with the HBA Global Event annual Beauty Week™, at New York Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

New show floor features include the Industry Education Theater, which will platform leading manufacturers demonstrations on new products and advance treatments. During both days of the event, attendees will be able to participate in interactive “how to’s” and learn about the latest skincare or body care products that they can offer their customers and businesses. Read more…

It is a fact of human nature that which we receive for free is valued less than things we have a vested interest in. If you have ever been to a Convention or a trade show you know what I am talking about. You walk around picking up items that you may or may not need or want. You bring a bag full of “stuff” home and you may or may not ever use any of those things. But if you purchased an item at the show you would keep track of it and use it as soon as possible.

Have you ever been out doing massage at an event and have someone ask you if the massage was Free? Why do you think they do that? Massage Therapy is growing by leaps and bounds. We have employed several approaches over the years to nurture this growth pattern. In the mid 1980’s our tool was Sports Massage. We took massage,via Sports Massage events, into a very public forum with a high level of success. Doing this permitted people to view massage happening in a favorable light…the light of day. Read more …

June 9, 2010 from Surface Medical Spas

1. Before anything else, speak to your state’s accreditation department to learn the state laws about laser technicians. Each State’s rules can vary. For instance, CA only allows doctors, physician’s assistants and RNs to carry out a cosmetic laser treatment. Some states require immediate direction from a medical doctor throughout each procedure.

2. Develop your business plan. From it, point out tips on nearby competition and their procedures, together with insights on how you intend to be competitive. Build a new expense plan of estimated purchases to include the Intense pulsed light and cosmetic lasers, (you should evaluate all of the newest cosmetic laser reviews and look into used cosmetic lasersbefore buying), the expense of renting a medical clinic along with all of the essential features, procuring a doctor to work on your workers, obtaining education as well as the required permits, and lastly advertising your laser clinic. Figure out how you are going to procure financing for your company, like a credit union or bank loan, close friends, or maybe an angel investor.

3. Depending upon the specific state, become a registered laser technician and / or Master Esthetician. Choose a credentialed education course which allows for hands-on training. Learn the biology for the dermis and hair, possible effects, laser configurations, hair growth cycles and ways in which to help assist customers about dealing with their skincare before every chemical peel, injection or cosmetic laser treatment.

4. Establish your laser clinic or medical spa as being a C corporation or limited liability company. Register your corporation with the state, obtain a Federal Tax number and purchase liability insurance for your medical spa business.

5. Rent the location for your medspa. Move into an old dermatologist’s medical practice or find acceptable space to make a waiting room, reception area and back office, meeting room, and procedure room.

6. Hire the team. At the very least, a new med spa team includes a assistant, a laser technician or esthetician to operate the laser, plus a physician to oversee operations. Your state will determine the degree of involvement essential from your medical director. He might only oversee treatments and be around in the event of a serious event, or be needed to be in the room for each and every procedure.

7. Buy an FDA-approved laser or IPL. Lasers range from the Ruby, Alexandrite laser, to the Diode, along with Intense Pulsed light (IPL) or CO2 fractional lasers. Various lasers respond in different ways to certain skin types. Communicate with top rated manufacturers such as Candela, Cynosure, Cutera, Lumenis, Syneron, ESC Sharplan, Palomar and Sciton to make it easier to find a cosmetic laser. Once you’ve purchased your laser, have your main office staff go through the education supplied from the laser company. It will be important to pay for separate instruction for each technology.

A comprehensive medical spa practice business plan is the vital first step in building a successful business in the medical spa industry. Without a business plan, spa owners could not apply for loans or government grants. A business plan for a medical spa practice is an operational and financial map of how the spa practice will be operated. It will detail the licensing required and give an account of the costs involved. For additional guidance on researching and creating a business plan, visit the free on-line business plan programs offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Read more …

The complete, detailed agenda can be accessed here:

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To set yourself apart from your competition it’s always a good idea to offer a treatment that is exclusive to your salon or spa. When you are working out what your signature treatment should be, consider this question:

What is currently the most popular treatment in your business?Once you’ve worked out the answer to this one, see if you can do a variation of this treatment with your own unique twist, so this can become YOUR signature treatment. The temptation can often be to create a signature treatment that is based on treatments that aren’t very popular in an effort to boost sales of these.

To me, that doesn’t really make much sense. You need to aim to have your signature treatment as one of your most requested treatments. If it is only available through your salon or spa and it is popular with your clients, they will talk about it to their friends. This sort of PR is invaluable, and is one of the benefits of an exclusive signature treatment.

Once you create a unique signature service, this becomes synonymous with your salon’s name. It may be a special aromatherapy head massage you include with every shampoo or a complimentary hand massage while the hair color is processing.

For salons and spas offering massage services, you can develop your own signature massage. Most massage therapists have learnt more than one massage style, why not take the best elements from each style and come up with your own signature massage?

Generally speaking, most spas come up their own spa packages. Make sure your most popular package is known as your signature package and has your business’s name incorporated into it. For example a Spa called ‘Pure Bliss’ could have a signature spa package called ‘The Pure Bliss Experience’.

Become known for your signature treatment by making it part of your branding, advertising and promotions. Feature your signature treatment in all of your marketing. Owning a signature treatment gives you the advantage over your competitors as this will be unique to YOUR business.

Make sure you get some testimonials from your clients about your signature treatment and include this in your promotions. Ask yourself is there a possibility to create a special retail item to compliment this service? Every little thing that you can do to set yourself apart from your competition will give you the edge.

Make your Signature Treatment part of this edge.

Catherine Trebble is dedicated to teaching salon, spa, holistic, medispa and other related service providers how to inexpensively fill their appointment books to capacity with all the clients they need. Download your free ‘7 Step Guide to a Full Appointment Book’ at http://FullAppointmentBook.com