10 Steps to a Successful Spa Launch - Step 9: Preparing for Opening Day

Index Table of contents  Contact • Virtual Spa • Email Caren Thornburgh  Related Links • Spa Employee Compensation, a Spa Site Guest Article by Caren Thornburgh • Personality Profile of the Spa Industry, a Spa Site Guest Article by Caren Thornburgh •  For the Spa Professional - Making an existing spa business more profitable, a Spa Site Chat with Caren Thornburgh • How to Choose a spa / What to Look for in a Spa, a Spa Site Chat with Caren Thornburgh • Spa Business Articles

To make sure that your spa is a winner on opening day, schedule a trial opening day with members of the staff acting as guests. Also make time in your schedule for a private premier week to experiment on understanding friends and allies. This is also an excellent way to introduce non-spa employees to your spa services. A few other important tips for a successful opening are:

  - Have a checklist of equipment and products noting what's scheduled to arrive and when.

  - Insulate perishable products from temperature-related damage as the build phase is completed.

  - Designate a storage area and label, label, label what goes where.

  - Allow plenty of time to assemble equipment and return if faulty.

  - Test all equipment prior to your trial opening--especially water temperatures and water pressure in your wet rooms and showers.

Caren Thornburgh, founder of Virtual Spa, Inc. (www.virtualspa.net ), a Web gateway site serving the needs of spa owners and managers with consulting, training programs, and spa career services. She can be reached at (978) 356-0824 or caren@virtualspa.net.

 
graphics courtesy of Caren Thornburgh

 Let Your Voice Be Heard! Vote in the Spa Site Polls

Share your spa business experiences on the Spa Site Forum in the " Spa Business Discussions" folder.