It can bring even the most aspired massage therapist’s dreams of opening their own spa to an abrupt end, and usually leaves a gaping hole in the pockets of most businesses - shopping for spa equipment and supplies can be torture for your wallet. And going with bottom line substitutes that are not professional alternatives, such as using a wooden yard table as a massage bed is completely out of the question. However, you can still save money on these spa expenses in a number of ways.
If you’re a spa industry veteran, then you know by now that the cost of certain spa accessories and equipment can be too much to bear, especially for new and upcoming spa owners. Most professional-grade wet tables and flat top massage tables start at about £1000 - which not everyone can afford. Although you have the perfect table in mind for providing massages, you ought to consider other alternatives. Investing in a portable massage table might be a better option, since not only are they a cheaper alternative (professional ones go for a few hundred pounds), but also they often come with additional spa accessories in the form of headrests and backrests and can be easily stored and moved around. Sure, a portable table might not be as glamorous as a fully electric one with all of its amazing capabilities, but it’ll have to do until you feel safe investing in a fully-featured one.
Another money pit spa owners have to put up with are trolleys and therapist stools. Both of these pieces of equipment can range in price from a few hundred pounds to even a few thousand. And sure, that luxury stool with a rosewood backrest and chrome base would definitely fit the rest of your nail spa decor, but a better alternative would be to find a simple and yet comfortable stool or chair that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. As for trolleys, well, it all depends on the treatments you offer. If you provide hot towel, hot stone or waxing services, a specialised trolley might be required for transportation and maintaining adequate heat for the wax, stones and towels. But if you can manage to heat these in a separate room or area, you don’t necessarily need all of these gadgets in your trolley. Instead, consider getting one that has closed shelves, room for supplies (oils, candles, a small bin, cleaning products, etc.), has wheels and doesn’t look of poor quality.
One of the most common spending blunders new and upcoming spa owners tend to make is jumping the gun with purchasing top-shelf products that they’ve seen other professional spas use. Although this is thinking on the right track, it is essential to focus on other expenses as well. Sure, that oil-free luxury sugar scrub would be a great hit in your spa, but you may want to start off with a less-expensive alternative in order to see if the treatment actually catches on in the first place!
Although the thought of purchasing a second-hand foot basin with excessive usage isn’t something you’d probably jump at the chance of getting, you might find some great steals when it comes to buying other spa equipment and accessories. There’s nothing wrong about purchasing used appliances and furniture for your spa, however, there are a few things you ought to keep in mind before buying, including:
It is of the utmost importance that you pay special attention to these details, as purchasing spa equipment, furniture and accessories from people who don’t work in the industry and might have misused them or didn’t regularly clean them can cause various health risks. Aside from that, you obviously don’t want to invest in anything that is worn or has been damaged, as making repairs can often cost you more than what the item is worth.
Aside from going with alternative and second-hand equipment and furniture, another great way to save money on spa expenses is by introducing a spa system. This solution can be used to track sales and treatment popularity, take prepayments, manage bookings and much more - all without having to hire additional employees. Being able to track your expenses and treatment popularity lets you better distribute your earnings and track what is bringing your business the greatest profit. And as for taking prepayments, if clients fail to arrive for their booked visits, at least you’re not left empty-handed! The best spa software for the job is Booksy. Sign up today for your free trial and see how easy it is to save money! No credit card required, no hidden charges - free support for life.
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