Ladies of leisure have the right amount of time and money to spend on maintaining their ‘fresh to death’ look. Shiny tousled tresses, buffed nails and ‘I have a facial once a week’ skin are a given. Workingwomen on the other hand are so busy earning a living, a spa day is a once in a very blue moon treat. And, even if they have the disposable cash the problem is finding the time to dedicate to being pampered.
While driving past streets lined with hair salons and beauty spa’s in a more local part of town populated with mainly working women and busy mothers. I couldn’t help but wonder how these businesses made a profit, remained competitive and survive among women who don’t have as much leisure time and pampering pennies. I popped into my local spa to have a chat with owner Sian Clements who shares her experiences and the realities of owning a beauty spa.
Are you a born and bred Londoner?
I was brought up in Surbiton – the supposed home of the television series, ‘The Good Life’ so its real stockbroker / Surrey commuter belt. I went to an all girls’ school and had a very middle class upbringing. I had horses and my dad drove a Volvo estate so yes we lived up to all the clichés!
When and why did you open LifeSpa?
I purchased the business from the original owner in 2007 when I heard she was selling. I admired her and how she set up the business, so it was an exciting challenge to take over. In the first couple of years we stormed through and took the revenue to an all-time high raising the businesses profile. Then, the recession hit. It has dented us slightly, but all in all we are still doing very well.
Why a Spa?
I get to work in a business that I am very passionate about and I absolutely love my job. I look forward to coming to work every day and I know many people would love to be in that position. It’s an industry that grows bigger and bigger each year and evolves constantly. When so many other industries in this country are in decline, it’s rewarding to be a part of an industry that gets stronger and stronger each year. After all British business mogul Lord Alan Sugar famously said, if he had his time again he would have gone into the spa industry.
So is business always booming?
There are challenges, one of them being the fact that we are selling a luxury service in a cash strapped world. Trying to convince people that they need spa treatments is quite difficult and every £1 we earn at the moment is a £1 we truly deserve!
What happens when women stop pampering themselves?
I focus on re-education and try to get ideas from experienced people who have a much better knowledge of how to ensure longevity in this industry. When I get despondent I exercise, try to de-stress a bit and then try to see things from a different perspective.
How has LifeSpa changed your life?
I have recently been asked by our governing body BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapists and Cosmetologists) to join on their board of directors, which came about by entering the Professional Beauty Awards. We were nominated for the category of ‘Best Day Spas’ in the entire country, which I was extremely proud of. The judge who was one of the board of directors was so impressed by my business knowledge she asked me to join them. That was the moment I thought – I’ve arrived!
What makes you Complexd?
I’m a woman of course! Never take us for granted because we are capable of anything. As I heard recently ‘the only thing we can’t do is to stick our bottoms out of a top floor window and go back outside and throw stones at it’ anything else is possible!