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Spas see upswing during downturn
by Crystal Chan, The New Paper|09 December 2008
Keywords: spas, big spending
Many businesses are experiencing severe downturn due to the global recession.
But one industry which seems to be holding steady, or even showing an upward trend, here is the spa industry.
A recent survey conducted by Intelligent Spas, a local market research company, has shown that more than 100 spa owners are predicting positive growth for this year and next.
That could be because clients such as marketing manager Susan Wong are not holding back when it comes to getting their regular massages and facials.
The 30-year-old said: 'My employer's shipping business isn't as busy as before. But I still have my job and since I have the time, why not go for sessions that can soothe my aching body?'
"A spa can get about 500 customers in a month, because there's always a need for facials and massages."
Spa Association Singapore's president, Ms Nancy Lim
She spends about $800 on facials and massages a month but thinks it's a small price to pay to recharge herself.
She is one of the many spa customers here who are surprisingly keeping the industry ticking steadily despite the bad times.
Spa Association Singapore's president, Ms Nancy Lim, told The New Paper on Sunday that since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, there has been an annual 20 per cent increase in the number of spas.
Ms Lim said: 'A spa can get about 500 customers in a month, because there's always a need for facials and massages.'
She added that while most customers are women, there has been an increase of 30 per cent in male clients in the past two to three years.
Banking executive Charles Lim, 28, spends an average of $400 a month on facials.
He said: 'Times may be bad, but I don't mind spending on spas because looking good helps.'
Dr Theresa Chew (left), chief executive of Expressions, which has 10 spas here, says her business sees about 300 customers a month for each spa, including men between the ages of 18 and 35.
Dr Chew said: 'Beauty treatments are more or less recession-proof as women always want to look good.
'Young men today are also a lot more conscious of grooming and appearance. They're not afraid of being labelled as dandies. They form 40 per cent of our new clients.'
Also bucking the trend of business slowdowns is Willow Stream Spa, owned by Fairmont Singapore.
Good business in last 2 months
Ms Belladonnah Lim, Fairmont's marketing communications director, said business has been good for the last two months.
She said: 'We have generated more corporate and group businesses for the last quarter of 2008.'
She said the increased demand could also be due to better awareness of a healthy lifestyle.
"Beauty treatments are more or less recession-proof as women always want to look good. Young men today are also a lot more conscious of grooming and appearance."
Dr Theresa Chew, chief executive of Expressions
Ms Renee Chong, St Gregory Spa's lifestyle manager, also expects business to be good, if not better.
She reckons that during a recession, patrons will come for wellness and de-stressing reasons, rather than for pampering.
She said: 'We're not here for only indulgence. We're also a wellness sanctuary so when customers are stressed, they come to us.'
Ms Nancy Lim, who also runs Spa Valley, felt that during recession, executives are facing more pressure to perform well at work.
She said: 'When you're stressed, you need help to look better to cope with pressure, because you'll tend to have wrinkles, hair loss and pimples.
Ms Lim said customers have no issues paying $1,500 to $2,000 for a package.
Intelligent Spas, however, cautioned that spas are not recession-proof.
Its managing director, Ms Julia Garrow, recommends that spas keep prices competitive and add value to their services to stay ahead.
She said: 'Spas which increase prices when demand picks up may then lose clients.'
Some spas, such as Renewal Day Spa, a 14-year-old establishment, is already adding value to their services.
"We're not here for only indulgence. We're also a wellness sanctuary so when customers are stressed, they come to us."
Ms Renee Chong, St Gregory Spa's lifestyle manager
Its operations manager, Ms Lisa Chew, said the spa is banking on loyalty schemes to build up its base of regular clients. Customers who renew their packages can get free treatments and gift vouchers.
While things may still look rosy, not every spa may survive.
Ms Chew said: 'Turnover is really fast in this industry. It's the 'in' thing to go for spa treatments so many people will try to jump on the bandwagon.'
She estimates that for every three spas open, one will close.
Ms Nancy Lim said some spas close not because they have poor sales but because they do not have enough therapists.
She said: 'There's still a shortage of spa therapists here as it's still seen as a blue-collar job.'
This article was first published in The New Paper on Dec 7, 2008
* Luxury brands splurge on big spenders
society
luxury news
PrintShare
facebook facebookdigg it digg itstumbleupon stumbleupon
delicious deliciousmyspace myspaceClose
Text Size
Spas see upswing during downturn
by Crystal Chan, The New Paper|09 December 2008
Keywords: spas, big spending
Many businesses are experiencing severe downturn due to the global recession.
But one industry which seems to be holding steady, or even showing an upward trend, here is the spa industry.
A recent survey conducted by Intelligent Spas, a local market research company, has shown that more than 100 spa owners are predicting positive growth for this year and next.
That could be because clients such as marketing manager Susan Wong are not holding back when it comes to getting their regular massages and facials.
The 30-year-old said: 'My employer's shipping business isn't as busy as before. But I still have my job and since I have the time, why not go for sessions that can soothe my aching body?'
"A spa can get about 500 customers in a month, because there's always a need for facials and massages."
Spa Association Singapore's president, Ms Nancy Lim
She spends about $800 on facials and massages a month but thinks it's a small price to pay to recharge herself.
She is one of the many spa customers here who are surprisingly keeping the industry ticking steadily despite the bad times.
Spa Association Singapore's president, Ms Nancy Lim, told The New Paper on Sunday that since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, there has been an annual 20 per cent increase in the number of spas.
Ms Lim said: 'A spa can get about 500 customers in a month, because there's always a need for facials and massages.'
She added that while most customers are women, there has been an increase of 30 per cent in male clients in the past two to three years.
Banking executive Charles Lim, 28, spends an average of $400 a month on facials.
He said: 'Times may be bad, but I don't mind spending on spas because looking good helps.'
Dr Theresa Chew (left), chief executive of Expressions, which has 10 spas here, says her business sees about 300 customers a month for each spa, including men between the ages of 18 and 35.
Dr Chew said: 'Beauty treatments are more or less recession-proof as women always want to look good.
'Young men today are also a lot more conscious of grooming and appearance. They're not afraid of being labelled as dandies. They form 40 per cent of our new clients.'
Also bucking the trend of business slowdowns is Willow Stream Spa, owned by Fairmont Singapore.
Good business in last 2 months
Ms Belladonnah Lim, Fairmont's marketing communications director, said business has been good for the last two months.
She said: 'We have generated more corporate and group businesses for the last quarter of 2008.'
She said the increased demand could also be due to better awareness of a healthy lifestyle.
"Beauty treatments are more or less recession-proof as women always want to look good. Young men today are also a lot more conscious of grooming and appearance."
Dr Theresa Chew, chief executive of Expressions
Ms Renee Chong, St Gregory Spa's lifestyle manager, also expects business to be good, if not better.
She reckons that during a recession, patrons will come for wellness and de-stressing reasons, rather than for pampering.
She said: 'We're not here for only indulgence. We're also a wellness sanctuary so when customers are stressed, they come to us.'
Ms Nancy Lim, who also runs Spa Valley, felt that during recession, executives are facing more pressure to perform well at work.
She said: 'When you're stressed, you need help to look better to cope with pressure, because you'll tend to have wrinkles, hair loss and pimples.
Ms Lim said customers have no issues paying $1,500 to $2,000 for a package.
Intelligent Spas, however, cautioned that spas are not recession-proof.
Its managing director, Ms Julia Garrow, recommends that spas keep prices competitive and add value to their services to stay ahead.
She said: 'Spas which increase prices when demand picks up may then lose clients.'
Some spas, such as Renewal Day Spa, a 14-year-old establishment, is already adding value to their services.
"We're not here for only indulgence. We're also a wellness sanctuary so when customers are stressed, they come to us."
Ms Renee Chong, St Gregory Spa's lifestyle manager
Its operations manager, Ms Lisa Chew, said the spa is banking on loyalty schemes to build up its base of regular clients. Customers who renew their packages can get free treatments and gift vouchers.
While things may still look rosy, not every spa may survive.
Ms Chew said: 'Turnover is really fast in this industry. It's the 'in' thing to go for spa treatments so many people will try to jump on the bandwagon.'
She estimates that for every three spas open, one will close.
Ms Nancy Lim said some spas close not because they have poor sales but because they do not have enough therapists.
She said: 'There's still a shortage of spa therapists here as it's still seen as a blue-collar job.'
This article was first published in The New Paper on Dec 7, 2008
