Philippa's Blog, Recruitment

The Job Blog – “out with the old, in with the new”.

Posted on by Philippa Abbott

When asked what my New Year’s Resolution is; I am like….New Year’s resolutions are so last year, why bother? Really; who keeps New Year’s resolutions anyway? They almost seem to be more of an excuse not to do something. Instead why not just make an effort to just give your year an overhaul where work is concerned. Instead of trying to lose weight or stop smoking, again (not that I’m saying either of these are bad ) but why not change it up and do things at work completely differently. I implore you to do this not only for yourself but for your clients too. If you are bored I can promise you your clients are bored too. So let’s do for others what you would have them do unto you…put the life back into your treatments and make going to work an adventure.

I’m sure you are wondering where I get off telling you to change it up when I’m not in that treatment room or anywhere near one for that matter anymore. The point is I have been there and if I did not do all the things I am going to cover in this article I would probably still be there. Plodding along waxing brows and squeezing pimples the same way I did in 2001. There is so much in our industry to be explored and discovered and so many different directions you can go in. So I am appealing to you and that inner seed that is desperate to be watered with knowledge so that it can grow and be an even more fabulous therapist or amazing career women; amongst all the other incredible individuals we work alongside every day!
Here are just a few suggestions of places you can find inspiration to fill 2015 with new and stimulating things to make your work days breeze past accompanied with a smile on your dial;

Social Media

Do you have a smart phone….? Do you use social media on your smart phone….? Is the pope a catholic? When I read the stats from my mailers I can see that 50% of our audience is reading our content on smart phones so I know that the vast majority of you do access social media on your SP. Do you know how many sources of information are out there and VERY active in this arena? Are you making use of the plethora of information there is; at your fingertips and absolutely free? Follow these companies and inspiring individuals on Twitter and Facebook. Interact with them on LinkedIn. Share your experiences on the groups on these sites and learn from others who are going through the same things as you. You will be so surprised how much help you get to rid your job of its day to day mundanities .

Blogs, Digital Magazines and Online tutorials (Youtube)

Not only is social media a place to find free information about our trade but with the internet; there is an online spa world that is a mountain of material just waiting to be explored and digested. There are so many blogs, like mine  to subscribe to. You will be able to learn about the latest product and make up trends. You just need to identify what your interests are and follow bloggers who have the same interests. There are online magazines that are crammed full of so much news of new spas around the world and explanations of all the latest and greatest machines and treatments. Never before has it been easier to be as thoroughly informed as you can be today. You can get yourself inspired and take this back to your spa and salon. Encourage your employers to investigate some of your findings too and bring them into their establishments; so they are up to date with the latest trends in our industry. Online tutorials will also help you to learn new techniques that you can employ in your treatments to spice up your work day. There are also websites dedicated to news in the industry. Go to www.cosmeticweb.co.za and get news on everything pertaining to the salon and spa world.

Print Media

There are also so many exciting publications to subscribe to as well; Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, Professional Beauty, Spa Business, Spa Opportunities and Pulse are just a few. If you cannot afford the subscription check on line to see if they have digital versions. Encourage your employers to invest in these subscriptions they bring value beyond their cost. They are available in many countries so choose a couple from across the globe for a broader overview of what is going on EVERYWHERE!

Different Products

How many of our spas and salons carry more than one product line? Most of them! And how many of us focus on just one brand to retail to our clients? Most of us. We feel safe because we are well versed at explaining the product to our guests so that they will most certainly buy it. At the same time we are bored to tears and if we have to explain to one more client that they need to “just place a pea size amount of said product on their trapezius and they will feel their tension melt away!”, you might just commit. It’s happened to the best of us, so do not despair!
Don’t get irritated though, make a change! Ask to go on training for another brand. Get excited about learning about new products and how to sell them. Nowadays the trainers are so amazing and they really help the therapists to market their brand. With all the competition in the product world, they understand the importance of teaching you guys how to sell every product so that their brands are in the bathrooms of every client visiting your spa, not somebody else’s. Use them to the max! The good trainers now even have what’s app groups for their therapists; to liaise and interact with them if they need information. If there is only one brand or if you refuse to change the brand you recommend; go on refresher training and learn some new techniques from your favourite product house. They are always changing and improving their treatments so that in the same way they as the actual product; the treatment are current and interesting.

Short Courses

When was the last time you tried to learn new movements for your full body massage? Potentially if you had exciting movements to do you would not sigh every time you saw the treatment booked in your column? Did you know you can do short courses? There are many colleges that offer day courses you could go on your days off or on the weekend and learn new techniques. Here is one to check out www.therapeuo.co.za their course are great and very reasonable. They are not the only ones though…get online, check out the back of the professional beauty there are listings there of all the colleges.
So let’s clear the cobwebs and begin this year with a BIG BANG! Never be “busy waiting” for things to happen. Make them happen on your own. Take an energetic approach to the New Year and see how exciting a year it will turn out to be.

Philippa Abbott

I qualified as a Somatologist in JHB in 2001. I began my career in the spa industry working on cruise ships for Steiner Transocean. I furthered my studies on my return to SA qualifying in advanced make up and special effects. I then moved to London where I worked in 2 of the most prestigious spas. I acquired knowledge in all aspects if the spa business and moved quickly from hands on therapy to part of the management team. When I finally came back to South Africa to settle for good I joined the management team of the Spas of Distinction where I grew my skill set even further and established a professional network throughout the South African Spa Industry. It is here where my roots are now deep seated and where I will remain for good. I started Spa Sense in 2010 and we have grown from strength to strength every year since then; forming key relationships with all the industry specialists. I head up the consultancy division of Spa Sense and run many of our training courses including Front Office, SOPs and Spa Sales and Retail. I also oversee our recruitment division making sure that all my clients and candidates expectations are always exceeded by the level service they receive from my team. I am incredibly passionate about what I do and hope I remain blessed enough to be in this exciting industry forever. This blog is a place I can share my views and experience so I hope you enjoy the articles and find them useful enough to use in your business.