Have you ever wondered what the life of a therapist is like? Do you know what the standard tipping procedure is and why? Do you even know what product your therapist is putting on your skin for a massage? How about not showing for an appointment, what does that cost the therapist and spa? A lot more goes on behind the scenes in the spa world that meets the eye. We have decided to answer your questions and more in this week’s MoM Spa blog…
Q: What is it like to be a therapist?
A: Whether you become a massage therapist, professional skin therapist, nail technician, etc., each has great flexibility and limited hours but in order to make a living during their day, she wants to be busy in a maximized way. For example, at MoM Spa, we have 2 shifts: 9am-2pm and
2 pm-7 pm. During this time, a therapist is 'on call' but doesn't have to be at the spa unless she has an appointment. We do ask that she must be able to return within the hour. Some therapists work while their children are at school. Others must provide childcare. Or even pet care if they do 2 shifts. That is why, as a client, it is respectful to call as soon as possible if you need to cancel your appointment so the therapist is not paying someone else to cover her needs. Also, last minute cancellations block both the therapist and the spa from being able to be re-booked, hence, both lose revenue. At MoM Spa, we try and accommodate late clients as best as possible and if we have time in between clients, we will honor the full hour. For perpetually late clients, this is up to the therapist to decide how much time is fair. At the end of the day, most therapists are paid a commission of the service. 30-45% is the large range that a therapist will fall into depending on the years of experience, number of clients the therapist brings to the spa, number of clients the spa provides for the therapist, number or tracked referrals, repeats and so on…Gratuities are the therapist’s bread and butter, especially cash tips.
Some salons or spas will pay the therapist hourly, provide 50% of an individual’s health insurance plan, and offer product sale incentives and so on as a bonus. Most therapists are not in the industry to make a lot of money. They are drawn to do the work they do from a deeper, more profound calling. The best ones are the ones that are passionate about their job and do not consider their work, ‘work’.
Q: Our number one question at the end of the service is 'how much is a standard tip?'
A: We are grateful for any gratuity however if you experienced a wonderful service, 15-20% is standard in the industry. This amount goes straight to the therapist and cash tips are the best tips as they go straight to the therapist at the end of the day.
Q: Why do we prefer cash and checks over credit cards?
A: Merchant service fees on average cost the spa 3% for each time a card is swiped and higher if the card is given over the phone. There are over 200 credit cards these days. The lowest % payout is for debit cards. The highest, costing the spa a 6% is American Express. We ask you save this card for when you are shopping at big businesses - if at all possible.
Q: What products does a spa use?
A: This greatly varies but you, as a consumer, have every right to know what product we are applying to your skin. That is why we ask about allergies, skin conditions, do complimentary Face Mapping (skin analysis), use high grade wax, all natural carrier oils such as Grape seed or Sweet Almond, a natural muscle cream and so on. In the long run, it costs the spa more to do this but your health and well-being are our top concerns.
Q: If I’m late do I get my entire length of treatment?
A: We book appointments 15 minutes apart. This time gives a therapist the needed time to clean the room, quickly use the restroom, grab a bite or a drink, check the client’s file and so on. This 15 minute ‘break’ normally gets reduced to about 5 in reality as many client’s arrive at the spa at the time the service is supposed to be starting. By the time they fill out paperwork, get changed into robe and slippers, etc., the service is now limited by 10-15 minutes. We always ask clients arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of time, if not earlier to avoid this delay. If a therapist is ‘back to back’ with other clients, she will try and go over 5 minutes to give you the maximum amount of time but please realize all that goes into shuffling rooms, therapists, and treatments.
Q: If I do not show for my scheduled appointment it’s not a big deal right?
A: WRONG! This causes the spa a huge loss in revenue as the therapist does not get paid, the spa does not get paid and the spa cannot re-book an appointment in time to make up for it. We realize circumstances beyond control do happen but we ask you call asap if you know you will not be able to make it.
Q: How can I maximize my spa experience?
A: The earlier part of the week tends to be less busy for most spas so you will get optimal time with your therapist. Arrive early, relax, breathe, sip herbal tea or water, read a magazine, even shower…by unwinding, getting grounded and relaxed, your body will be more responsive during your treatment. Always check out the product deals. We have a $5-10 table at MoM Spa, which is a fantastic buy for gifts or a treat for yourself. If you don’t want to spa alone, book with a friend and catch up during a nail treatment.
Q: Tell me about your nail room.
A: Our luxuriously private NATURAL nail room offers pipe-less pedicure thrones (the most hygienic technology on the market) massage chairs with chromatherapy jets (color therapy). We do not offer acrylics so you will never smell harsh chemicals or fumes. OPI and ZOYA are our 2 brands for polishes. ZOYA does not contain DBT, Formaldehyde or Toluene, all of which are known to cross the placental barrier and may be a carcinogen. What we put on our skin does affect the rest of our body so all of our nail products are very high-end.
Q: What are natural nails?
A: The main difference in this treatment is the goal of the service is to provide you will beautiful, healthy, hydrated nails. We will never all harsh chemicals to your services. We no longer cut cuticles, but instead we ‘tame them’. Massage is integrated for a therapeutic touch. Overall the service should feel more nurturing than rushed.
Q: Why are spas’s pricier than some salons?
A: The spa overhead is extremely pricey. With excellent therapists, hourly employees in the retail area, inventory, insurance, advertising, salon supplies, rent, dues, subscriptions, licenses, utilities, repairs, security, equipment, laundry, and so much more…an $80 service becomes very little after all is factored and paid out.
Q: What makes MoM Spa different?
A: We think of each client as family. We built a sacred space for women only to help women feel safe, nurtured, pampered, re-charged, relaxed and so on. We also only hire the best employees who are passionate about our mission and the work she does. We all aim to help educate and support one another. We network to refer out on services that are out of our scope of practice. We are the only ones locally who offer Fertility Massage and the Japanese Facelift Massage. We truly care and want to make a difference by giving back when and how we can. We offer a monthly free walk/run the bridge with a group called ‘MoM Strides’ (MoM Spa partnered with Stroller Strides). We are Charleston’s only day spa for all women of all ages and stages. We follow up with clients that ask us to. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll find it or find someone who does. We want to know what we can do to be the best for our clients. We are not a turn and burn spa. We welcome YOU!
Please feel free to submit more questions to add to this blog for next week: infomomspa@bellsouth.net
Q: What is it like to be a therapist?
A: Whether you become a massage therapist, professional skin therapist, nail technician, etc., each has great flexibility and limited hours but in order to make a living during their day, she wants to be busy in a maximized way. For example, at MoM Spa, we have 2 shifts: 9am-2pm and
2 pm-7 pm. During this time, a therapist is 'on call' but doesn't have to be at the spa unless she has an appointment. We do ask that she must be able to return within the hour. Some therapists work while their children are at school. Others must provide childcare. Or even pet care if they do 2 shifts. That is why, as a client, it is respectful to call as soon as possible if you need to cancel your appointment so the therapist is not paying someone else to cover her needs. Also, last minute cancellations block both the therapist and the spa from being able to be re-booked, hence, both lose revenue. At MoM Spa, we try and accommodate late clients as best as possible and if we have time in between clients, we will honor the full hour. For perpetually late clients, this is up to the therapist to decide how much time is fair. At the end of the day, most therapists are paid a commission of the service. 30-45% is the large range that a therapist will fall into depending on the years of experience, number of clients the therapist brings to the spa, number of clients the spa provides for the therapist, number or tracked referrals, repeats and so on…Gratuities are the therapist’s bread and butter, especially cash tips.
Some salons or spas will pay the therapist hourly, provide 50% of an individual’s health insurance plan, and offer product sale incentives and so on as a bonus. Most therapists are not in the industry to make a lot of money. They are drawn to do the work they do from a deeper, more profound calling. The best ones are the ones that are passionate about their job and do not consider their work, ‘work’.
Q: Our number one question at the end of the service is 'how much is a standard tip?'
A: We are grateful for any gratuity however if you experienced a wonderful service, 15-20% is standard in the industry. This amount goes straight to the therapist and cash tips are the best tips as they go straight to the therapist at the end of the day.
Q: Why do we prefer cash and checks over credit cards?
A: Merchant service fees on average cost the spa 3% for each time a card is swiped and higher if the card is given over the phone. There are over 200 credit cards these days. The lowest % payout is for debit cards. The highest, costing the spa a 6% is American Express. We ask you save this card for when you are shopping at big businesses - if at all possible.
Q: What products does a spa use?
A: This greatly varies but you, as a consumer, have every right to know what product we are applying to your skin. That is why we ask about allergies, skin conditions, do complimentary Face Mapping (skin analysis), use high grade wax, all natural carrier oils such as Grape seed or Sweet Almond, a natural muscle cream and so on. In the long run, it costs the spa more to do this but your health and well-being are our top concerns.
Q: If I’m late do I get my entire length of treatment?
A: We book appointments 15 minutes apart. This time gives a therapist the needed time to clean the room, quickly use the restroom, grab a bite or a drink, check the client’s file and so on. This 15 minute ‘break’ normally gets reduced to about 5 in reality as many client’s arrive at the spa at the time the service is supposed to be starting. By the time they fill out paperwork, get changed into robe and slippers, etc., the service is now limited by 10-15 minutes. We always ask clients arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of time, if not earlier to avoid this delay. If a therapist is ‘back to back’ with other clients, she will try and go over 5 minutes to give you the maximum amount of time but please realize all that goes into shuffling rooms, therapists, and treatments.
Q: If I do not show for my scheduled appointment it’s not a big deal right?
A: WRONG! This causes the spa a huge loss in revenue as the therapist does not get paid, the spa does not get paid and the spa cannot re-book an appointment in time to make up for it. We realize circumstances beyond control do happen but we ask you call asap if you know you will not be able to make it.
Q: How can I maximize my spa experience?
A: The earlier part of the week tends to be less busy for most spas so you will get optimal time with your therapist. Arrive early, relax, breathe, sip herbal tea or water, read a magazine, even shower…by unwinding, getting grounded and relaxed, your body will be more responsive during your treatment. Always check out the product deals. We have a $5-10 table at MoM Spa, which is a fantastic buy for gifts or a treat for yourself. If you don’t want to spa alone, book with a friend and catch up during a nail treatment.
Q: Tell me about your nail room.
A: Our luxuriously private NATURAL nail room offers pipe-less pedicure thrones (the most hygienic technology on the market) massage chairs with chromatherapy jets (color therapy). We do not offer acrylics so you will never smell harsh chemicals or fumes. OPI and ZOYA are our 2 brands for polishes. ZOYA does not contain DBT, Formaldehyde or Toluene, all of which are known to cross the placental barrier and may be a carcinogen. What we put on our skin does affect the rest of our body so all of our nail products are very high-end.
Q: What are natural nails?
A: The main difference in this treatment is the goal of the service is to provide you will beautiful, healthy, hydrated nails. We will never all harsh chemicals to your services. We no longer cut cuticles, but instead we ‘tame them’. Massage is integrated for a therapeutic touch. Overall the service should feel more nurturing than rushed.
Q: Why are spas’s pricier than some salons?
A: The spa overhead is extremely pricey. With excellent therapists, hourly employees in the retail area, inventory, insurance, advertising, salon supplies, rent, dues, subscriptions, licenses, utilities, repairs, security, equipment, laundry, and so much more…an $80 service becomes very little after all is factored and paid out.
Q: What makes MoM Spa different?
A: We think of each client as family. We built a sacred space for women only to help women feel safe, nurtured, pampered, re-charged, relaxed and so on. We also only hire the best employees who are passionate about our mission and the work she does. We all aim to help educate and support one another. We network to refer out on services that are out of our scope of practice. We are the only ones locally who offer Fertility Massage and the Japanese Facelift Massage. We truly care and want to make a difference by giving back when and how we can. We offer a monthly free walk/run the bridge with a group called ‘MoM Strides’ (MoM Spa partnered with Stroller Strides). We are Charleston’s only day spa for all women of all ages and stages. We follow up with clients that ask us to. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll find it or find someone who does. We want to know what we can do to be the best for our clients. We are not a turn and burn spa. We welcome YOU!
Please feel free to submit more questions to add to this blog for next week: infomomspa@bellsouth.net
Check us out on the web at:
www.TheMoMSpa.com
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