Re-Opening Strategies during the Pandemic

In times like these, who doesn’t need some pampering? 

Reopening your business during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis comes with more diligence but also more opportunities. 

 The pandemic has led people to focus on at-home wellness, which could translate to increased demand for spa services. Roughly 40 percent of respondents in an International Spa Association “Consumer Snapshot Initiative” survey said that they are getting more exercise during and eating more healthily during quarantine and 55 percent are doing more to look after their well-being. And 80 percent of respondents said they plan to spend as much or more on spa visits once the crisis ends. 

Consumer Changes

 Concerns about sanitation and social distancing still abound, and 60 percent of those surveyed said they would ask about hygiene and sanitation practices when they next visit a spa, and 25 percent said they would feel nervous about visiting a spa. Knowing these insights can help with a reopening plan in terms of continued sanitizing and social distancing practices, as well as marketing these to clients so they feel secure in your business. 

 Other changes that may come into play: reduced capacity to comply with social distancing, eliminating walk-in customers, requiring customers to pre-book, staggering staff schedules, restrictions in communal spaces, PPE for service providers, touchless payment options, and asking clients to rebook if they have a fever or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19.

 Spreading the Word

Once your plan is in place consider updating your website with your reopening policies to highlight sanitation efforts and capacity caps for social distancing, any new booking or check-in procedures and any e-commerce or virtual offerings. Make these changes known by sending them out to your email lists, and even including a video, as well as sharing it on social media.

 Adding Income

 Try to diversify offerings or even include a small bump in price for services to try and offset lost revenue. Promote any of your own product lines or accessories on your website and update or create an online store to easily allow customers to browse and buy products. 

 Now more than ever people need to manage stress and look after their mental health, and that’s where your business is so important.