Food, Home and Style

Saving on Spa Days

Whether you’ve lost your job or you’re struggling to keep the one you still have, there’s no denying it’s a stressful time out there. But even as women cut back on expensive gyms, luxury vacations, and “It” bags, one thing we’re not forsaking is the spa.

According to statistics from the International SPA Association, overall revenues at spas across the country were up last year, even as the total time spent per visit went down. How could that be? It turns out more stressed out women—and men, let’s be honest—are visiting day spas for treatments that take less time, usually 30 minutes or less, than in years past.

Male clients are saving by asking for multiple treatments at once.

Shorter treatments are just one of many ways spa-goers are cutting down on costs without saying goodbye to their beauty routine entirely. After all, we need to feel pampered and rejuvenated now more than ever. Here’s how savvy spa-goers are getting deals:

Buying batch services. For repeat customers, one way of saving money at the spa is by buying services in batches at a discounted price. Similarly, some spas, such as Creating Balance Massage Therapy in Mount Airy, MD, are now offering “frequent client cards” to regulars, with incentives for booking multiple appointments at once or paying for larger packages up front.

Using coupons. In the past, most clients would book appointments when they were feeling stressed out or tired. Nowadays, however, many are waiting until they find coupon deals that offer an actual steal—on sites like Groupon, for example—before splurging on full-length treatments.

Asking for actual results. Relaxation is important, sure. But so is being able to see a difference. Especially now that money is tight, customers expect to see a visual difference in their exterior after shelling out for day spa services. That means choosing treatments that have been shown to help clear skin or decrease bloating rather than treatments that may or may not speed up weight loss weeks down the road.

Scheduling multiple services. Rather than making several separate appointments at the day spa, male clients are increasingly asking for multiple treatments at once, like facials that include a massage component or manicures that include a hair cut at the same time.

Becoming a member. Spas like the nationwide chain Spa Envy charge clients a monthly fee for a set number of massages. Clients are expected to sign a 12-month contract, similar to a gym membership, with unused massages rolling over into the next month just like cell phone rollover minutes. The business plan must be working—Spa Envy is continuing to expand despite the recession, opening six new locations on Long Island already this year.

Opting for shorter sessions. One of the most popular ways to cut costs on spa services is by requesting shorter sessions—choosing a 30 minute massage or mini-facial over the full-length service, for example—allowing clients to get the same result for half the cost and in half the time.

Tags: beauty, deals, savings, spas