9 Ways to Boost Spa Retail Sales May 19 • Business Success By providing treatments, spas help fulfill the self-care needs of their clients. But commitments to overall well-being don’t end after the service. Home care is important, too. It connects clients to the spa by supporting their daily wellness regimens between appointments. In addition to encouraging self-care for clients, retail provides a good opportunity to increase revenue for the spa. To do that successfully, boutiques should make it easy and beneficial for customers to purchase. Here are 9 recommendations to consider: 1. Offer Samples Providing product samples is one of the easiest, most effective actions you can take to increase total retail sales in your spa. One study shows that offering samples not only increases sales in the short term, but that it also impacts sales long after they’ve been given out. The same researchers found that in-store product sampling increases total category sales, not just the products being sampled. This means that offering clients samples of one skin care product can drive sales of other skin care products, even those of a different brand! 2. Educate & Upsell How will your clients know what to buy if they’re never made aware of the products and brands you’re selling?Training your team is the only way they will be able to effectively suggest products to customers without coming across as a salesperson. When your therapists and technicians understand and believe in your products, making recommendations on the specific needs of their clients becomes an organic and unobtrusive process. 3. Make Your Retail Items Available Online Making your retail products available online adds simplicity to your clients’ lives. Instead of having to commute for their favorite products, they can conveniently restock from the comfort of their living room. Moreover, research has shown that people want to shop at local businesses, so allowing them the opportunity to support their local spa via an online channel is an easy way to scratch that itch without sacrificing convenience or personal health and safety. 4. Incentivize Online Reviews Online reviews are one of the first things customers look at before buying a product, and they want them to be transparent and authentic. Offering clients a discount on services or a free product if they write a review can make a tremendous difference. While it may seem counterintuitive, make sure your clients know you want to know what they think—regardless if it’s positive or negative. Having some negative reviews lends credibility to your business and responding to negative reviews in a positive way shows customers that you care. It’s a win-win. 5. Develop a Referral Program Clients are much more trusting of their friends and family when it comes to product and brand referrals. Offering a referral program with incentives allows for advocates of your spa to share their favorite treatments and products with the people they know, who are more likely to make a purchase. 6. Create Personalized Coupons One of the best things in the world is getting coupons for things you actually want to buy. Creating customized coupons based on the actions / purchases of your customers is a great way to show clients that you care about what they want, while also incentivizing retention. 7. Reward Your Sales Teams Employees that aren’t motivated are less likely to sell more than they have to. Try putting a commission strategy in place or offering the leading salesperson a cash reward or extra day off. The sales team is the backbone of any business. Making sure that they’re appreciated is very important. 8. Keep Your Retail Area Clean & Attractive First impressions matter. If your retail area is dusty and disorganized, chances are your customers are going to think you don’t care about what you’re selling and will be turned off from buying from you in the future. - Remove any clutter from your shelves. - Organize products by theme or category. - Make sure there is ample space between products so that customers can easily pick up items.- Dust frequently.- Remove any items that have been damaged or discontinued from shelves and tables. 9. Use Targeted Marketing Knowing who you’re selling to is extremely important. Take some time every couple of months to research trends in your geographic area and analyze what your customers are actually buying. Using this data will help you effectively suggest products to specific demographics and allow your staff to take a more personalized, professional approach when dealing with clients. Universal Companies is proud to have a team of experienced spa advisors on staff and welcomes you to consult with our professionals about spa products and supplies, including ingredients, equipment, and retail. Dedicated to the success of spa professionals everywhere, we're grateful to be recognized with multiple industry awards (thank you!) and proud to support the spa industry through mentorship and sponsorship.