ISPA Reveals Steady Increase in Spa Industry

The International SPA Association (ISPA) 2009 U.S. Spa Industry Update reveals a steady increase in overall spa locations, revenues, and visits. While positive, the findings are from the calendar year of 2008, which doesn’t reflect the impact the economy has had on the spa industry. “We are pleased to report that 2008 was another year of growth for the spa industry, but we know that we have a tough road ahead of us as our industry is not immune to the current economy,” says Lynne McNees, president of ISPA. “Even though the number of spa locations are up, at a per spa level revenues and visits are slightly down and showing the early effects of the economic downfall.”

Key findings of the 2009 Spa Industry Update include:

• Overall industry revenues continued to grow at an annual rate of 17.8 percent, while at a per spa level revenue experienced a slight decline.

• Day spas continue to dominate the industry at 79 percent of total spas.

• When looking at spas by type, the number of medical spas continues to grow at the fastest rate. Since July 2007, the number of medical spas has grown by 85 percent.

For more information on ISPA and the 2009 Spa Industry Update, visit www.experienceispa.com.

A New Study Reveals that Sun Protection is
Still an Afterthought for Many Young People

Despite the fact that most people understand that sunscreen is the best way to prevent skin cancer, many still fail to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from the sun. In a recent study conducted by the New Age Skin Research Foundation, young people between the ages of 11 and 18 revealed a number of alarming trends.

More than 68 percent didn’t wear sunglasses on sunny days.
More than 79 percent didn’t wear protective clothing.
More than 78 percent didn’t avoid direct sun exposure or stay in the shade.
More than 43 percent didn’t use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more when at the beach or pool.

“Skin cancer is an insidious disease because it appears years after the damage has been done,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., founder and medical director of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery. “I think that’s part of the reason people have such a hard time understanding why they need to use sunscreen now. They think, ‘Nothing is going to happen to me 20 years from now.’ But the truth is that something can.”

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it is estimated that more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. In fact, melanoma is responsible for approximately 8,500 skin cancer deaths each year.

“When proper sun protective practices are followed consistently, skin cancer can largely be prevented,” says Fox. “We need to change habits and mindsets to help people see the necessity and urgency of protecting themselves against skin cancer.”

The PBA Announces First Quarter Tracking Survey Results

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) recently released the first quarter 2009 results from the PBA Salon/Spa Industry Tracking Survey. The survey was conducted with a panel of 600 spa and salon owners from around the country. Here’s a look at some of the findings:

• 44 percent of respondents reported a decline in total service sales, while 49 percent reported a decline in retail sales.
• 54 percent of spa and salon owners are optimistic about service sales growth in the months ahead, while only 15 percent expect lower sales.
• 62 percent of spa and salon owners expect business conditions to improve in the next six months, while only 7 percent think conditions will be worse six months from now.
• Spa and salon owners reported an average of 0.5 percent increase in backbar costs in the first quarter.
• On average, spa and salon owners reported a 2 percent increase in their service prices.
• 35 percent of spa and salon owners made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion, or remodeling, and 41 percent plan to make one in the next six months.
• 16 percent of spa and salon owners plan to open at least one new establishment in the next six months.

The PBA Salon/Spa Industry Tracking Survey is $195 for a yearly subscription for non-members and is provided complimentary to PBA members. For more information, visit www.probeauty.org.

Become An American Spa Industry Insider

Stop the presses!!! It’s the last week to cast your vote in American Spa’s Industry Insider Survey. We need your help—and your input. Help us fulfill our mission of providing you with valuable information about running your business, and take our annual poll. We want your input on

•Marketing
•Purchasing
•Treatment Trends
•Employee Issues
•And more

The results of this survey, which will printed in the August 2009 issue, can help reveal important trends that can help you make decisions to help your business thrive.

Visit www.americanspamag.com/industryinsider2009 to fill out the 20-minute survey. You will be automatically entered into a contest to win a $500 American Express Gift Card. All submissions must be received by June 15, 2009.

Bad Hair Days

I’ve always been a no-muss, no-fuss kind of girl, which means that any hairstyle requiring more than a rudimentary brushing is definitely not for me. That’s not to say I don’t occasionally pull out the hairdryer and treat my tresses to their fair share of damage. However, considering the fact that my typical styling routine is limited to no more than five minutes a day, I’d like to think the harm I’m causing is minimal. According to a recent Dove Hair Care Study, it looks like my low-maintenance routine may be the way to go. Conducted by research consulting firm Strategy One, the online survey involving 1,000 women between the ages of 18 and 64 found that, on average, their daily hair routine took approximately 35 minutes, 30 of which were spent on damage-causing activities. Unfortunately, hair brushing (of which I engage daily) topped the list with 82 percent of the women reporting they brush daily, if not more. Sixty percent of the women blow dry, curl, or flat iron their hair at least once a week, which can cause up to 33 percent more damage. Ponytail holders, used by nearly half the respondents, also proved to be a major culprit when it comes to causing damage. While I don’t foresee many women giving up their blow dryers or flat irons any time soon, there are no shortage of products available to treat the breakage, split ends, and damage caused by every day styling. With that in mind, no one need ever suffer another bad hair day.