I wish I could tell you to put down this article and join me in a visit to a spa right now but in fact we're here to work -you're reading this article to get advice on how to make your day spa project as successful as a 5-star destination as possible. 

My job here is to help you accomplish that goal. First, since this is what I promised in the title, I will reveal the secrets of the super spas.  Ready? Here goes:

Super spas are excellent at everything they do.

That's it. 

The sum total of their secrets, which might be rather a let down since you probably already guessed that they're perfect and, worse, that you're not. 

Don't worry.  No one's perfect.  Not even the star-studded establishments you hope to emulate.  They are, however, faultless in one important way: they know who to call. 

They flip through their solid gold Rolodexes and create dream teams of spa wunderkinds whose professional reputations are staked on excellence.

So, you see.  Imperfection is not the problem.  The trouble starts when you fail to recognize that you don't--and can't--know it all.  Spa construction projects are multifaceted, intricate, complex jigsaw puzzles that provide multiple, perhaps unlimited, opportunities to showcase the limitations of your perfection. 

Of course, everybody's entitled to make a few mistakes, but if you make a couple in the design, another few in infrastructure, toss two or three equipment blunders, pretty soon you're going to be talking about real money, and no one's going to confuse your final product with one of the crème de la crème places.

This is the opposite of what you want. 

The lesson is this: The size of your success increases in direct proportion to the number of mistakes you don't make. 
One mistake you want to avoid making is to spend too much time on the equipment when you should be concentrating on the operations side of your spa development. 

Remember that equipment is only one piece of the complicated day spa project puzzle. This is an interesting fact because it is almost exactly the opposite point of view taken by many of the people I meet who are embarking on a spa construction or expansion project of their own.

Equipment, while not glamorous in itself, is essential to the creation of a successful spa. The right combination of tubs, showers, tables, skincare equipment and other tools of our trade enhance the client experience while maximizing revenue space. 

Obviously, the wrong choices can, and do, have just the opposite influence on the outcome, but at the decision-making juncture, spa project developers, owners and consultants trying to make the choice on their own, frequently come down with fixture fixation.

Projects grind to a halt while days, weeks, and months are squandered on collecting equipment brochures, "kicking the tires" at trade shows, and comparing incomparable equipment.

Often this information overload causes analysis paralysis.  While the architects, interior designers, electricians and plumbers are desperately seeking the amps, watts, PSI and exact location of each piece of equipment for installation, and you're just plain stalled.

It's OK to Cry Help

You have reached the moment of truth.  Remembering the Secrets of the Super Spas and following the Golden Rule, should you: 

1) Take a leave of absence and check into a resort-spa to de-stress? 

2) Decide to select your equipment by throwing darts at the product brochures you've collected and forge ahead? 

3) Recognize the fact that you've exhausted the resources of your experience, and find some help?

If you answered, "None of the above," which wasn't even one of your choices, the problem may be that you're not only unsure what to do; you may not know who to call for help. 

You have several choices when seeking outside help, but it's impossible to choose from among them if you don't know what they do.  Here's a primer on who's out there in the spa industry, ready to help you out:

Spa Concepts & Operational Consultants:  While they will cost you money upfront, spa consultants can save you valuable time, help you avoid costly mistakes and introduce you to product suppliers and equipment sources you can trust. Some Spa Consultants have specialized services (financial, operational, design, technical, retail consultants) while others consolidate and customize their services to fit your project.

Spa Equipment Consultants:  These companies may represent multiple manufacturers and can consolidate your equipment decisions (including Hydro Spa).  They often work along side other consultants handling the technical details thereby allowing the Spa Consultants to focus on creative and operational concepts.  They may be paid as consultants in the design phase but later rebate their fees towards your equipment purchase. Or, simply use a company like this to consolidate your purchase and they can save you valuable time selecting equipment, offer volume discounts and coordinate the complicated technical data your architects and contractors need; without charge.

Product Manufacturers:  You know most product companies offer free training as a part of implementing their product line inside your new spa.  You should take advantage of these services to save money and improve retailing.  Do make sure their services and cost of goods sold fit your plan.

Equipment Manufacturers: The best equipment manufacturers generally specialize in one type of equipment (i.e. hydrotherapy, massage, skincare).  Most sell their products directly and through distributors or reps.  When comparing different brands, be sure to find out how their features and quality compare.

Catalog Companies: These companies represent a single manufacturer for each type of equipment.  They will consolidate your equipment purchase to the level of the products they carry and sometimes offer free training.
Online Equipment Sources: Several companies now offer their full line of equipment on line where you can do some research on your own.  Some sites, like SpaEquip.com, offer equipment from several manufacturers and simplify your comparison shopping by grouping items by functionality, room type or treatment type.

Who Ya Gonna Call? 

Polly Johnson
V.P. Corporate Accounts
Polly Johnson joined the spa industry in 1994.  Polly is Vice President of the Corporate Accounts Division and has contributed to SpaEquip's success managing many high profile accounts.  Previously, Polly owned an award winning film & media production company in Los Angeles. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Media and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University, California.