Spas are in the business of helping people relax and feel good especially in stressful situations. We can continue this work even in face of the coronavirus — with or without face-to-face contact with clients.

The services we provide may be more important than ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that we cope with the anxiety and stress surrounding the coronavirus by taking care of our bodies and making time to unwind.

The spa industry already takes sanitation seriously — it has always been a priority. Here are some ideas that may help your spa to take even further measures.

Some spas have chosen to stop client services. Some are limiting clients. Every area is different, and I urge you to follow recommendations made by the CDC and your physician.

For those in North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services is providing up-to-date information on their site.

1. Communication is important! Let clients know the extra care you’re taking at this time. Such as disinfecting and sanitizing touch surfaces, including door knobs and light switches, and credit card touchpads.
2. Spotlight your track record. When you have built a good reputation and have a great sanitation rating, let people know that using social media. Now more than ever, it’s important to get that message across.
3. Stage a designated sanitation station. Both at check in and check out. Ask clients to “gel in and gel out” with hand sanitizer.
4. Consider waiving cancelation fees during the pandemic. Reassure clients and staff. Encouraging them to call and cancel if anyone is not feeling well. They should stay home to reduce the spread of illness.
5. If someone needs to stay home, recognize this is a necessity. Have an automated system that sends out text messages for confirmations. But also call everybody as well. Let them know: if you’re not feeling well, please don’t come in. We all have families and want to look out for each other.
6. Supply staff and guests with personalized sanitation products.
7. Supply your staff with virtual training resources. Your staff may suddenly find themselves with a lot of downtime… and just an internet connection and family for company. Send them links to virtual training options, so they come back to work ready to offer even more advanced services to your clients. Check out some of NewMed Concepts resources — webinars, on-demand virtual training, and more to come!
8. Consider hiring extra cleaning staff. And communicate that to the public.
9. Wear gloves for all services. And change gloves between touching surfaces and certainly for each client.
10. Create a positive environment. Reassure staff and clients of best practices for a more relaxing experience.
11. Focus on providing relaxation. The CDC recently addressed anxiety and stress in the time of coronavirus, suggesting individuals cope by taking care of their body and making time to unwind. Mental and emotional health is tied to physical health.
12. Get your digital marketing in order. Stay connected with clients. And be ready for when your doors open again. Refreshing your website and social media is something you can do even if strict social distancing measures are in place. And it can set your business up for success when things go back to normal. Need help with your digital marketing? Reach out to NewMed Concepts to learn about our team and offerings.
13. Promote an at-home spa day for stress relief. Offer a discount on packages of home care products. They can include cleansers, exfoliators, masques, serums, and retinol products. A few specific ideas:
    1. Customize eye and lip quick home add-on treatments.
    2. Package multi masking options for a customized home treatment.
    3. Combine 3 products — exfoliate, mask, and serum — for ultimate home facial.
14. Create instructional YouTube videos for the home treatments. It’s a great way to stay connected to clients — and to promote your at-home offerings. Don’t forget to promote the videos after you make them. Post them across your social networks. Add them to your site. Send them via email and text. Get the word out that they are free resources available from your spa.
15. Offer free shipping on products and curbside pick up. This will enhance and support social distancing.

Aesthetic industry professionals are creative thinkers passionate about helping others. I know many of you are thinking outside the box about how to help others during the pandemic. I’m happy to pass along any helpful ideas to our aesthetic colleagues.

**As always, make sure to check with your local officials and CDC requirements as they are changing rapidly.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of yourself and family!