Spa Owner Takes a Holistic View to Business

Visits to day spas are down about 20% this year from last, according to the International SPA Association, but not so for Betty's Bath & Day Spa in Albuquerque, N.M. Elissa Breitbard, says her eight-year-old business saw its most dramatic growth in its first three years, and continues to enjoy increased sales over the last year, "even if barely."

Betty's Bath grossed $1.28 million last year.

Breitbard attributes her company's wellness to a large local clientele as opposed to the tourist trade on which many spas depend. "More people are staying at home," she says.

To help retain her clientele, she has not raised the prices for her standard one-hour facials and one-hour massages -- her "bread-and-butter" treatments. "We have a very loyal clientele we don't take for granted. We are always looking for feedback, and we haven't heard grumblings about our pricing."

Voice Your Vision

An important practice for a business owner, Breitbard says, is to often share and reinforce the vision of your company with your employees. ...