I Started A Body Contouring Spa & Already Had My First $10K Month
Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?
Hi! My name is Ann Rivera and recently I opened a body contouring spa. I provide services such as cavitation, radio frequency, electromagnetic therapy, cupping,micro-needling, cryo body sculpting, wood therapy, and sauna blankets with clay.
I rented a location in January of this year but didn’t open till mid-February. It’s only been a few months however income (not even profit yet) greatly varies with the highest month being 10K and others just covering basic costs.
What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
I am a registered nurse with a passion for helping people. I started my medical journey on a medical floor and advanced quickly and became the charge nurse for a new and upcoming neuro unit. In addition to my nursing skills, I learned to write policies and procedures and work well as posts on my Instagram and Facebook. I constantly search for local marketing events to set up a table to attend.
After the first treatment, each client leaves with a goody bag with items with our logo and website and cards to hand out. I am currently just interviewing for more SEO advertising to lower click costs and have backlinks to my website.
Take us through the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.
I started taking specific certifications and in those classes, they would advise on how to market packages and where to keep prices. I started purchasing equipment through my savings. The machines were shockingly extremely expensive.
I started purchasing equipment and office space with a low overhead first. I hired an IT tech to set up a website with payment options online as well as downloaded square space for payments in person.
Describe the process of launching the business.
The launch process was slow as I should have started marketing prior. It took a while to hire a marketing firm to launch ads on Facebook and Instagram as well as on Google. In addition, I did local marketing events and raffled off free baskets. I did a first-time client visit to draw in first-time clients which were priced way too low. I advertised in magazines and flyers which was very costly.
Packages can be costly so when new clients asked if they could pay along the way I agreed but learned they would just stop if funds were low. I had to quickly learn how to install a reliable payment plan through companies.
I had to learn to take before and after photos as clients wanted immediate huge results and sometimes didn’t realize the results just after the first treatment. I had to keep coming up with new ideas to bring in new customers as after the package was complete..you only need maintenance every 4- 6 months.
Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?
Since its launch, the best advertising for me has been on Facebook and Instagram. taking before and after photos and emailing them to clients makes them want to treat a second body part or come back for a maintenance treatment.
Start marketing before you even open for business to get the word out there. Don’t lower your prices way below fellow competitors.
I hired a marketing team for ads and created my ads as well as posts on my Instagram and Facebook. I constantly search for local marketing events to set up a table to attend. After the first treatment, each client leaves with a goody bag with items with our logo and website and cards to hand out. I am currently just interviewing for more SEO advertising to lower click costs and have backlinks to my website.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
Past two months I was increasing sales wonderfully and now this month has slowed down a lot. I worry about the present economy and the very high gas and grocery prices affecting me. I am looking into changes in advertising companies as I found a lot of errors they made. Errors such as not taking a sale price from months ago and someone would find it and I had to honor it.
Advertisements are not changing. I also look forward to moving my business into more of a storefront. It was month to month but then my machines needed special electricity and in compromise signed a longer contract to update the power to handle the machines. I think my future will turn around as my business is very personal and everyone knows I go above and beyond to make the results happen.
Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?
I have learned so many things! Start marketing before you even open for business to get the word out there. Don’t lower your prices way below fellow competitors. Follow up with all clients consistently. Keep up with all the latest body sculpting trends. Be more knowledgeable than your competitor. Make sure your location is going to thrive and make you known/visible.
I also learned to promote that I am a registered nurse more as it’s more favorable. I missed some free marketing events which I will now go to more. Promotional items should always have a website and as much information that will fit.
What platform/tools do you use for your business?
My favorite platforms have been Facebook and Instagram. My customers would write on yelp and so many deemed as suspicious which you can’t contest.
In addition, getting onto google even for the first few pages has been a struggle but will be huge once there. Just keep being told takes quite some time. I sent out flyers through a mailing company as well as advertised in a few local magazines.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
I felt my biggest mistake was not having my advertising lined up earlier. In addition, I wish I learned more about advertising myself vs trusting companies. Second, I went for a low overhead location vs something very visible to the public. Third, not sticking to certain prices and packages from the beginning.
Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?
Currently, I am not looking to hire anyone as I need to grow my business more first. Then I would look for people qualified to perform these treatments. In addition, maybe a storefront where I can rent rooms out to other professionals to draw in more clients for all. Closely with head administration as well as a team of doctors. Years later, I gave birth to twin daughters and decided to raise them myself. At that time I worked for my husband as well as being his office manager for a landscaping company. My beautiful daughters started to drive and I always wanted to get back to hands-on care with people.
During the covid pandemic, I started with two body sculpting machines at home and just loved it! Clients were so thrilled with the results I was providing, especially since many didn’t go to the gym at that time.
As soon as I saw what amazing results I could provide, I started increasing my certifications and implemented more machines to come up with the perfect cocktail for toning, and fat/cellulite reduction. I knew my love for people and nursing all came back and I decided to move forward.
Where can we go to learn more?
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
