Every year, Planet Beach Franchise Corporate holds its annual convention so franchisees can keep up with the latest trends in the spa, beauty and wellness industries.This year, Planet Beach held it’s 13th convention and received raving reviews. Planet Beach franchisees, Regional Developers and staff from around the world gathered in Tunica, MS at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino for the largest and most important training and networking event of the year. Here is what a few attendees had to say:
“I really loved the new corporate staff’s enthusiasm. It was very contagious. I also really enjoyed the training, especially how to work with Millennials.”
– Brent Marek, Regional Developer
“My favorite part of convention is hearing from the top performers on all of the best practices, seeing locations trading ideas and hearing the amazing feedback of all of the new trainings we’re providing. All of the franchisees left this convention feeling refreshed, motivated and most importantly, ready to break some records. It’s such an incredible feeling to be a part of that. ”
– Logan Sanders, Director of Spa Performance and Education
“Convention this year was extra wonderful, the venue was a bit smaller than the last two years which made for a more personal experience. There was more one on one time especially with the franchisees and vendor communication. Overall everyone had a great time and took a lot from it. ”
– Sarina Boudreaux, Senior Equipment and Product Sales Specialist
Check out the highlights from the convention below! Photos are also posted on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetBeach
Planet Beach is excited to announce Paige Duke as the official 2014 International Cover Model. The final results for the cover model contest were released during the annual Planet Beach Franchisee Convention in Tunica, Mississippi.
Planet Beach has spent months searching the globe to find the most beautiful, talented, and educated women in the world to compete in its cover model search. Hosting modeling competitions and casting calls for the past 12 months, Paige was chosen over 140 women, as the official Planet Beach Cover Model.
Paige Duke was born in Germany but raised in her parent’s small town of Lancaster, SC. Always a star student; She attended Clemson University Calhoun Honors College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Animal Science. During her college education an agency reached out to Paige and she began modeling part time. She won 3rd runner-up in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic International pageant. She currently works as an internationally published print & commercial model. She can be seen in numerous Wrangler ads, QVC commercials, several country music videos, cohosting a local radio broadcast, and working as a Falken Tire and Momo Motorsports spokes model for Tudor United Sport scar racing, drifting, and super cross events.
While there she was cast on Season 2 of CMT’s #1 hit show “Sweet Home Alabama,” and subsequently was cast as the bachelorette for Season 3. In 2012 she moved home to Charlotte, NC. She still works as a vet tech and enjoys spending time with her two pit bulls, kickboxing, cooking, hiking, fishing, and hunting.
The Planet Beach International Cover Model Search was open to women from around the world, ages 18 to 40, who embody the Planet Beach lifestyle; an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for personal self-improvement, as well as an interest in the beauty and wellness industry. The competition was narrowed down to over 140 models who, through online votes, and was scaled to the top 40, who received a free trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The top five finalists of the Planet Beach Cover Models competitors were able to participate in photo and video shoots, interviews, and a runway show. They also represented Planet Beach in promotional materials, in-spa designs and marketing campaigns worldwide.
Planet Beach is excited to have Paige join their team this year and participate in a wide variation of campaigns and act as the new face of the brand.
Editor Mark Schaaf found out why Planet Beach Contempo Spa is for everyone, even spa-shy men
The Oak Creek Patch
“Even dudes who weren’t previously into day spas can become big fans.”
This is coming from someone who hadn’t previously been a spa-goer himself. Mark Schaaf of the Oak Creek Patch found himself in his local Plant Beach one Saturday morning for what would be an eye opening experience. He described the hydration station as “one of the more glorious 20 minutes of my month.”
The following article details how Schaaf fell in love with Planet Beach. Read below for the full story:
Finding Relaxation At Planet Beach Spa
Getting an education at an Oak Creek day spa.
By Mark Schaaf
I’m not normally the kind of dude that goes to a day spa.
I don’t have anything against them, because, well, I never knew enough to be “against” anything.
But on a recent Saturday morning I stopped in atPlanet Beach Contempo Spa, 8201 S. Howell Ave., and chatted with new owners Wyatt Foderaro and Phillip Bondi.
At the end of our conversation, I decided to try some of the services for myself. I was at the tail end of a particularly stressful week. Why not?
Thus began my maiden voyage into the land of the spa.
It started with answering a few questions about myself so that Planet Beach can “build a profile” of me, as they do any client. Not surprisingly, “relaxation” was what I would be focusing on, and the services they recommended for me matched that profile.
First up was the hydration station.
What's behind those doors? Many different services, from hand massages to hydration stations. Credit Mark Schaaf
Oh, sweet lord. This is as good as it gets.
I lay down on this machine that essentially gave me a full-body massage while everything except my head was in a 120-degree sauna.
The following went through my head as I entered this state of extreme relaxation:
- This would be the ideal way to listen to Bon Iver music.
- I wonder how much it would cost to buy one for my house.
- I really have an irrational fear that someone is about to walk in.
Well, no one did disturb me, and the greatest part was that it wasn’t one of those things that flew by. Somehow, they nailed it – it didn’t go too long and it didn’t go too short, and it accomplished everything it was suppose to accomplish.
After one of the more glorious 20 minutes of my month, I headed over to get some red light therapy. This involves some funny looking glasses and laying down on a machine again minus the vibrations.
I would compare this to a tanning bed, only without the tanning part. I guess it’s supposed to help the way your skin looks. Whatever. It was a good cool-down after the excitement of the hydration station.
I then received what’s termed a “lumiere facial,” in which the funny-looking glasses shielded me from some extremely bright light. The light was crazy bright, but you get used to it after a few minutes and it becomes so relaxing that it would be easy to fall asleep.
In the last service, I dipped my hands into some warm water and got a umo hand massage.
Mind you, lumiere facial, massages, hydration station – I could not have told you what any of these terms meant before I went. They might has well have been in Yiddish.
But let me tell you something, day spas are awesome. I realize to some people, this is like saying, “Hey, have you noticed how pretty it is to look out onto Lake Michigan?”
But it’s still worth throwing out there: even dudes who weren’t previously into day spas can become big fans. Especially after you reach maximum levels of relaxation.
About this column: Oak Creek Patch wants to put a spotlight on organizations and businesses in town. Have a suggestion for a Patch tour stop? Want Patch to stop by your business or organization? E-mail mark.schaaf@patch.com.
Miami franchisee Jeannette Aguilar is ready to take Contempo Spa concept to Latin America
Planet Beach is expanding its revolutionary Contempo Spa service into Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia thanks to an enthusiastic Miami businesswoman who is eager to bring cost-effective pampering to customers throughout Latin America.
Jeannette Aguilar, a current franchise for Planet Beach Contempo Spa in South Florida, plans to open up to 100 international locations.
Her empire started with a coupon.
Before starting her initial Planet Beach franchises in South Florida, the University of Miami graduate was an executive in the telecommunications and finance industries.
“As an executive, I used to always try to make time to arrange myself to look nice, so I would go to the gym, but I was also looking for a way to get as many massages as I wanted without hurting my budget,” Aguilar says.
She got her answer when a Planet Beach coupon arrived in her mailbox.
“When I went there, they said that for a single price I could get a package of services,” says Aguilar. “I tried the project and I loved it, and then I just started thinking of the needs of women, executives and others.”
She was impressed by the advanced automated spa therapies and thrilled about the business model. Planet Beach functions a lot like a gym membership — members pay one monthly fee in order to gain full access to all the spa services they desire. Need three massages a week? That’s fine. It won’t cost extra.
She sees a ton of potential in Latin America.
Janet Aguilar
For executives who may have lost their jobs during the economic downturn, Planet Beach represents an opportunity to start a business that provides steady revenue, has a fairly low start-up cost and has lower labor costs than most spas.
“Planet Beach is an opportunity for displaced executives to make a new way of living while getting to help people.”
Aguilar is developing expansion plans tailored to each country. “We will have them in the capitals and in different neighborhoods, but we are just beginning the process of identifying the best locations,” she says.
For customers, Planet Beach is a bargain.
“In Latin America, people understand the importance of their health and eating habits,” Aguilar says. “It will be a new concept in Latin America. There are always spas that provide services on a per-session basis, but they are out of the budget for many people in Latin America. It’s going to be a blast.”
Franchisees earn valuable tools to succeed
Every year, Planet Beach Franchise Corporate holds its annual convention so franchisees can keep up with the latest trends in the spa industry.
This year, franchisees from around the world congregated in New Orleans, for what was one of the most spectacular conventions to date. This year’s conference focused on “New Beginnings”, and was kicked off by a welcoming speech made by President and CEO of Planet Beach Contempo Spa, Stephen Smith, focusing on “Being Awesome” in 2012.
Here are the highlights from this year’s conference:
The convention featured a trade show to educate spa directors and franchisees on the emerging trends in the day spa industry as well as provide further training on managing their spa locations. In addition to attending educational classes, franchisees had time to get to know each other through the Wednesday evening Meet-and-Greet and Thursday night’s Masquerade Ball, complete with a New Orleans style marching band.
Planet Beach Convention
The Planet Beach Cover Model Exhibition and Competition was also held at the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center Friday. Five cover models featured in the 2012 marketing material competed for the title of Top Cover Model for Planet Beach. The lucky winner was Jodie Giles! Click here to meet Jodie!
All the franchisees left this exciting event with more tools and knowledge than ever to ensure their spa clients continue to receive a more overall approach to total skincare, wellness and stress relief! It was a win-win! Franchisees get more prepared for success, while clients get more service and product options!
Automated day spa franchise plans to open six new locations in Jacksonville area to meet increased demand
Main St. Bridge in Jacksonville, FL.
Planet Beach, the world’s largest day spa franchise, is seeking local franchise partners to open up to six new locations in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine this year.
Planet Beach already has six locations in the Jacksonville area, but much of the sprawling metro area is underserved. Florida, especially the Jacksonville area, has large numbers of Planet Beach’s target demographic customer: professional women aged 30 to 50.
“Most members for one of our spa locations live or work close by,” says Tim Normand, the Jacksonville area representative for Planet Beach. “There are some really excellent locations available, and thanks to the real estate market, commercial leases are at an all-time low, making this a great time to explore opening up your own Planet Beach.”
Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines named New Orleans-based Planet Beach Contempo Spas a franchise to watch for 2011. The rapidly growing automated day spa taps into a nationwide demand for low-priced day spa services, posting positive gains despite the tight economy.
A Planet Beach Contempo Spa is an “automated” day spa — customers pay a monthly membership fee for spa services in a private room with fully automated, push-button machines performing the relaxation and wellness treatments.
The market for day spa services is huge and growing. “More and more people recognize the negative ways stress affects their lives and the lives of those close to them,” Normand said. “People love spa services, and our automated day spa gives members access to unlimited massages, facials, spray tans and other popular spa treatments for one low, monthly price.”
Hydration Treatment
Planet Beach is an easy business for first-time business owners, anyone thinking about starting a family business or someone who loves day spa services and wants to help improve the lives of those around them.
“Because our day spas work much like a gym where members can come as often as they like, our members actually see prolonged benefits from the services,” Normand says. “They live healthier. They reduce the stress in their lives, slim down, have excellent-looking skin year-round and can even maintain a beautiful tan in the winter.”
To research the Planet Beach franchise opportunity, visit www.myplanetbeachfranchise.com.