Planet Beach Contempo Spa Holds Annual Franchisee Convention

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!

Special promotion helps customers get their sexy back!

Getting a hot body doesn’t have to be miserable! Planet Beach is the perfect complement to any fitness regime. A visit to the spa can help you lose the weight while feeling great!

Now is the Perfect Time to get your sexy back! With Planet Beach’s Weight Management Services and Products, you can successfully reduce cellulite, lose inches & burn calories.

Planet Beach Contempo Spa has a variety of spa services, skin care products and nutritional supplements to help you start the year off right for 2012.

“With New Years comes resolutions, the top resolutions include an increased focus on wellness goals and looking our best,” says Troy Wise, Franchise Marketing Director for Planet Beach. “With our one stop wellness shop and our extensive service and product mix, we can guide you to reach your skincare, body care, relaxation and nutrition goals.”

A Contempo Spa is a unique spin on traditional day spas: customers pay a monthly subscription fee for spa services in a private room with fully automated, push-button machines performing the relaxation and wellness treatments. But our Body promotion, which runs through March 31, is available to non-members and gives them unlimited access to our spa’s services and allows them to try one of our top weight management products, the Slim At-Home Body Wrap Kit.

Are you tired of spending money on ineffective weight loss products? Looking for a weight loss treatment that actually works? Planet Beach’s SLIM At Home Body Wrap can assist its customers in losing 4 to 14 inches within a one-hour treatment.

Accomplished with no chemicals or additive ingredients, Planet Beach’s SLIM At Home Body Wrap uses a high-pressure plastic film to streamline the figure, reduce cellulite and lose inches over the entire body. Ultimately, our customers have an opportunity to improve the overall health of their body through:

Slim Capsule

• The breakdown and elimination of cellulite,
• The reduction of water retention within the body,
• The cleansing of the body’s lymphatic system, and
• An increase in circulation within the body.

“Planet Beach Contempo Spa can help you meet your goals and get your body looking a little tighter, a little leaner,” Wise says. “And overall, you’ll feel less stressed and more relaxed, which will help you stay on track.”

The Contempo Spa was the first of its kind when it was launched in 2005 and Planet Beach now has over 280 locations, making it the largest day spa franchise in the world. For more information about “Body Campaign” and Contempo Spa locations, go to www.planetbeach.com. For information about franchising opportunities, go to http://myplanetbeachfranchise.com

Planet Beach memberships, gift cards and products make great gifts for friends and family

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be the most stressful. Most Americans say the hustle and bustle of holiday spending and family gatherings induce stress at unhealthy levels, says the American Psychological Association, which offers this as its number-one suggestion: Take time for yourself!

There’s no better gift for people with too much to worry about than a relaxing and rejuvenating spa treatment, and Planet Beach locations offer spa memberships, gift cards and spa products to help the people you love decompress from the stress of the holidays. A stop at the spa can also help you look your best for those amazing holiday parties.

Planet Beach puts a unique spin on day spas, with monthly memberships rather than per-appointment fees and high-tech automatic equipment that performs spa services in private rooms. This approach gives customers privacy and appeals to those who prefer hands-off spa services and lower costs. At traditional day spas, staff members perform massages, facials and other services, which can get expensive.

“The holidays are the most stressful time of year,” says Troy Wise, marketing director of Planet Beach. “Push-button spa treatments are a great way to unwind — they don’t take long, and because our services are automated, you don’t need to set up an appointment, although you can if you prefer. Facials, massages and a variety of other spa services are included in monthly memberships.

“Most people won’t take time to relax, even after the holidays,” says Wise. “With a Planet Beach membership or gift card, you are providing your loved ones with the relaxation they need to take care of themselves.”

Interesting in giving the gift of relaxation this season – or better yet, treating yourself? Visit www.planetbeach.com for more information or to find a location near you.

Customers say low infrared therapy makes skin clearer, younger-looking

Lumiere Facial and Cyber Relax Chair

“I absolutely love this LED facial,” raved Kelly, a health and lifestyle blogger in San Diego, on her blog giddygemini.com. “I’ve done it a few times before so I know that the results are quick and long-term. A day after my facial you could definitely see a firmer and cleaner looking skin.”

The Lumiere Facial uses light-emitting diode (LED) light therapy with topical skincare products to stimulate cellular renewal. Infrared treatment penetrates deeply into the body, stimulating collagen and elastin production while also nourishing damaged cells. This actually reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles while providing immediate lifting and tightening.

“It is a great alternative to the traditional facial because it actually stimulates cellular renewal, which is going to build new cells,” said Junae Barnhart, Spa Director for the Centennial Gateway Planet Beach Contempo Spa. “It is also going to help diminish any signs of problematic skin. It even reduces sun spots and age spots as well. But it does it all naturally, how your skin would naturally repair itself as opposed to a traditional facial, which will damage the top layer of the skin. This is going to work from the inside out.”

The health and beauty of our skin reflects how we feel on the inside. Bringing out that inner glow that Planet Beach is known for keeps customers coming back for more ? and they are not shy about making sure everyone online knows about it.

“I use it and saw better results than going to the dermatologist for six years,” said Amanda, a Planet Beach employee in Gainesville, Florida, in an online article on insitegainesville.com. And the writer, Ashley McCredie, agreed. “I left Planet Beach feeling rejuvenated, and proud of my new glow. I would also recommend it to everyone, even you boys out there.”

In the age of baring and sharing all online, it is pretty easy to find out of something is worth your time and money based solely on other people’s opinions. Good or bad, people are posting their personal experiences all over the online community. And the Lumiere Facial, one of Planet Beach’s many restorative treatments, is creating quite the buzz.

For Contempo Spa member, Sharon Wegner, the service means soft, supple skin

 

American Registry also honored Planet Beach in the “Registry of Business Excellence.”

New Orleans CityBusiness, a weekly business newspaper, has recognized Planet Beach as one of its “Top 100 Private Companies” in the New Orleans area.

Planet Beach Franchising Corporation, based in Marrero, La., has grown its franchise system and become established as the largest day spa franchise in the nation. In addition, Planet Beach has opened franchise operations in several foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

American Registry, a company that recognizes top-performing businesses, also included Planet Beach in its 2011 “Registry of Business Excellence.”

“This is quite an honor for us. The fact that New Orleans CityBusiness included Planet Beach in its selection of Top 100 Private Companies signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off,” said Troy Wise, Planet Beach’s franchise marketing director. “We are proud to be included in this recognition.”

Planet Beach’s inclusion on the list reflects the growing popularity of franchise day spas in a difficult economy. Entrepreneur magazine identified 2011 as “the year of the franchise day spa” because of the industry’s rapid growth fueled by increased demand for day spa services.

In the recession, fewer people are able to take trips to tropical climates to work on relaxation and renewal, making affordable local spas more popular than ever before. And because Planet Beach’s services are automated, they’re generally more affordable, take less time and ease the privacy concerns of people who might not want a masseuse or other spa employee to touch them.

Founded in 1994 in suburban New Orleans, Planet Beach is committed to automated day spa treatments and is expanding its string of spas with automated services priced for working people with limited time and money for spa treatments.

Treatments include massages, facials, weight management treatments, red light therapy, spray tans and even teeth whitening. Planet Beach invented the Contempo Spa concept, which uses automated services to relieve customers’ stress and help people unwind.

For more information about Planet Beach’s award-winning services and franchise opportunities, fill out our request information form to view our virtual brochure.

Nevada franchise owner likes affordable day spa concept

Steve Keifer

Ever since the ink dried on Steve Keifer’s deal with Planet Beach Contempo Spa in October 2007, he fully committed himself to the growth of his business based on his belief in the franchisor’s business model. He worked closely with Planet Beach to secure the best location for his targeted demographics, and today he has two locations, in Las Vegas and Green Valley, Nevada ? which is the location where he first became a member.

“The first Planet Beach I ever walked into, I now own,” he says. “I bought it this past January and it came full circle.” Here he talks about why now is the right time to get into the Planet Beach Contempo Spa business.

Planet Beach: What was your background?
Steve Keifer: My background was and is construction.

PB: How did you get involved with Planet Beach?
SK: I was an outside rep for a company near San Diego. One of the guys I was working with, a contractor in Santa Cruz, was staining floors and counters for tanning salons. I helped him devise that application.

Over the next two years a guy in that area opened three tanning salons. I had some money I wanted to put to work so I started looking into tanning salons. In researching tanning salons I ran across Planet Beach. I liked the concept and though it was much more stable and long term than just offering tanning. And so the process began and my due diligence included research and calling other franchisees to see what they thought. And now, here I am with two of them.

PB: What have you liked best about Planet Beach?
SK: The results that we see. People spray tan and that is all fine and good, but the results from the Hydration Station, from the Slim Capsule, from the sauna and all the services are amazing if you get on a regimen and stick to it.

We have people who come to us from other tanning salons, who have worked at a Palm Beach Tan or Body Heat or some of the bigger names here, and they are just blown away by how much knowledge we have of our products and services. That’s thanks to the training Planet Beach provides. We have people who swear by what we have. They can’t go a day without Planet Beach so it is exciting to see that.

PB: What is the best way for you to get people in the door?
SK: We have what is called the “Business of the Week.” Every week we promote one or two of our members’ businesses, where everyone in their office can come in and try the services for free anytime that week. It exposes people to us, and we are using our member’s network, really using them to work for us and inviting other people to the spa.

In the summer, in this type of business, that strategy has kept us on an even keel during a season when a lot of other spas basically lose membership. We have kept it pretty steady. The biggest thing for us is networking our members, and then if people sign up we tack on a free month at the end of their membership. We also do member appreciation parties and raffle off gift baskets with products in them.

With our Ambassador program, if five people you refer sign up, you get a free year, and if 10 people sign up you get a free lifetime membership, so we track that as well. We also do spa parties. We will shut down earlier on a Sunday, for example, for spa party participants to come in and experience us.

PB: Why would you recommend Planet Beach Contempo Spa to a potential franchisee?
SK: It is almost a recession-proof business because everybody likes to be pampered, and all of the other things that go along with that – the weight loss, the facials, the skin care we have. And it is affordable. If I go to a spa and get a hot stone massage for 90 minutes, it is $200 not including a tip – there is not value there. It is a special treat. With Planet Beach you can go every day of the week, relax, renew and glow for $1 or $3 a day. It is a great business model.

It is also a niche business. Other companies do some of the things that we do, but we have many, many services plus products for your face and skin. Once you start using them and see the wonderful effects, you will realize they work tremendously.

Competitors would take at least five years to get where we are now, and we would be that much further along. Planet Beach keeps evolving. It is a good, recession-proof business that even in these times is still improving.

PB: How do you spend your free time?
SK: I have an 8-year-old son and I coach his soccer team. I also like to fish and hunt and do a little bit of travel.

‘Hand facial’ has broad appeal, helps with aging skin and seasonal changes

Umo Hand Treatment

They say you can tell the age of a woman by the look of her hands.

That’s because thin skin on the hands can reveal much more than the skin on her face and neck. Numerous treatments, including those at Contempo Spas, revive and renew delicate facial skin. When Planet Beach talks about all-over relaxation and rejuvenation, we don’t leave out the hands. UMO Hand Therapy specifically targets the delicate skin of the hands and can help attract new clients interested in maintaining soft skin as the seasons change.

“As we age, our hands tend to lose their firmness and volume and the veins and tendons become more pronounced,” said dermatologist Dee Anna Glaser, MD, FAAD, at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting in New York last month. “In addition, changes in texture where the skin appears crinkled or is marked with spots, commonly called ‘liver spots’ or ‘age spots,’ are the hallmarks of an aging hand.”

Designed to moisturize deep beneath the skin’s surface, UMO Hand uses Gamma PGA, which has a hydrating effect 10 times stronger than hyaluronic acid. Creating a cool mist to hydrate and lock in moisture, the system encourages cell renewal and clears, repairs and revitalizes skin in just one session.

Members love the service. Just ask Janie, P., who uses UMO Hand at the Irvine Center Drive Planet Beach in Irvine, Calif. “My hands truly benefit by my using UMO Hand Spa,” Janie says. “My skin was dry and cracking and lotion alone wasn’t doing the job. Now my hands are smooth, moisturized and more youthful.”

Men benefit from the UMO Hand service as well. After a summer of sun and outdoor projects, the fall is a great time to try the treatment and get happy hands.

“The hands are often overlooked because we put so much emphasis on our face,” Dr. Glaser said at the gathering of dermatologists. “But our hands can be even more susceptible to the effects of aging.”

We are always looking for products and services that provide ways for women and men to look better and feel more relaxed? Interested in learning more, contact any of our 300 Planet Beach Contempo Spas. When we talk about head-to-toe service, we don’t kid around.

One-month deal includes skin, massage, body detox treatments at automated day spa

Skin and moods take a beating as the weather cools, summer fun fades and time demands seem to double. Planet Beach has a relaxation package to relieve stress and make the transition a rejuvenating one.

For $99, new Planet Beach Contempo Spa customers receive a month of total relaxation that includes push-button massages, UV therapy, guided meditation plus full-body hydration and detoxification treatments. The promotion also includes an exclusive product from among Planet Beach’s proprietary lines.

“Our ‘Relaxation’ promotion will help with skin care and all the stress that the season brings – back to school, holidays and juggling the demands of our busy lives,” Melissa Sire, Spa Performance Consultant says. “The primary reason people go to spas is to get massages to relieve stress, and stress management is a top goal of our members.”

Chronic stress has broad implications for individuals, their families, friends and coworkers. Consider these findings from the 2010 annual “Stress in America” survey by the American Psychological Association:

•       One-third of parents report that their stress levels are extreme.
•       More than four in 10 said stress kept them awake at night in the past month.
•       Nearly half reported irritability because of stress.

Planet Beach's Aquamassage

“Other common symptoms of stress are fatigue and lack of energy or motivation,” says Sire. “Our 1-month membership is an easy, affordable way to check out Planet Beach Contempo Spas without the commitment.”

Planet Beach is a popular and unique international day spa franchise company that created the Contempo Spa concept; which is unlike any other day spa. High-tech, automatic equipment in private rooms perform the services.

Customers purchase memberships like a health club, which allows more frequent massages, spray tans, facials and other services. The system appeals to today’s cost-conscious consumers looking for massages and other stress-relief treatments.

“At most traditional day spas, $99 might buy one massage and a candle,” says Sire. “Planet Beach aims to make stress-busting spa services more broadly and regularly available.”

The “Relaxation” promotion begins Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31 at participating Contempo Spa locations. For more information, visit www.planetbeach.com or www.myplanetbeachfranchise.com.

Stress management helps a body inside and out

We all know carving out time for ourselves is crucial for stress relief – we’ve built Planet Beach automated spas on that very foundation. What is less well known is the toll stress takes on skin, and a trip to our Spa can help with that, too!

Breakouts are a bummer. So are itchy dry patches, flares of rosacea and bouts of psoriasis. These occasional, and sometimes chronic, skin conditions can elevate stress levels.

Yet new research shows that the relationship between the mind and the skin is so complex that managing stress in the rest of your life can actually help improve the look of your skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology,

“Stress is personal, so what might be stressful for one person may be a non-stressor or even exhilarating for someone else,” Dr. Richard Fried, dermatologist and clinical psychologist with the AAD said in a  new release.

“In terms of how stress can exacerbate or even initiate a skin condition, we are talking about distress, such as feelings of anger, anxiety, depression or tension, and how these emotional states translate to physiological problems,” Dr. Fried said.

Planet Beach can help untangle these stressors with several self-automated spa services. Members have access to more frequent massages, spray tans, facials and other services for a fraction of the cost at a traditional day spa. All the push-button services are in private, attendant-free rooms.

Those looking for some guided meditation can plug in with our Cloud 9 system to ease into relaxation and use creative visualization and reduce stress. With insulated headphones and dark glasses, choose a meditation session for immediate relief that also helps build up more healthy sleep patterns.

Our variety of massage options also work to relax the mind and body. The Hydro-Massage relieves stress, decreases tension and targets the body’s vital pressure points. As a whirlpool massage that incorporates heat with water pressure, the Hydro-Massage bed provides all of the therapeutic benefits of massage in a fraction of the time. For a little more pressure, the Aqua Massage works from three angles at once. With water temperature, pulsating jets and firm pressure to work key pressure points along your back and the sides of your body, the AquaMassage will get you in a state of bliss in just minutes.

Finally, designed for the ultimate in relaxation, the Cyber-Relax massage therapy chair uses a Point Navi Sensor that scans body shape, size and posture, creating a customized massage with 509 different combinations. Like most of our spa services, the client has a wide choice of music to help increase relaxation and decrease stress.

How can such relaxing experiences not make an entire body feel better?

In fact, Dr. Fried noted that stress management makes patients feel more empowered and in control, which can make them more likely to stick with a plan that also translates to better skin. “Alleviating or minimizing stress goes a long way in improving their overall health,” he said.

Sure, the stress reduction therapies at Planet Beach automated spas are designed to provide a mental break to help find clarity and focus for the rest of the day. It turns out they may work a world of good on the skin as well.

Automated services, edgy décor and high quality products appeal to the guys

Saunatox

Say the word “spa” and many people envision a frilly, feminine enclave where men dare not tread. Smart guys know better.

According to the International Spa Association, 30 percent of spa-goers are men. Demand among men for spa services is so great that some male-only spas are opening across the country. Conveniently for the guys – and Planet Beach Contempo Spa franchise owners, our spas offer the services that men want while still appealing to women – all for much less than a traditional day spa.

The male appeal of a Contempo Spa begins at the door, with the lively, edgy decor and continues with unscented products. “The unscented sprays are great so you don’t leave smelling like jasmine,” says Contempo Spa customer Bob Martin.

Men come to spas more for relaxation and rejuvenation than pampering and beauty care. However, the thought of being touched by a stranger often sends them out the door.

Our state-of-the-art, automated spa services allow men to feel rejuvenated without the awkward therapist encounter. Massages are not only hands-free, they are also private.

Like a female customer, a male customer is in control of his massage in the privacy of his own room at a Contempo Spa.

Our AquaMassage and Hydro-Massage beds use water jets and pressure to melt away stress while men remain dry and fully clothed. Our Therasage bed uses infrared heat and massage to relieve vital pressure points along the spine. The Cyber-Relax massage chair gives a customized massage based on his shape and posture. “It feels so good,” customer Frank Lovato says. “Totally relaxing.”

Cyber Relax Chair

Once men come to a spa for a massage, they are often open to trying other services such as tanning and weight loss. With Planet Beach, they can choose UV Therapy tanning either standing or lying down, as well as the UV-Free Mystic Spray Tan. And the SlimCapsule can help men lose weight by burning calories and increasing their metabolism.

Men generally take a practical view of spa services. They tend to see the benefits of services as routine maintenance. “I go in there for an oil change,” one male spa-goer told The New York Times.

Planet Beach customers appreciate the efficiency of choosing their own services and operating the equipment themselves. For a modest monthly fee that might buy one 90-minute massage at a traditional day spa, they get unlimited access to a suite of services.

At Planet Beach, the customer is in charge. And that’s what men want.