Pulse September 2015 | Page 19

AvantGard Spa a business advantage. For one, starting without a competitor means the spa was able to focus on delivering a truly personalized service and was able to establish a long-lasting relationship with local spa guests. “The community of San Carlos responded by coming in and referring their friends,” she says, recalling the community support despite initially having to face challenges to secure a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to fund the spa’s construction. Now an established name in the community, AvantGard Spa has earned multiple recognitions including being voted “Top 10 Favorite Day Spa” by Spafinder Wellness 360 in 2010. The spa has also been featured in several magazines, including DAYSPA Magazine, for its innovative interior design, which includes a six-foot hallway waterfall and a glass fireplace. Global Influences In its early years, the spa’s décor influence was mainly Romanesque. But Blanca, an interior design graduate, was later inspired by her travels to Bali, Indonesia and brought in Asian influences to the spa’s design. “I visited Bali in 2006 and came back with flower detail ideas that we still use today,” Caballero says. “As a welcoming ritual, our technicians search for a gift from nature from our potted planters to cut and bring to a small tray that is placed on the bed along with a branded