BY KATE ROACH

AS SPA LEADERS , WE ALL RELY ON OUR VARIOUS VENDOR PARTNERS as integral parts of our businesses . Whether they be equipment suppliers , consumables purveyors or skin and body care brands for service and retail , we need partners to help us provide the amazing spa services that keep our guests coming back . But true partnerships , those where both spas and vendor partners genuinely work in concert to elevate the spa experience in unforgettable ways , are rare .

In part , that ’ s because far too often we busy spa leaders get caught up in a cycle of managing the day-to-day operations , like restocking our back bar and managing our retail inventory , but fail to use all of the resources available to us . Busy spas are a good thing , yet we must carve out the time to look beyond the current moment and set ourselves up for success . This is the approach we take at Woodhouse , because we know without strategy or future planning , it ’ s impossible to unlock the full potential of our business . More often than not , spa leaders and managers find themselves in a cycle when it comes to vendor partnerships , where you simply place your order , receive and repeat the process again . Instead of nurturing a meaningful , symbiotic relationship with our vendor partners , for example , we often simply place orders , receive and repeat . That cycle won ’ t break itself , but it is possible to nurture those relationships with your vendor partners and benefit your business . That ’ s where you and your team come in .

Nurturing meaningful relationships with vendor partners can be hugely valuable for any spa . Pictured : Woodhouse Day Spa in Boulder , Colorado .

48 PULSE • APRIL 2022