SNAPSHOT SURVEY
RETAIL AND VENDOR RELATIONS
THE AUGUST 2022 ISPA SNAPSHOT SURVEY explored the essential and invaluable relationships between spa and resource partner members to help highlight insights relating to processes and preferences for placing orders , product education and purchasing patterns .
KEY TAKEAWAY
The majority of spa respondents reported they prefer placing a product order with an existing resource partner vendor at their own leisure and on their own timeframe , with 47 percent preferring to order online with no interaction and another 42 percent preferring to order via email . With efficiency front-of-mind , more than two-thirds of spa respondents ( 70 percent ) cited time constraints as the primary reason for preferring to order new products with new vendors without any interaction .
PREFERRED METHODS FOR PLACING PRODUCT ORDERS — EXISTING VENDORS
INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS
Spa respondents also shared their processes for selecting new brands to introduce into their spa offerings . The hands-on exploration of new products at trade shows and via product sample boxes were frequently cited as preferred ways to seek out what ’ s new . Spa members also shared a variety of consumer purchasing trends . Some of the trending products mentioned included CBD products , apparel , at-home care items , seasonal items , gift items and targeted skin care .
When it comes to educating team members about the brands and products being used or sold within the spa , 86 percent of spa members currently use in-person training led by resource partners and 58 percent utilize a spa team member to lead in-person training . A whopping 90 percent of spas claimed a boost in retail sales following an in-person education or training event .
RESOURCE PARTNER ROUNDUP
Understanding of the importance of product education , close to 70 percent of vendors offered in-person training while nearly a third of vendors ( 32 percent ) noted that it was very difficult to schedule meetings with spa clients . Encouragingly , 73 percent of vendors offer virtual on-demand or live training sessions . Nearly half of resource partner respondents ( 43 percent ) found that virtual resources and trainings for spa clients have proven to be successful .
TRAINING RESOURCE UTILIZED
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 n PULSE 57