Re: New York International Gift Fair, Jacob Javits Center

Denise Dubois  -  August 19, 2009  -  0 Comments

Jacob Javits Center NYCI just returned from the New York International Gift Fair at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.   I attended this show with my good friend David Schmitt from Renaissance Floral Design, a wonderful floral shop and gift store located on Western Avenue in Albany.  We had a great trip.  He was kind enough to let me ride down with him and the next day I took the train home.  I promise myself that the next show scheduled for January, I will definitely give myself more time.  One day at the show was not nearly enough time.  I could have easily spent at least three days there.  It’s really quite incredible how many vendors there are.  Merchandise for any kind of store.  I only covered one and a half floors of vendors.  I also found myself rushing to cover as much ground as possible.  In the end, however, I did settle on a few select designers whose jewelry made me smile, not only because of  how beautifully unique the pieces were but also because of how much they were doing to ensure the long-term health and wealth of the communities from which they came.

The guild of eco friendly jewelry designers appears to be growing at a tremendous clip – and I’m happy to report that a  greater focus on verification & validation is beginning to take hold.  I was especially interested in seeing how all the different ‘green’ jewelry companies went about aligning themselves to the green movement.  Some stories were better than others of course, but by and large, they all made terrific sense.  Much of the jewelry was made from recycled metals and precious stones which were mined under carefully-monitored, worker-friendly conditions. What’s more, several lines went so far as to regulate the land their metals are mined from in order to mitigate any and all possible disruptions to the local ecosystem.  This made me very happy.  Being good to our environment can come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes – for eco- jewelry designers, being organic doesn’t mean diddly, but aggressively rethinking how their products and creations are manufactured from start (earth) to finish (box-in-hand) certainly does. And that my friends, is the fastest path towards sustainably positive change…

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Complexions Spa Talk in Saratoga with Paul Vandenburgh of Talk 1300

Denise Dubois  -  August 13, 2009  -  4 Comments

Funny Side & Jose Santos win the Jockey Club Gold Cup at BelmontSince sharing the Complexions Story and sitting in the Saratoga Race Course clubhouse, eating breakfast and watching the horses fly by are two of my absolute favorite things to do in the world, I figured spending a little time talking with with Megan Baker & Paul Vandenburgh from Talk Radio 1300 yesterday morning would be wonderfully fun time. It’s a fantastic program and a key ingredient to Saratoga’s one-of-a-kind August flavor. I hope everyone enjoyed hearing a little bit about the history of Complexions and why building green has allowed us to provide our clients with so much extra value per every dollar spent.  In fact, we had such a good time that Paul asked us to come back next Wednesday**, so look for us then.

**Because it’s important to always have something special to share during interviews, I decided to roll the dice and ask Future Hall of Fame Jockey Jose Santos if he’d like to stop by the Men’s Barber Spa sometime next week for a shave, polish and trim. August is a pretty busy month for him, so you can probably imagine how thrilled I was to hear him say yes. Best of all, Mr. Santos has agreed to offer a no-frills review of his experience on air with Paul and I either this coming Wednesday or next! More details to come… :)

Denise and Megan talk with Talk1300

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The Javanese Lulur – An Acient Royal Bridal Ceremony Perfect for… Everyone!

Denise Dubois  -  July 26, 2009  -  2 Comments
Rose Petal Bath by Paul Tillinghast

Rose Petal Bath

Continuing with my search for new services, we have recently added another wonderful service to our menu.  It is more of a total spa experience than a single service and one I think will move quickly to the top of our favorite’s list.  It is called the Javanese Lulur…A Royal Celebration of Love.

The Lulur originated in the royal palaces of Central Java, Indonesia, dating back to the 17th century.  It is still practiced today among Indonesian women and spa goers throughout Asia. The ritual is performed for 40 days, every day leading up to the wedding ceremony.  It would be given to the bride-to-be by the other women in the family as a time for nurturing as well as a time when they would pass down their wisdom and sacred stories.

The traditional lulur ritual begins with a massage using coconut oil infused with pandanus leaves and cempaka flowers followed by an invigorating total body exfoliation using the lulur recipe containing a blend of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, jasmine flowers and a hint of jasmine oil. The skin is left soft and gently scented. The massage and exfoliation treatments are followed by a flower bath laced with petals of jasmine, rose frangipani, seasonal aromatic blossoms and astringent leaves. During the bath, the bride sips a traditional tonic beverage called jamu made of turmeric, ginger, egg yolk, and healing herbs which purifies the blood. The lulur is completed with an application of jasmine and frangipani moisturizer. The ritual itself takes about 2 hours. As a spa treatment, this is one of the most pampering experiences available today.

The extensive use of flowering plants, rice and coconuts throughout the lulur ritual and wedding ceremony is symbolic as well as fragrant and beautiful. For the  wedding, the jasmine “melati” flower is essential, and adorns both bride and groom as a symbol of love and fertility.  The frangipani “jepun” flower is placed on prayer temples and in the home and is an essential flower of the Balinese culture and spirituality.

We are pleased to be offering this treatment using JAMU, a product founded in Bali, Indonesia in 1993 by a woman named Kim Collier.  The products are natural, vegan, ORGANIC nourishing recipes, animal and cruelty free, and biodegradable.  I am also happy to be supporting this product because

I know you will enjoy this incredible experience and we are so pleased to be offering for you.  This treatment is perfect for the bride-to-be, mother of the bride, and the bridal party.  It also makes for an amazingly romantic honeymoon, anniversary or ‘date night’ couples massage … and truth be told, works just as well if you’re single ;)

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Organic Sunless Tanning – Peak Season Equals Now

Denise Dubois  -  July 19, 2009  -  1 Comment

spray tanning old school styleWhen we first opened our doors in 1987 as Complexions Professional Skin Care, we always stressed the importance of proper sun protection. Many of our clients still loved the way they looked with a tan but wanted to avoid the harmful effects the sun has on our skin. As a result, we have offered this treatment for many years. The hour long process begins with an all over body exfoliation to remove dead, rough cells and smooth the skin. This process prepares the skin’s surface in order for our massage therapist to apply an even layer of sunless tanning lotion. Any accumulation of dead cells can lead to blotching and uneven looking color. The lotion is applied using gentle, efflaurage massage movements which completely relaxes our guest. The results are beautifully bronzed, smooth skin which lasts for approximately 7 days. For continued long lasting results, we provide our guest with a tube of the sunless tanning lotion to take home. We suggest reapplying a few times per week to maintain a nice sun-kissed look. The benefits are our clients look like they have a suntan without the damaging free radical attack on our skin cells and collagen fibers. To make this spa service even better we recently found a product called Chocolate Sun. It has taken the classic sunless tanning procedure and turned it into the first skin care treatment with the benefit of tanning the skin. The solution is made with organic, natural, and wild crafted botanicals, herbs, and antioxidants. Most importantly it is free of harsh chemicals. Chocolate Sun provides exceedingly high levels of hydration in addition to creating natural looking color. Shea Butter, one of the richest emollients, lubricates the skin while the powerful antioxidant, Green Tea, combats the aging effects of free radical damage. The color develops gradually, just like the tan Mother Nature would give you, minus the harmful UV exposure.

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The 4 Keys to a successful (re:profitible) Spa & Salon

Denise Dubois  -  July 16, 2009  -  0 Comments
Secret of My Success Soundtrack album cover

Before diving into a bit of spa-owner/manager/service-provider related discussion, I’d just like to quickly add the following preface: All good roads lead to consistently exceptional (preferably perfect) customer service. Which means, the following systems represent many – but definitely not all – methods of harvesting an overall client experience that’s as close to perfect as it can possibly be. But I digress… On with the story!

A little over two years ago we implemented a program at Complexions that maps out a career path for each and every individual that joins the Complexions Team. Short-term, mid-term, long-term… you name it, it’s all laid out for them including key milestones that need to be met in order to grow in their chosen career in the spa industry. They are given goals to meet in four main categories that if followed, provide a path to success that is faster than any other I have seen, heard or used since beginning my own career nearly 25 years ago. Furthermore, our program addresses many issues that have become more important than even to the success… or failure… of boutique spa & salons given the recent downturn within our macro-economy.

Classic Example #1: If your service providers are either sitting or waiting for clients to come in, you already have a problem. Of course, some will say lack of business is a tricky/complicated problem to correctly diagnose. Nonsense! There is always something to do in a spa or salon. Always. Sure, someone will say more advertising is needed… that if the owner/manager only advertised more, less stations would be empty. And sometimes, they’ll be right – but usually, when you get down to the brass tacks of the spa & salon business, the person, team, spa and/or salon with the highest retention rate wins.  In other words, once most of the non-moving parts are put into place  (re: the facility, the location, your branding, educational resources/opportunities for employees, equipment etc) what you’re left with is people. And people are dynamic! Always try to remember that whenever quantifying or calculating the ROI you earn from an employee or partner because what may be true today, may not be true tomorrow. People can change, both for the better and the worse – so if you want to cultivate more of the former and less of the latter, please consider carefully the following 5 commandments to spa & salon success:

  1. A Pre-booked client = a happy client
  2. Recommending the correct home ‘maintenance’ skincare programs & products ensures that clients look & feel radiant in between appointments
  3. Asking for and attaining referrals demonstrates confidence. If you’re awesome at what you do, don’t be selfish, share your talents with as many people as you can.
  4. To maintain a high new customer retention rate, combine #1 & #2 with consistently great results

The fourth point is especially important given today’s economy because sourcing new customers has become harder and for some, far more expensive. Keeping new clients creates more capital which creates more new advertising which (hopefully) creates more new clients and so on and so forth.

Given the two decades as “owner” that came before we introduced this program I can say with great confidence that meeting with each service provider monthly to evaluate – in detail – their progress is a truly awesome experience. It allows me the opportunity to speak with them, one on one, and really dive into their KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) with the goal always being to end up with ‘more positives’ next month. Laying out objective, measurable milestones isn’t always easy – it takes homework and knowing the numbers inside and out – but in the end, numbers usually tell a pretty accurate picture.  It’s been exciting to see so many people learn, grow and take control over their own success. Confidence goes a long way in the beauty business and being able to effectively measure one’s own performance is a powerful tool for those who learn how to wield it. Occasionally, there will be those who don’t buy in – who fight against things like management systems and performance reviews and  these people don’t typically last very long at Complexions. Not every new employee can work out exactly how you hoped they would – but that’s ok since the ultimate goal is to surround yourself and your team with as many talented, passionate and results-oriented people as space allows. We’ve still got some space to fill at Complexions – so if you’re the kind of individual who will not only appreciate but also accelerate within a results-driven spa & salon, by all means, step right up because the door is always open :)

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French Manicure FAQ & Best Practices Guide

Mari Salinas  -  July 15, 2009  -  0 Comments

Free Fresh French Tip Manicure Creative Commons

Image by Pink Sherbet Photography via Flickr

Over the years, Complexions nail salon clients – both new and old – have asked me countless times to give up the secret behind the beautiful results we produce each and every day. Like most things, there isn’t really a shortcut to success but rather several key maintenance routines that if performed consistently, result in phenomenal nails. For my first post, I wanted to share with you the answers to a few of these most frequently asked questions. Hopefully they will help you with any concerns you may have or often wondered about.

Q: Why are my nails yellow?
A: It could be many different reasons. Most common reason is basecoat is not being applied. Applying base will prevent the yellowing of the natural nail especially when using a darker or rich nail lacquer shades. A good base I love to use and have found to be very effective is Essie’s Protein Basecoat.
Q: Will Acrylic or Gel artificial nails damage my natural nails?
A: Artificial nails generally will not damage your nails. It is the way we take care our nails that may cause damage. Whether you go with an Acrylic or Gel nail, it requires upkeep. Generally every two weeks to fill in growth. When you allow more that two weeks to go by you may start to notice lifting of product and that’s when you may start to run into some problems.
Q: What do I do when I no longer want my Gels or Acrylic nails?
A: Be sure to have them Professionally removed. Get a nice manicure to clean up nails. Start on a nail growth system. Removing your artificial nails yourself can cause damage to your natural nail. After having your nails removed it is essential to get manicures every two weeks. I would recommend this for at least six visits. Doing this along with applying your nail growth system at home in between visits will add to your goal of natural healthy nails. I would recommend Duri Nail Growth System.
Q: Do my nails need to be long for me to get a French manicure?
A: No. there is no specific length you need in order to enjoy a French manicure.
Q: How long will my French Manicure/Polish last?
A: Depending on how active you are with your hands, your professional manicure may last three to four days and in some cases up to seven days.
Q: What can help my French Manicure/Polish Application last?
A: Applying a topcoat such as Essie’s Good to Go every other day will help. You want to avoid excessive use of body oils and or scrubs for this may cause chipping. When applying lotions try to avoid nails. Wearing dish gloves always helps too.
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Blowdrying Tips & Tricks for Dummies

Kim Hannell  -  July 10, 2009  -  1 Comment

A blowdry gone horribly wrongI can’t even begin to tell you how many times my clients say to me, “I can never make my hair look as good as you do!”  It is heartbreaking to hear those words!  As stylists, we want you to look and feel your best everyday.  Not just on the days you visit the salon. Styling can be an ugly fight if you aren’t armed with the proper weapons, i mean, tools! Here a some key points to successful styling.  Also, listen to your stylists recommendations for products. (Although we might have a lot of experience, we would never be able to achieve great results without great products!)  Use a blowdryer that has a nozzle on the end to help direct the airflow down the hair shaft or a diffuser for curly styles.

  1. Apply product as needed.  make sure you have clips and brushes ready, as well as your blowdryer.

  2. Assess and cowlicks, or “problem areas”  in your hair. These are the areas you will want to attend to first.  Whether it be a cowlick in your bangs or a double crown (whirls in the crown). You will want to do some “directional drying” on these areas first.  Blow them in the direction that you want them to lay.  Use your fingers to assist with this process.  If you have a sweeping bang, you will want to direct the airflow down and toward the front of your face to get that nice “sweep” across the forehead.

  3. Work the excess moisture out of your hair. If you are looking for more volume take this time to direct the roots of your hair in the opposite direction they are going to lay.  This helps create lift.  if you are trying to smooth out curl, use your fingers to create tension on each section of hair to pull it straight at the root.

  4. Once the hair is almost dry, clip your hair so that you are working with 2-4″ sections, depending on the density of your hair.  Thinner hair can take larger sections, while thicker hair needs smaller ones.  Direct the airflow down the hairshaft  while using your other hand to work the brush.  Dry the roots first and work down to the ends.  Make sure each section is completely dry before moving onto the next.  If you are looking to add more volume or bend into your hair, let each section cool down on the brush.  Let the hair fall off the brush and do not touch it until it is completely cooled, or “set”.

  5. After you have completed your brush work, give your hair a good once over on the cool setting.  This helps set the style and seal the cuticle down.

  6. Finish with a light working spray for volume or serum to fight frizz.

Try not to get discouraged.  It takes a lot practice and patience.  Allow yourself enough time to properly blowdry your hair!

- Kim Hannell, Senior Stylist at Complexions

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Is there a safe alternative to tanning?

Denise Dubois  -  July 9, 2009  -  0 Comments
sun bath

Image via Wikipedia

When we first opened our doors in 1987 as Complexions Professional Skin Care, we have always stressed the importance of proper sun protection.  But….none the less, many of our clients still like the way they look with a tan.  The truth of the matter is when you have a tan your skin is damaged.  Our skin’s main function is protection therefore, when we are exposed to harmful UV rays, our skin reacts by producing melanin to combat those harmful rays.

In Woody Allen’s classic “Annie Hall,” Alvy Singer laments, “Everything our parents said was good is bad.” He lists whole milk, red meat – and the sun.   Obviously, the sun is not “bad,” but the truth about sun exposure is much more complex than believed a generation ago.  Ever since Coco Chanel declared tanning “in” in the 1920s, a suntan was seen as symbol of health, youth and status. However, recent studies on the relationship between the sun’s ultraviolet rays (UVR) and our skin are changing the way we view that “healthy” glow.

What is tanning?

Tanning is the skin’s reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  When skin is exposed to UV rays, cells called melanocytes produce the brown pigment melanin, which darkens the cells of the epidermis.  This darkening of the skin cells is the skin’s natural – if imperfect – defense against further damage from UV radiation.

Is tanning bad for you?

The sun’s UV rays damage the DNA of the skin’s epidermal cells, triggering enzymes that race to repair the damage.  However, these enzymes do not always repair the DNA successfully, and all this unrepaired damage can lead to mutations that increase the risk of skin cancer.  Also, repeated unprotected sun exposure can cause photoaging – wrinkles, sagging skin, and spots associated with sun damage.

Does all UV radiation harm my skin?

Scientists divide the solar UV spectrum into three wavelengths - UVA, UVB and UVC. Once, UVA and UVC were thought harmless, and only UVB  was believed dangerous. UVC is still deemed no threat, since it is absorbed by the ozone layer. But UVA accounts for up to 95 percent of solar UVR reaching Earth. Though far less capable of causing sunburn than UVB, UVA is present during all daylight hours year round, while the amount of UVB in sunlight varies by season, location and time of day.

By the 1990’s, scientists knew that UVA exacerbates the cancer-causing effects of UVB, and is the main wavelength behind photoaging. Recently, an Australian-U.S. study found that UVA may be more carcinogenic than UVB. It penetrates more deeply and causes more genetic damage in the skin cells (keratinocytes) where most skin cancers arise. The National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization now designate both UVA and UVB as causes of cancer.

Doesn’t the melanin acquired through tanning actually protect my skin?

Darker skin does offer greater protection than light skin against sunburn and skin cancer. However, that applies only to people with naturally darker skin. Tanning, like sunburns, attacks the skin’s DNA, producing genetic defects that may cause skin cancer.

Isn’t getting sunburned more dangerous than getting tan?

Both are dangerous, because both result from DNA damage to the skin cells. It is true that sunburn has been directly linked to melanoma – one blistering sunburn more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.  It is usually thought that lifetime sun exposure is responsible for increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, while both intense, intermittent sun exposure – the pattern that is traditionally linked to melanoma – and lifetime exposure are believed to be involved in the development of basal cell carcinoma.  However, studies have also shown a marked increase in melanoma incidence in people who have developed either squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma. Scientists are still trying to determine the exact exposure pattern behind the development of the different types of skin cancer, but it is safe to say that both burning and tanning play major roles in skin cancer.

Are tanning beds safer?

Tanning salon owners say tanning machines are safer than outdoor tanning for two reasons: 1) they mainly use UVA rays, and 2) they offer more “controlled” UV exposure. However, we know now that UVA is a carcinogen, and studies have revealed that tanning salons frequently exceed “safe” UV limits. Study after study has shown that sunbed tanning increases the risk of both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

The facts bear out: There is no such thing as a safe tan.  However, there are safe alternatives in sunless tanning.   Being informed about how to protect yourself from unwanted sun protection is the best defense against skin cancer and photoaging.

A Healthy Alternative

The desire for bronzed skin led us to offer a healthy alternative to indoor and outdoor tanning called a  Body Bronzing which actually serves as a treatment.  During this hour long process the client is  brought into our wet room to first experience an all over body exfoliation which removes dead skin cells,  preventing streaking and blotching from sunless tanning creams.  The skin is very smooth and ready for the application.  We use a product called  Nature’s Healthy Tan created from all natural, organic, and wild crafted botanicals and herbs.  The solution is formulated with the highest concentration of these all natural ingredients resulting in a powerful blend of skin saving antioxidants which produces exceptional results.  This sunless tanning cream is free of harsh chemicals and unpleasant odors usually noted with sunless tanning creams.  Our clients are introduced to a safe, natural tan without any of the harmful effects from the sun or harsh chemicals at the same time they enjoy the bronzed look to their skin.

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The Story Behind our ‘Signature’ Hot Poultice Thai Massage

Denise Dubois  -  July 4, 2009  -  1 Comment
“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”
- Pearl Buck, The Joy of Children, 1964
- US novelist in China (1892 – 1973)

Whenever I travel, I always try to set aside enough time to experience at least one notable spa within the area I am touring. Several years ago, while on vacation in the Maya Riviera, I visited a beautiful Oriental Express Hotel that did a superb job incorporating traditional Mayan healing and wellness rituals into the therapies they offered. Blending the indigenous cultures, traditions and modalities of one’s location into treatments that produce interesting and original experiences using ancient, centuries-old methods gives the guest a unique and  memorable experience.

So there I was, enjoying amazing Mayan therapies each more pleasant than the last, and yet, when I left for home several days later, the one treatment I couldn’t stop thinking about was the only one not of local origin! Simply put, the Hot Poultice Thai Massage is like a dream. The bouquet of aromatherapy oil & herb filled poultice cradles you like a baby while you float into the most tranquil, peaceful and meditative state.  Of course, a treatment with origins half a world away & hundreds of years of history is never easy to get just right and often can end up costing spa owners far more to source than they end up returning. Nevertheless, I knew this was something that had to be shared with the rest of the Complexions community and so made the decision to go ‘all in’.

From Wanting to Having the Hot Poultice…

After returning home, I attended  a spa show in New York City to see if I could find a provider of the poultice I experienced. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly depending on how many trade shows you’ve attended), I did find several outfits that happily offered “similar” and/or “comparable” products but in the end, when it comes to putting together a new treatment at Complexions, I’d rather not offer it than cut a couple corners. Which isn’t to say that the path to a place on our menu is overly daunting for those committed to top quality therapies & experiences – your product simply has to demonstrate clear wellness & health benefits for our customers and A-level marks in each of the following:

  1. The class, consistency, integrity and reliability of the source ingredients.
  2. The ability, experience and “authenticity” of the instructors who will be responsible for the training of our staff.

Why so rigorous? As with most of our investments, when it comes to new product and treatment decisions, my strategy has always been to minimize/eliminate as many upfront ‘risks’ as possible. Squaring down the above typically takes care of 90% of what goes into an excellent spa experience.

The Importance of Keeping it Authentic…

One of the most important responsibilities I have is stewarding the trust my customers have built up in Complexions for never compromising on value or taking any liberties with the marketing behind or reasoning for the treatments and services we offer.  If we can’t find either the local indigenous product  someone to train the exact technique, then we will not compromise the experience.  If we put it on our menu, it has to be offered with  accuracy.

There’s something magical in the experience of a faithfully reproduced therapy born from an ancient (and sometimes extinct) civilization – a wisdom and grace that’s difficult to express but easy to feel. It’s what separates deeply-seated primordial therapies from other more modern forms of healing & wellness. In the case of our Thai poultice, if either the prai or kaffir lime were to be sourced from somewhere other than Thailand, than the service simply isn’t “authentic” and would not have been labeled as such. Thankfully, I was able to secure the ingredients by virtue of our relationship with Ytsara Organics and so moved onto the second hurdle – training.

I searched high and low to find an educator. Finally, I decided to call the spa director in Mexico and discuss my desire. She was very kind and offered me the contact information for the educator that they used in Mexico. After discussing her teaching style & schedule at length, I offered to pay for her to come to Complexions and train our therapists in the magical art of Poultice.

Today, I am happy to say that this continues to be one of our most popular services. Not only do our guests appreciate its authenticity they can be assured they are getting. In fact, they are experiencing the same quality of service as if they were in Thailand getting a Samunprai, Hot Poultice Thai Massage. In the resort that I experienced this treatment for the first time, I paid close to $300.00 for, we only charge $154.00  because of our location. We are not in a big metropolitan city that can support that price tag, but our guests, can receive the same uncompromised quality of service as if they were at a 5 star resort

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Complexions wins 2008 Energy Small Business of the Year Award!

Denise Dubois  -  May 15, 2009  -  0 Comments
Environmental Protection Agency logo

Image via Wikipedia

On September 29, 2008 we hosted a ceremony at the spa to present those individuals who helped us with our “greening” efforts. The awards were presented by Mike Breslin from the City of Albany.   The people who received a certificate for their collaborative efforts with our “greening” process  included our architect Greg Sellman, Naomi Miller Lighting Design (whose knowledge of energy efficient lighting is simply remarkable), SAIC engineering firm, Chris Reher from NYSERDA, Structural Engineer  Anthony Mantello  from A. Mantello Construction Services,  and Maria Karpmen from Karpmen Consulting.  We gave tours of our facility and discussed all the measures we took to make our facility as energy efficient as we could manage.  We will continue to evaluate these efforts and continue to improve and enhance where ever we can.

The time union blog wrote a post on the award, which was nice:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness one of thirteen winners of the 2008 Energy Star Small Business Awards. Winners are recognized for doing their part to save energy and fight climate change through effective energy management practices and innovative efficiency solutions.

Reaching Gold LEED Certifiction for New Construction Means more than you can imagine!

Denise Dubois  -  May 3, 2009  -  2 Comments

Doonesbury "We Did It!" from Election Night, November 5, 2008

Reaching Gold LEED certification means more than you can imagine. When we first started out with this challenging process, we met people who thought we were crazy. We were discouraged by some who thought the task was far to difficult to accomplish for a small busines of my size and to expensive to achieve .  They told me that I didn’t have to become LEED certified just to call myself a “green spa” .  But to me it was more than calling ourselves a green spa.  LEED is a score card through the US Green Building Council which proves your authenticity.  Not many people can say they are LEED Certified.  They were right about one thing, I didn’t have a huge budget to pay for the professionals that ordinarily do all the research and work to achieve this status. But that thought is exactly what made this such a rewarding feat. In order for us to accomplish this Gold LEED certification, we had to do the work ourselves. That very thing is what makes this project so unique and so personally rewarding. My brother, my father, myself and even my two boys contributed to the success of this project. We did the research and the grunt work.  We sorted the metal studs, wire, electrical parts, ceiling tiles, and more. We were the ones who actually “got our hands dirty” and measured walls, marked out the floors, researched the materials and ran around to all the different suppliers researching what was available to us.  We had to learn the LEED process and requirements all while doing the actual work.  We were the ones who worked the hardest and achieved our personal goal.  At first we were completely overwhelmed with everything but in the end, the challenging process is what makes this so personally rewarding.  We didn’t just pay someone else to do the work, WE did the work.  So now saying we achieved Gold LEED Certification for New Construction really means WE ACHIEVED our dreams. ….-we became the FIRST LEED Gold Certified Spa in the country.

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Gold LEED Certification for New Construction is official!

Denise Dubois  -  April 30, 2009  -  1 Comment

Yesterday we received notification from the US Green Building Council that we have been approved for Gold LEED certification for New Construction. We are so pleased. We will be receiving a beautiful plaque from USGBC which we will display in our reception area. We did do a search and found that we are the FIRST Gold LEED certified spa in the country for New Construction. This has been a really long process and I am thrilled with the outcome. Most of our points were achieved in the energy section. This has also been the area with the greatest amount of savings for our business. I would love to share my story with other small business owners. It can be done. You don’t have to be intimidated by the huge amount of documentation. I think we have learned a few things along the way that can help make this possible for other small business owners. My brother Tony is a licensed professional structural engineer and is going to become LEED certified himself. I am happy that he is going to pursue this after completing this project so successfully. He will be able to help other small businesses along the way and to accomplish their dreams of becoming LEED certified too!

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Interntional Beauty Show Jacob Javits

Denise Dubois  -  April 26, 2009  -  0 Comments

Empire State Building NYC

I just returned from the International Beauty Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. I have to say, I am a bit disappointed at the show this year. In the Esthetic Spa section, there were only 5 isles of vendors. There was nothing new and not much excitement. I think this may have been the smallest turn out in many years. In years past this has been huge! I walked through the entire esthetics section in less than an hour. I think it was practically a wasted trip.

I am going to attend the New York Spa Owners meeting in two weeks for the first time. I suspect that that will be a far more worthwhile endeavor.

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Follow up to our LEED certification

Denise Dubois  -  April 19, 2009  -  0 Comments

Just checked the LEED on line web page and the status of our project looks really good. Right now we have enough points approved to reach Gold Level! We are in line to be certified for New Construction. I can’t tell you how happy I will be when this is officially awarded. As soon as it is made official, we will be the first NEW Construction Gold Level Spa in the Country! Wow! I know there are a few others that have also become LEED Certified.

There are different categories for which you can become certified and each category has several tiers of success. I would love to meet the other owners who went through this process. It is not an easy task for a small business. I know from my own experience, we almost didn’t go through with it because of all the detailed documentation and because of how difficult it was to retrieve the proper documentation or “proof” if you would to satisfy the requirements. It would be such a pleasure to share our stories and help the other spa owners in the country follow in our foot steps. Hopefully from our challenges, mistakes and triumphs, we can help more spas reach this goal. The wellness benefits of the services that we offer our guests, make this a natural next step for those owners who truly want to offer a total wellness experience. I had a conversation at my spa today with a guest who was there for the day having several services. Her comments to me were that “while she was having her services, she enjoyed knowing that she was also benefiting from the surroundings.” Our guests appreciate what we did and I would love to share our experience with others. So……If you are another owner who has a LEED certified spa, let’s talk! I would love to share our experiences.

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Celebrating Spa Week at Complexions

Denise Dubois  -  April 11, 2009  -  0 Comments

Spa Week LogoThe 10th annual Spa Week Event will be taking place the week of April 13-19.  We will be joining  700 spas across the country offering a few of our signature services at a special price of only $50.00.  The goal of Spa Week is to introduce consumers to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by having spa services that focus on “wellness”.

As the full impact of the economic downturn becomes painfully apparent, millions of Americans are experiencing the financial challenges of an uncertain future.  So, it goes without saying that stress has become an everyday companion for many of us.  This is unfortunately the start of a cycle where the average consumer cuts back  on many of life’s necessities.  Never before has Spa Week’s message been more relevant  than in these trying times.  The spa lifestyle is not only essential to maintaining one’s health and well-being, but it’s now available this week at an affordable price for everyone.

We will be featuring our Body Oil Ceremony Massage, Eclat Cacoon Hot Stone Facial Treatment, Rene Furterer Scalp Treatment and Haircut, and our Sukapao Foot Beauty Ritual.  These services all typically range in price from $77.00-$119.00 and will all be offered at $50.00.

We will also be featured on Channel 13 noon news on Tuesday April 14th, to discuss spring hair and makeup as well as the kick off of Spa Week.

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