Someone once paraphrased Charles Darwin by saying, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change.”
But in an ever-changing industry full of trends and fads, like spa and wellness, how can we know when it’s time to make changes to our business operations and when to stick to the status quo? Well, we don’t – usually. But there are times when it’s clear that a development is here to stay.
According to ISPA research, more men are going to spas in the past few years than in previous years. In fact, 49% of spa goers are now men, up from 29% in 2005. I think we can say with confidence that this is a new reality, rather than a trend or fad. So, what does it mean for your spa? We spoke with Chairman of the ISPA Board of Directors, Garrett Mersberger, about the changes spas should be making to meet the demands of this demographic shift. His valuable insights include the sage counsel that spas should adapt sooner rather than later. I think this is pretty good advice.
You’ll find examples of similar developments in the news that Virtual Reality (VR) has recently been found to be an effective treatment for pain, and that the Noel Asmar Group has been named a recipient of the ISPA Innovate award for their eco-friendly spa uniforms made from recycled plastic.
These are new realities. I think we can say with confidence that demographic shifts, new technologies, and sustainability are developments to which spas should adapt sooner rather than later, and that we should all be making changes.
It’s all part of staying relevant in this competitive industry. What changes will you make? How will you adapt?
Roger Sholanki, CEO
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