Pulse August 2020 | Page 27

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 “Spas give the person who’s interested in CBD or who might benefit from it the opportunity to shop for it in a comfortable environment.” — JACLYN LOUNGO knowledgeable now," says Kreider. "They want to know the ins and outs. If you have a company that has tracing and testing in place, you know the farmers that are growing your hemp are licensed. [Having] that trusted source is really important. Make sure you’re looking for a product that has a clearly marked amount of CBD on the label; [make] sure that you know from the start of that seed to the finished product, you can go back and verify that what they say is in that product is in that product.” So, once a product has tip-toed through a mass of strict regulations, been vetted by a trusted spa professional and, finally, used as part of a massage, facial or nail service, what can spa-goers expect in terms of results? Does CBD, you know, work? Kreider, who has a background as a registered nurse, is quick to tout a broad range of benefits. “There are so many ways in which I’ve seen it help individuals. It helps so much with anxiety, with sleep, with pain relief. We have medical professionals that are referring their patients to us for pain relief because of the opioid issues happening within the United States. As a nurse, seeing that shift in being open to alternative pain relief is amazing. It honestly blows my mind.” CBD’s effectiveness as a skin care solution is a big part of what drew BABOR to incorporate it into their new line. “It’s a very potent antioxidant; it’s an amazing anti-inflammatory,” says Rushworth. “We use it to soothe irritation, to reduce redness and calm the skin.” For those who may still be skeptical, Duncan encourages the uninitiated to keep it simple. “They may not know where to start, so I try to make them understand that it’s just a simple swap. Swap out the massage oil for CBD oil. Swap out the body mask for a CBD body mask. This is where their trusted spa and therapist come in.” It’s true that in 2018, as noted at the beginning of this article, less than 20 percent of U.S. spas offered CBD treatments or products. But it’s also true that 43 percent of respondents to that year’s ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study cited CBD products and treatments as the next big trend that will shape the U.S. spa industry. If you ask Luongo or Kreider, that 43 percent was onto something. “Those who thought it was [a fad] see that it’s not, that there’s validity to it.” says Luongo. “It’s not a fad,” says Kreider. “It’s taken some time, but I believe [CBD] is here to stay.” REOPENING INSIGHT: DRIVING RETURN CUSTOMERS BACK to your spa is critical to a successful reopening, and value-added promotions are a straightforward, profitable way to entice them. CBD addons—from oils to masks and aromatherapy—are hotter than ever despite COVID-19. Consider running a value-add campaign with a complimentary CBD add-on of the guest’s choice. Not only is the profit per add-on high, but it also requires no additional personnel or treatment time, making it perfect for spas already hamstrung by added sanitation time between treatments. n AUGUST 2020 ■ PULSE 23