INTERNATIONAL
DAY SPA AND
HEALING CENTER
Redlands, California
M
imi Barre founded
International Day Spa and
Healing Center in
Redlands, California, in
1990, starting with a single-room spa “no
bigger than a closet,” before moving to a
slightly bigger two-room space. In 1995,
the spa moved to its current location, a
110-year-old, five-treatment-room
Victorian Cottage and expanded its menu
to include European Hydrotherapy. It was
a move Barre considers the most important milestone in the spa’s history. The
spa’s packages and treatments were developed based on Barre’s travels and from
spa services she received around the
world.
“In 10 years, we became the top-ofmind-awareness (TOMA) spa of Southern
San Bernardino County. TOMA is in the
same manner as when someone asks to
buy a can of soup, they assume it’s
“If someone wanted a
gift certificate for a
massage, people in the
community automatically
assumed it would be from
International Day Spa and
Healing Center.”
Corri Vara (right), current
International Day Spa and Healing
Center owner, accepts a key from previous spa owner Mimi Barre as a symbol of
the passing of ownership of the day spa.
25
YEAR
S!
Campbell’s, or if they want a tissue, they
[say] Kleenex,” Barre says. “If someone
wanted a gift certificate for a massage,
people in the community automatically
assumed it would be from International
Day Spa and Healing Center.”
After 22 years of ownership and management, Barre retired in 2012. Corri Vara,
who worked for Barre for six years, subsequently purchased the spa. “My main goal
in taking over International Day Spa was
to continue to provide the uncompromisingly finest in skin and body care to the
community, and though I have made
subtle changes, the core values of
International Day Spa remain the same,”
Vara says.
As the new owner, Vara envisions the
spa becoming a source for treatments
LONGEVITY TIP: “Creating and maintaining a connection with your clients will keep
them coming back. Continue to educate yourself by reading trade magazines and participating in webinars