his month, Pulse is
celebrating the 10th
anniversary of the
Snapshot Survey, ISPA’s
instant look into the state
of the spa industry each month.
Although today the Snapshot Survey is a
monthly fixture, its beginnings were
much less definitive—unsurprising, given
that it was created during the initial
phases of the Great Recession in the
autumn of 2008.
“The initial Snapshot Survey was
created in response to member need,”
said Crystal Ducker, ISPA’s vice president
of research and communication. Former
ISPA Chairman and dedicated Snapshot
Survey respondent Jim Root elaborated:
T
“It was a very difficult time and I think
the Surveys were a way to connect.
They offered information, insights and
opportunities in a challenging time. ISPA
Members were not alone and had the
power of our spa community behind
them.”
Ducker noted, “When the industry
was struggling with the economic
recession, member spas wanted to look
at their peers and see the success
stories.” It was Ducker who worked with
a group of volunteer members to
spearhead the creation of the first
Snapshot Survey, which was sent out in
October of 2008—just a month after the
collapse of Lehman Brothers marked the
start of the economic downturn.
Snapshot Surveys became a monthly
fixture in January of 2009. The goal was
to create a steady stream of data that
would make ISPA an indispensable aid
in helping spas get through the
recession. According to Jean Kolb, who
was ISPA Chairman at the time, “the
Snapshot Survey enabled members to
make smart, strategic decisions based on
facts. It was invaluable then, and is even
more so today as a historical lens to
look through while we focus on our
future.”
The initial survey featured just three
questions sent to resource partners and
four questions sent to member spas;
now, a typical Snapshot Survey will
feature a dozen questions, including
“When the industry was struggling with the
economic recession, member spas wanted to
look at their peers and see the success stories.”
— CRYSTAL DUCKER, Vice President of Research and Communication, ISPA
For October’s Tenth Anniversary Snapshot Survey, ISPA is randomly giving out ten Amazon gift cards to Survey
respondents—be sure to get those surveys in!
Every ISPA member has access to our entire database of Snapshot Surveys stretching back to 2008. Visit
https://experienceispa.com/resources/research and dig into the data: you’ll likely find some numbers and insights
that surprise you.
October 2018
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PULSE
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