Online Retailing for Spas - an Introduction

How/where should spas get started with online retailing?

Online retailing is as easy as setting up a shopping cart option on the spa’s website. It can be done by a web designer, and the payments can be processed by regular credit cards, as well as by paypal. All that’s needed is a business bank account, and the right software.

As a brand owner, do you want to know if your clients are selling products online? What might be involved with that?

As a professional brand owner, one wants to keep the value of the products high, and avoid underselling by distributors. Underselling, essentially means selling below the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price). While it may not be an issue to sell cheaper in person at the salon, selling online at discounted prices is discouraged. In addition to pricing issues, online sellers have to make sure the directions and skin type information is listed in a detailed fashion on their site, especially for professional products. When consumers purchase online, they are often confused as to which product suits them best, and how to utilize it, unless consulted by the esthetician prior to purchasing. 

What help can you provide from a brand perspective? Do you help with fulfillment? Providing images, descriptions? Is pricing set by you, the brand?

The inspiration for SAIAN Natural Clinical Skin Care comes from our customers. We are not just a skincare company, we are a lifestyle brand, dedicated to bringing our customers the best in skincare, anti-aging supplements, ergonomic equipment, supplies and education. We are the esthetician’s partner in creating her most successful beauty business - no minimum order, $2-$7 cost-per-treatment, free samples, and support from our friendly staff. 

We don’t do fulfillment, or set the prices, and we discourage online sales that are less than double wholesale price. Of course, all the images and descriptions are provided by us!

What are some of the advantages of having spas sell products online? 

The biggest advantage to having spas sell products online, is the additional retail income that the sales will bring in. Treatments will only bring in so much revenue, but product sales can make or break a spa’s success. In addition to bringing in revenue, product sales keep the customer’s skin looking good between facials, and maintain an ongoing relationship between the customer and the spa.

Meet Dasha Saian of Saian Natural Clinical Skincare in North Hollywood

Dasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?

In 2007, my mother and I started our skincare brand out of our kitchen with only $3,000. At that time, I was finishing college, working at a spa as a receptionist, and going to beauty school for my esthetics license. I remember we used to sit and fill bottles with serums and cremes all evening, and stick labels on them, so that we could drive to San Diego at 5am, to teach a class at a beauty school at 8am, and hopefully sell something.

The first couple of years were tough – we were operating out of our apartment, which meant living with boxes everywhere! I had boxes with bottles and jars in my bedroom, and I remember we could never really have company over because the amount of boxes was overwhelming. After 2 years in business, we moved into an office, but it was tiny, and didn’t have a warehouse, so we kept all the boxes with packaging and product in a storage unit, and drove back and forth a million times every day.

Now, 10 years later, we operate out of a 4,400-square foot building with a training center and warehouse, and have distribution in 16 countries, including a beauty school in Sweden – “Saian Academy”.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?

In 2013, we were shocked to discover that my mother had grade 4 Glioblastoma, a malignant tumor the size of a baseball in her brain. Needless to say, I put my business on the back burner for two and a half years, as I stayed home to take care of her and my 86-year-old grandmother. This meant 2 brain surgeries, recovery and physical therapy to walk, special organic diets… everything we could do.

In the process of learning about my mother’s illness, I became an expert on oncology care, and alternative treatments. I also became more aware of the stress that we both had put each other through at work. From that point on, all the little meaningless things that used to irritate me, no longer mattered – this was the wake-up call I needed to learn to pace myself in life and in business. After my mother passed, I found myself absolutely engulfed in my work – it was, and still is my happy place. Surprisingly, as I relaxed about making money at work, and focused on providing a better experience for my customers, everything fell into place, and we actually made more sales!

We’d love to hear more about your business.

Saian Natural Clinical Skincare is a professional skin care brand that works directly with estheticians. We provide skin care professionals with the highest quality anti-aging, anti-acne, and anti-hyperpigmentation products, as well as valuable training and certification. We train at our North Hollywood location, as well as internationally – our “Saian Academy” in Sweden certifies esthetics students in skin, bodywork and nails.

Saian skincare products are amazing in that they are paraben-free, fragrance-free, with no added artificial colors, and not tested on animals. Our products are proudly made in USA, and contain the highest concentration of active ingredients, making them clinical strength but affordable and natural!

What were you like growing up?

I was born in Moscow, and lived there until the age of 12. My grandmother raised me, while my mother was living in Los Angeles and trying to get her citizenship to bring me over, as well. I was a total tomboy, refused to play with dolls, and was always outside getting into mischief- climbing trees, bringing stray cats and dogs home. I remember my report cards always looking the same way – “A” for every subject, and “U” (unsatisfactory) right next to it, in the column for “behavior in class”. I was a class clown, what can I say, I had to do it for my fans!

As far as interests, I was absolutely obsessed with Egypt, and everything that had to do with Greek Mythology. Also, my love affair with languages started at an early age. By the age of 16, I spoke English, Russian, Armenian and Spanish fluently. I am now learning Mandarin Chinese, which is pretty addicting!

Contact Info:
Address: 7260 Radford Ave
North Hollywood CA 91605
Website: www.saian.net
Phone: 1-800-291-1130
Email: info@saian.net
Instagram: @saian_skincare
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAIANskincare/
Twitter: @saian_skincare
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/saian-natural-clinical-north-hollywood

Read Dasha’s story as featured in VoyageLA magazine about LA’s most inspiring young entrepreneurs: http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-dasha-saian-saian-natural-clinical-skincare-north-hollywood/

Post Microneedling Treatments

Performing micro-needling or micro-pen in your treatment room? We have the perfect cooling, anti-aging mask for this treatment. SAIAN Pure Collagen Masks are made from the highest quality medical-grade freeze-dried insoluble collagen fibers. These masks come dry, and are activated with SAIAN collagen spray, and then molded to the face for 20 minutes after microneedling. This royal facial not only provides a tightening of the skin, but moisturizes, plumps, and reduce wrinkles for up to 3 weeks! No preservatives, no color and no fragrance!

This mask is the perfect cooling treatment after microneedling - when activated with cold collagen spray, it gives amazing plumping and rejuvenating results in just minutes. Simply refrigerate SAIAN collagen spray between treatments, and apply over the collagen mask immediately after needling/micro-pen. Follow with SAIAN Vital-K creme to reduce post-procedure bruising and redness. http://saian.net/product/pure-collagen-mask/

September 2015 DAYSPA Magazine Features the Best Handheld Microcurrent

The latest, September 2015 issue of DAYSPA Magazine features an interview with a happy spa owner who uses SAIAN Natural Clinical Skin Care in her practice! Please see this wonderful excerpt from page 62:

Amy Lord of Beyond Beauty Spa in Austin, TX writes about SAIAN Skin Pro 2 System:

How it Works:
This travel-friendly galvanic/microcurrent machine provides a portable facial. When used with SAIAN peptide products, it firms and tones the face and neck, stimulates collagen production, and visibly reduces the signs of aging.

Why it’s my favorite:
“I went to a non-surgical facelift class four years ago in Dallas and was impressed by the noticeable results of lifting and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles achieved in just one treatment with this device”, Lord says. “The investment was affordable, so I thought I’d give it a try. It has been one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made, and has hugely increased my facial income and product sales!”

When Lord first brought the SAIAN Skin Pro 2 System into her spa and encouraged her facial clients to try it, she saw most of them switch from a typical European facial to one that employs the device. “My clients love the results from the hand-held machines, “ she says. “Once they tried the new facial, there was no going back.” The Skin Pro 2's size and portability are major pluses. “It’s easy to take with me to give quick treatments at a wedding party or other beauty event,” Lord notes. “At the spa, it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my treatment room like many other pieces of equipment. And it’s my biggest money maker, so in that respect, it really comes in handy!”

Brighten, Hydrate, Renew!

Brighten, Hydrate, Renew! Our signature serums are clinically proven to reduce hyperpigmentation, effectively treat dryness, and stimulate collagen production. SAIAN Skincare's potent combinations of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and concentrated active vegan botanical ingredients produce professional results in all skin types and colors! Serums that will transform your skin within just weeks of first application: http://saian.net/product-category/categories/serums/