LESLIE’S PICK
“A Green Spa”
Spas2b is now in 35
countries worldwide
Leslie Lyon began her
career in the Health and
Beauty Industry over 25
years ago and today enjoys
her profession as an
International Consultant,
Educator, Key Note Speaker,
Published Columnist and
Freelance Writer. Leslie is
the President of Spas2b Inc.,
which is a full-service Spa
Development, Consulting and
Training Company based in
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Her company’s international
Consulting Assignments
range from the smallest
Boutique Spas to the 25,000
square foot super spas, and
everything in between – from
Spa Start Ups to Spa
Turnarounds.
You can find out more
about Spas2b by contacting
Leslie Lyon directly at
1-519-585-0626,
[email protected],
or by visiting the website at
www.spas2b.com.
by: Leslie Lyon
Name of Spa: Anne Maaden Cosmetic Laser & Day Spa
Opened since: January 2009
Hours of Operation: Tuesday 9-5 Wednesday 9-7
Thursday 9-9 Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-3
Type of Spa: Day Spa and Medical Spa
Size of Spa: 1000 sq ft.
Number of Employees: 8
Number of Treatment Rooms: 4
Types of Treatments offered: Full Traditional and
Medical Spa treatments, including: nails; facials; body
treatments; massage; waxing and laser hair removal;
microdermabrasion; photofacials; chemical peels; skin
tightening; cellulite and stretch mark treatments; acne
treatments.
Business Stats:
Spa Management Education: Spas2b Inc.
Software Program used: SalonSpa Ware
Staff Compensation Method: Hourly
Product Lines used: Jurlique, Nubar, Colore Science,
and Elta MD
Top 3 selling services: Anne Maaden Signature
Biodynamic Facial; Microdermabrasion; Express
Manicure & Pedicure
Contact Information:
1460 Gordon Street South
Guelph, Ontario
N1L 1C8
519-767-3331
[email protected]
www.annemaaden.com
Y
our valued advice to those opening/operating a spa:
Make sure you give careful consideration to
the market you are establishing your business
in, as it relates to the community. Guelph is a very
environmentally friendly community and one of the
first cities in Canada to create a very extensive
recycling program. We gave careful consideration to
exactly what we wanted our business to be in order to
compliment the needs and culture of the residents of
Guelph. Our efforts to establish the only Green Spa in
the area has weighed heavily on our clients choice to
come to our spa for their services.
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Spa Story:
A labour of love. The Anne Maaden Spa was dreamt of
long before it was established. A dynamic motherdaughter team that longed to open a business together,
with a mission to complement their strengths, while
helping people to feel good about themselves.
The idea first came to open a spa on those motherdaughter pampering days. Whether it was a good or
bad experience, the duo knew they could offer an
exceptional concept for clients. After Natalie
graduated from the University of Western Ontario in
2004, her and her Mother Carol, an entrepreneur at
heart, attended a medical aesthetics show and fell in
love with the idea of providing solid treatments with
long lasting results. Anne Maaden Cosmetic and Laser
Centre in Milton Ontario was established in the fall of
2004. Knowing that there was a surplus of spas in the
area, Carol & Natalie found their niche market in laser
services. After extensive laser training, the pair was
ready to offer medical grade technology under the
direction of a physician. Clients with longstanding
concerns and embarrassing issues were now able to
have safe, effective and long lasting results.
What has made Anne Maaden stand apart from all the
rest is their level of education that can be relayed to
each client as they come through the door. An
extensive consultation and medical history is done so
that clients can make a well informed decision,
regardless of where they choose to have their
treatments done. 5 years into the Milton location,
LESLIE’S PICK
longed for the atmosphere of a more traditional spa.
The laughter that comes with a girls night of mani’s and
pedi’s; the nervous bride that comes in the day before
her wedding; prom day; and of course those special
mother-daughter afternoons that prompted the love and
devotion towards Anne Maaden.
Currently living in Guelph, it was only natural that the
second location would be opened there. Living on the
south end, a newly developed area, Natalie realized that
a spa/laser and cosmetic centre would do well. Carol
being an entrepreneur, rode through the negative
comments of opening a business in a down turn
economy and the two found their space. Learning from
the past layout of their other clinic, Carol designed the
quaint space to maximize the working areas. Decorated
as they would their home, the spa is cozy, warm and
tranquil. The relaxation room provides an area for
clients to rest and sip on organic tea until they are
adequately relaxed; there is no pressure to leave this
space after a certain time frame. Clients are encouraged
to stay as long as they wish.
After experiencing many other spas, Carol & Natalie
knew that they wanted to make theirs unique.
The goal: To provide top notch treatments and
customer service in a space that protects both their
client’s well-being, as well as the earth’s
Environmentally friendly construction options were
chosen such as: on demand water heaters, low VOC
paints, energy efficient light bulbs with individual light
switches (so unused rooms could be turned off), and
eco-friendly flooring.
The efforts in producing a “green” space did not stop
at construction. Products introduced in the spa are
heavily weighed for their “green” capacity
Anne Maaden was firmly established as “the” place to
go for cosmetic treatments. Word of mouth referrals
have been the biggest marketing strategy they have, and
it shows. Clients come from all over the GTA to be
treated at this clinic.
In the fall of 2008, Carol & Natalie felt restless. They
loved what they were providing for the clients but they
Anne Maaden offers Nubar®, a carcinogenic free nail
polish, free of formaldehyde, toluene and phthalate; a
top hit with their pregnant clientele. All treatments are
done using Jurlique, an organic, paraben-free line based
out of Australia that boasts a biodynamic line strictly
grown from biodynamic farming. Treatments range
from Biodynamic anti-aging facials to herbal hot oil and
detoxifying mud wraps. Scents range from Lavender,
Rose, and Japanese Mint to Calendula, Citrus and
Chamomile.
The green capacity continues. When clients come in for
information about the spa, they will notice that all of the
print material is printed on 100% recycled paper.
Cleaning products are environmentally friendly; the
computer and printer at the front desk are energy star
rated; laundry is taken home to be done using the latest
in energy efficient washing and drying, and so on. As
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LESLIE’S PICK
new alternatives evolve, the owners vow to continue to
make earth friendly choices.
One look around the spa will demonstrate how much
this team strives to protect the earth.
Clients come for a wide range of services and are happy
at the long menu of treatments. A lady, who is treated
by her husband for a pedicure, can comfortably ask
questions about laser hair removal for her upper lip
while having her pedicure. Clients, who wish to be
pampered by a facial, can also inquire about laser
services to remove past sun damage permanently - they
truly appreciate finding out about treatments that they
didn’t know existed.
The day spa and the medical spa compliment each
other in a comfortable and convenient way; our
clients enjoy the convenience of all of their services
under one roof.
The Day Spa in Guelph has also been very well received
by Anne Maaden’s Milton and surrounding area
clientele; people are making the drive to Guelph as they
know the level of service that the business offers and are
impressed that such a green initiative exists. The spa
has also been very well received by the Guelph
community. The grand opening was held in April, with
the Mayor coming out to support this “Green Spa” and
the much-welcomed earth-friendly initiatives. To carry
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SPA CANADA MAGAZINE
on the tradition in expertise, Anne Maaden has hired
many new highly skilled staff to support the demand in
services, all of whom have been trained and tested to
perform services to the already established, impeccable
standards.
Every week the spa seems to evolve with new ideas and
opportunities. Of course, Carol being the entrepreneur
is already working on plans for expansion. The future
is very bright for the dynamic duo! With owning two
locations now, there are fewer afternoons spent getting
pampered, but the two are living their dream and
enjoying it together; the best gift any mother daughter
team could wish for. g