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Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 3.3 | Vendor Partnerships

March 23, 2017

The relationship between spas and their vendors can go far beyond the simple provision and purchasing of products. The relationship is one that can develop into a partnership—a partnership that is of equal value to both the vendor and the spa. When this happens, the vendor goes from being a seller to being a resource partner.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 3.4 | Private Label

March 23, 2017

While 42 percent of spas within the industry have private label products, there is a direct correlation between the size of the spa and whether it carries private label products.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4 | Inventory Management

March 27, 2017

At the Urban Spa …

Reuben laughed confidently at the retail consultant’s question. “Of course I can tell you our top 20 selling items,” he said.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4.1 | Supporting the Plan

March 27, 2017

Once spa professionals understand how to establish a solid retail plan that incorporates product classifications and revenue goals, the next step is learning how to support the plan. This chapter presents the essential concepts and tools for effective retail inventory management. Many of these concepts and methodologies are second nature to those working in traditional retail operations, but are not so intuitive for many spa professionals.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4.2 | Basic Retail Management

March 27, 2017

Two key concepts are fundamental to all retail management: turnover and stock-to-sales ratio.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4.3 | Advanced Retail Management

March 27, 2017

Basic retail management concepts can help spa retail professionals improve their inventory management methodology by implementing the basic techniques of min and max order levels and keeping the stock-to-sales ratios within industry standards. This will certainly improve their retail effectiveness but it does have limitations in terms of how precisely it can hold the operation to its retail plan.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4.4 | Manual Recordkeeping

March 27, 2017

An important step in monitoring the retail plan requires posting to the planning format each month’s actual sales, markdowns, and other activity. 

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 4.5 | Shrinkage

March 27, 2017

Simply stated, shrinkage is the difference between the inventory the spa has on hand and what it should have on hand. In the retail industry, an estimated 1.54 per cent of annual sales losses are due to inventory shrinkage. According to the 2004 National Retail Security Survey, specialty apparel is the category with the highest shrinkage, at 2.93 percent, while department stores run around 1.51 percent. But where is the merchandise going? Losses break down as follows: 47 percent internal/employee theft, 34 percent shoplifting, 14 percent paperwork errors, and 5 percent vendor fraud.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 5 | Evaluating Financial Performance

March 27, 2017

At the Urban Spa …

Reuben, the manager of the Urban Spa, hung up the phone in frustration. Fiona Matthews, the owner of the Urban Spa, a day spa and salon, was demanding that Reuben explain why the cost of goods sold in April was 56.5 percent when it was budgeted to be 50 percent.

Retail Management for Spas | Chapter 5.1 | Retail Sales Percentage of Total Spa Revenue

March 27, 2017

All of the information needed for financial evaluation can be found on the retail department schedule in Exhibit 1. This departmental schedule covers revenue, adjustments, cost of goods sold, gross margin, direct expenses, and the final income/loss departmental contribution. This is a generic schedule designed to fit all spas; individual spas will have modified schedules to meet their own needs and requirements. Several of these items are evaluated monthly.

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