Spa Business Group
Spa Business Group offers a unique set of talent and skills in the spa marketplace; our principal partners, Barbara Walling and Stephanie Foy, have a combination of experience not typical in the industry. Barbara has forty plus years of experience in the salon and spa industry, serving as owner, developer, director and consultant. She brings a depth of knowledge of operations and service delivery that is rare in the industry. Stephanie, on the other hand, has experience in global business development, capacity building and performance management with clients across multiple industries - from crude oil and energy to public health and the arts - her experience and knowledge of organizational development and strategies for growth are exceptional and not found in most spa consultation enterprises.
In addition to the principals, Spa Business Group has an extensive network of industry experts and specialists that work collaboratively on projects as needed.
Spa Business Group is available to support your project each step along the way from the vision to the profitable operations. For existing enterprises that want to be more successful, we offer evaluation, developmental planning and consultation.
PARTNERS
Barbara Walling...
Barbara has over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her educational background includes national and international advanced training in cosmetology as well as advanced training in spa/salon management, personal development and image consultation. She is a licensed cosmetologist and is a recognized leader, educator, and entrepreneur in the spa/salon industry.
Barbara's professional experiences include salon owner, spa service director, and consultant. As a very successful salon owner, she surpassed national averages for profitability in the industry. She has made significant contributions to new and expanding spas and salons in the areas of marketing and business development, service and product selection and development, and staff training. She has received numerous awards for her work in the industry. Among these, are awards from the Haute Coiffure Francaise, Paris France and National Accreditation of Cosmetology Schools, Washington, DC.
She recently served as the Director of the Garden Spa at the Memorial Hermann HBU Wellness Center. She first served as the planning and design consultant for Memorial Hermann HBU Wellness Center and was recruited as the contract director prior to its opening. Prior to Memorial Hermann, she served as the developing consultant and director for the Moody Gardens Hotel Spa. During its three years in operation, under Barbara’s direction, the spa has distinguished itself as an attractive amenity for corporate and medical groups that often chose to host their meetings at Moody Gardens because of the personal and professional care they receive in planning and implementing their event. In addition, Barbara brought her vision for a holistic, integrated approach to well-being into the fore by working with others to create the first International Wellness Conference, that brought physicians, nurses and healthcare providers, spa and fitness professional, together with the consumers they serve, in a dynamic, interactive format that was unprecedented in its approach.
In her 40 years of experience, Barbara has embraced the principles of quality and leadership as part of her missions to facilitate change and promote wellness in the spa/salon environment. Her expertise in all facets of the spa /salon industry and her ability to guide others in their business development, makes Barbara a considerable asset in today's growing spa/salon industry.
She has a solid reputation for knowledge and expertise of the management and spa operations has made her a sought after consultant and coach to many spa directors and owners across the country. Barbara brings a hands-on knowledge of the industry that is not often found. She is accomplished in working with architects and designers to develop a spa that will both offer the ambience and luxury expected in a spa and maximize efficient space utilization, retail opportunities and ultimately ensure profitability.
Her experience in hiring, training, and developing staff have garnered her a reputation in the Houston-Galveston metropolitan area as an employer/director of choice. She has been instrumental in the development and placement of spa directors in various locations.
Stephanie Foy...
Stephanie brings an exceptional combination of skill and expertise to the team. She is recognized as an accomplished organization development and performance management consultant that maintains a focus on creating balance and wellbeing for the organization and the individual.
She serves the team as the project coordinator and will bring the talents and skills of the team to bear for and effective and timely project. She holds degrees in Business Management and Social Work from Texas A&M and University of Houston.
Stephanie's focus on organization development is creating conditions for increasing individual and organizational capacity for performance and success. Stephanie has worked with numerous organizations to develop and implement successful change and growth strategies. Her unusual approach to organization development recognizes that individual performance is the key to organization performance and is founded on a holistic philosophy of mind, body and sprit; helping people achieve their fullest potential through authentic personal and professional growth and development. Individuals can then make greater contributions in their relationships, the organizations they work in, and the communities in which they live when they experience a sense of balance and wellbeing.
She actively provides team and group facilitation. In addition, she has conducted numerous organizational assessments and comprehensive evaluations, providing a basis for strategic development and growth. She has facilitated many strategic planning and goals setting sessions as well as intensive staff development training and retreats. She has conducted extensive mystery shopper and customer satisfaction programs. Her clients have included salons and spas, healthcare organizations, restaurant and hospitality enterprises, government institutions, entrepreneurial organizations, global corporations and local nonprofits.
Stephanie has experience coordinating events for groups from 20 to 2000. She has created and managed every phase of a group experience from concept, program, budget, marketing, logistics, and analysis and evaluation. She has done event and conference management for a variety of groups and is skilled at bringing together people, often previously unknown to one another, for an experience that is renewing, refocusing and leaves them better prepared to return to their work, families and community.
Stephanie served as the Director of the Center for Organizational Research and Effectiveness at the University of Houston, working with faculty and staff to conduct research and implement progressive cultural change projects in a variety of settings. She trains in advanced leadership development for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services and is an invited speaker for professional groups and conferences. She has served in numerous positions of volunteer leadership in the Houston community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for University of Houston Alumni Organization.
DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
Spa Business Group is dedicated to helping you succeed in business. By offering specialized skills and industry knowledge, the consultants work collaboratively with the owner-operator and any other key decision-makers to ensure maximum success of the project and profitability of the spa. We seek to work with organizations from a holistic perspective of the business.
Our Performance Development Model is based on best practices of the spa industry as well as a leading edge practices in organization development. We offer a comprehensive approach to growing your organization. The model is based on the alignment of organizational philosophies and practices together with individual values and skills.
Practices
The Performance Development Model offers in-depth practices and experience for growing your business, whether you are just getting started or working to revitalize your existing operation. Within each component of the model, Spa Business Group will work with the client to clarify or develop three critical areas:
- Principle: the philosophy and rationale for the plan or action based
- Process and Procedure: what methods we will employ to ensure the desired outcomes
- People: defining roles and accountabilities for success
Results
Clients report significant results from their work with Spa Business Group. Some of those results include:
- Growth in revenues by up to 50% in one year
- Growth in profitability
- Significant cost savings on equipment
- Increased percentage of revenue from retail sales
- Improved attitude and performance of staff
- New ideas for marketing and customer development
- Significant savings from avoided mistakes in design, construction or remodeling
- Greater sense of direction
- Plan for growth
ENGAGEMENT
From spa concept to successful operations, we will work with the client to develop and design a scope of work that optimizes existing internal resources and utilizes Spa Business Group for best leverage and contribution.
Once the scope of work is determined and a fee schedule developed, a letter of agreement with payment terms is executed. Fees are typically billed and paid monthly.
Reasonable travel expense and per diem is the responsibility of the client. These expenses are billed monthly.
For more information, please contact 713.668.4515 or
email: spa-resources@sbcglobal.net