July 14, 2004

JULIE VAN AMEYDE
Vice President and General Manager
Spa Julianna
Plymouth (Detroit Metro), Michigan, United States

Julie Van Ameyde has a Bachelors Degree in Management and Economics and a minor in Marketing from Oakland University.  Prior to co-founding Spa Julianna, she was involved in high tech enterprise software sales and marketing partnering with Fortune 500 companies.

How long has your spa been in operation?

We opened in 2002.

What was the inspiration for starting your spa, and what the inspiration for the name of your spa or group of spas?

For more than a decade, I worked in a high stress, corporate, male-dominated high-tech environment, which required in some cases 3 weeks of travel in a month.  I was finding that this type of lifestyle was taking on a toll on my personal life, and that of my colleagues. I visited many spas during my travels, and knew that we needed a place in the Detroit area to get away for the day.  Many of the spas in the area were considered salons with limited spa treatments.    In the back of my mind, I always wanted to open a spa which catered to the busy professional, as a means to relieve stress.  Then, on 9/11, I lost a couple of my friends and colleagues.  After that event, I knew I needed to make that change in my career.  It was just after 9/11 that I was able to find the right partner and open Spa Julianna.

What was your biggest challenge getting the spa opened?

My biggest challenge was finding hospitality-driven staff members willing to check their ego at the door and work in a team environment. 

What is your signature or most popular treatment?

Our most popular signature treatment is our exclusive Carita Facial.

Intense Hydrating Rénovateur - Original Beauty - $170.00.  Designed for thirsty skin, this treatment meets the skin’s most fundamental need for moisture. It not only deeply moisturizes, it corrects the inevitable consequences of dehydration, fragile, taut, dull-looking skin. A delicate beauty treatment that maintains softness, well-being and healthy looking glow.

Following the cleansing and relaxing phases, the skin is massaged with Le Rénovateur. Next a 3 Sources Moisturizing Mask is applied, and then its benefits are prolonged by applying the Gel aux 3 Sources through a relaxing modelage to the face, neck and décolletage. Crème aux 3 Sources provides a finishing touch of beauty.

What are your personnel policies, issues, or training challenges? 

All of our staff are employees.  We have a full set of protocols for each and every one of our 90+ services.  We do on-site training and our staff must pass a skill certification prior to working with guests.

We provide a guaranteed hourly salary plus commission on both products and services.  Our benefits package for full time employees includes health, dental, vision, paid vacation and holiday pay.

What is a pet peeve in operating your spa?

My biggest pet peeve is guests not treating my staff as professionals and not respecting appointment times by coming in late. We try and accommodate everyone, however we will not make other guests late for their services.

What has been the most rewarding or enjoyable experience with your spa? 

To have a spa where my staff works happily as a team keeping their eye on one common goal: client satisfaction.  I love that my clients have become part of our family to the point they invite us to their homes for dinner.  They feel they have a stake-hold in our success.

What trends do you see coming, or, what has been the biggest change in the spa industry for you?

Our spa guests are very savvy about spa treatments and the health benefits they receive from them. We find that the better educated a guest is about spa services, the better we are able to assist them in the results they want to achieve.

What would you most like to add to, change, or improve in your spa?

Absolutely nothing. I am so happy with the construction and design of the spa!  I was the general contractor and I had a blast during the design and building phases.

What favorite tip, words of wisdom, or advice would you like to share with your spa and wellness peers?

Be organized!  Make sure you set up a full set of spa protocols for treatments for your spa treatment team and front desk staff.  Make sure you have staff meetings and management meetings weekly.  You can not communicate too much!
 

Gleaming Spa Boutique
Spa Julianna, Plymouth, MI

 

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