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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