Preciosa Spa's options

THE need to relax transcends borders. Regardless of where people live, the primary reasons spa-goers visit spas are to relax and relieve/reduce stress. The number of spa and wellness centers that have sprouted in the city during the recent years gives Dabawenyos different options as far as quality service and budget are concerned.

Near the Madrazo fruit stands on the corner of Ponciano where the Philippine Airlines held office, a new spa shop opened its doors on April 28.

Aptly called Preciosa, meaning "precious," 27-year-old Jocelyn Danila said it's the third branch she and her sister opened in three years. The first branch in Madrazo compound was born in 2010. A year after, they opened the Ilustre branch.

According to Danila, the newly opened spa is now the main branch after she decided to close the Madrazo shop.

Preciosa houses 14 beds for skin and body treatment and massage, and eight couches for foot and hand treatment services with around 22 staff to attend to every client's need.

Danila's passion for spa and wellness is traced back to her stint as operations manager of Dr. Joe Mendez clinic at SM City Davao industry for six years.

When she resigned in 2008, she ventured into a different field but the fulfillment of giving spa and beauty services lured her back to spa industry.

Danila said, "Na miss nako ang magpa gwapa sa mga clients."

Since they opened, she said, they have been having an average of 30 clients a day. A figure that Danila is surprised about because most entrepreneurs in related fields would say that a business' take off would be felt after the first three months.

The encouraging momentum has inspired Danila all the more to give optimum customer satisfaction.

For Danila, venturing into a business should be also based on passion.

"Hindi dahil may pera makikisabay na sa uso. In spa or skin care, a businessman has a big obligation because it is full time management," she said.

She said managing a spa business is a very hard task involving a lot of commitment on very important elements--how to develop effective systems for running the spa business on a daily basis; setting the spa's hours of operation, working with spa employees, to determine the staffing needs of the spa; setting sales goals and keeping spa employees motivated, hygiene requirements for spas; establishing a maintenance schedule for equipment; setting prices for the spa's service and developing packages to encourage clients to buy more; developing promotional materials to market the spa business; choosing a brand of products to use and sell; ways to attract spa clients through advertising and free publicity; and how to get repeat business from the spa clients.

At Preciosa Spa, Danila said clients are assured of customer-oriented services.

It is not just all about money. She said they would bend their rates according to the clients' budget.

"Here, it is not a highway robbery. When a client enters our spa, our staff discuss with them the services and rates and the give them the options."

"Sometimes gina pautang pa namo," she added.

Preciosa offers a range of complete programs to help restore harmony, beauty and wellness. It is open Mondays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for skin care and until midnight for massage services.

For the budget conscious, Danila said their daily promo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. offers almost half the price on facial services, chemical peel, ultrasonic (a nonsurgical face and neck lift), Diamond Peel, Waxing and other services like warts removal, nail art, massage, foot spa, hand paraffin, among others.

Danila said Preciosa is here to stay to make a difference for happy and revisiting clients.