Firstly, we’d like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and profitable new year. We’d sing this greeting to you, but you probably wouldn’t be pleased with our singing.

Instead, we have this issue for you – it’s in tune with the season, especially the facial article which you’ll find berry special. In the body treatment article, we celebrate year-round body lighting spa rituals. What are they? Read on and we’ll enlighten you.

If you’re making a New Year’s resolution to improve your interpersonal relationships, we have some suggestions you’ll relate to. Giving gifts this year? We have some ideas to help you. And make sure you check out this month’s spotlight – we have a really special celebrity testimonial…

Have a comment about this month’s newsletter? Email us at editorial@techno-derm.com. Want to stay up-to-date on the latest Techno-Derm news and articles? Subscribe to our RSS feed today.

Maybe it’s the mistletoe, or the berry-laden wreaths adorning festive homes and shop window panes, but this holiday season is synonymous with berries.  If you’re looking for a healthy, seasonal addition to your spa menu, berries might be just the thing!

For one thing, berries have a myriad of health and beauty benefits.  Packed with vitamins and nutrients, they’re scientifically proven to help prevent cancer and heart disease, support liver and kidney health, strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.  Besides these wonderful health benefits, berries provide unparalleled anti-aging results – and by that I mean clear, glowing, radiantly youthful skin.  How do they do it?

Berries are rich in phytonutrients – naturally occurring plant compounds found in the peels and skins of fruits, veggies and berries. The edible skin and high skin-to-fruit ratios make berries the most concentrated source of phytonutrients around.  That matters because phytonutrients are rich in age-fighting antioxidants.  Antioxidants are the vitamins, minerals and enzymes that protect skin cells by scavenging and destroying altered oxygen compounds (free radicals) responsible for tissue damage.     

Not only are berries low in calories and incredibly healthy, they’re delicious.  This holiday season, you might want to consider serving cranberry, acai and goji berries as yummy juices.  Or you can offer fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries as a snack with water and berry teas – it’ll make your clients berry merry!

This season just wouldn’t be the same without the lights - it would be like hot cocoa without marshmallows - catastrophic!  This article will enlighten on some of the latest developments in spa body lighting treatments… the laser light kind.

You know, L.A.S.E.R., ‘light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation? Lasers, created via high-energy stimulation of substances (like crystals, liquid dyes and gases), produce a really intense light beam with variable wavelengths and are used to treat all kinds of skin problems. We’ll consider a few.

Laser hair removal is all the rage in spas.  What’s the best and brightest?  Hair removal lasers with built-in chilling applications and longer pulse durations (which mean deeper penetration and less harm to skin) are the best.  And now, there are hair removal lasers that mix wavelengths to treat diverse skin types and skin pigments with precision, too.

Infrared light laser devices are also becoming increasingly popular in spas.  They heat the dermis, causing the collagen to contract deep beneath skin for a temporary tightening effect.  Since the dermis is injured, extra collagen is produced to heal the damaged skin.  The newest developments in infrared lasers feature two beams of light for sequential delivery, which is supposed to be more effective and cause less surface damage. Either way, skin redness, swelling and the sensation of burning or itching may result. Long-term risks may also include scarring, increased or decreased skin pigmentation, infection and milia (skin bumps from blocked sweat glands.  For a 100% non-invasive, clinically proven treatment for lipolysis (fat burning), cellulite and body contouring, read about the FDA cleared Lipomassage treatment. 

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lasers, which produce light in blue, red and yellow wavelengths, are used to treat acne.  Oftentimes, LPG’s Facial Fitness revitalization treatments are combined with LED acne treatments as they cleanse and purify skin and from the inside, out.  Used together, LED and LPG Technologies can be very helpful in reducing pore size and improving skin tone and texture for a radiantly youthful and healthy-looking complexion. 

A new trend is in flashlamp-like pulsed dye lasers (PDL).  They’re used to treat vascular problems related to broken blood vessels, like spider veins, port wine stains, birthmarks, cherry angiomas, etc. The newest ones offer skin cooling to limit discomfort and prevent bruising.  The future of vascular lasers is really bright; so bright, in fact, that Techno-Derm is investigating distributing them in 2009. Interested? Call us (888) 892-4588 and we’ll tell you about it.

The Marketplace: New Year Relationship Resolutions

We know your New Year’s resolution includes creating deeper, more meaningful relationships with loved ones - but what about clients?  Cultivating close, personal relationships with clients means unwavering customer loyalty for years to come.  Here’s how to do it:

• Create a client database –  You probably have basic contact info. and required notes on Lipomassage and Facial Fitness evaluations, but you should also include personal info. like health, beauty and wellness goals; career; hobbies; family; pets; fav treatments; personal interests; etc. When clients visit, print your ‘cheat sheet’ and be ready to chat. Abhor computers?  That’s no excuse; use a notebook.   

• Be available all the time – Do you have an after-hours contact, like a home or cell phone? Experts suggest adding it as a way for clients to comment on services. Although it dramatically boosts confidence, you’ll get few calls – perfect.  

• Make handwritten notes – This includes thank you’s, birthdays, congrats, updates on new LPG treatments or products, etc. Oh, and be sure to add a thoughtful ‘p.s.’ to inquire about your last conversation.  Most likely, you’ll get a personal call back.

• Make phone calls – Make regular ‘Hey, what’s up?  Here’s what’s going on...’ calls.

• Ditch the answering system – Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using automated phone systems.  Experts say they alienate clients because theyr’e impersonal and cold.

• Give a tour – Make new clients feel welcome by giving them a tour of your place and introducing your staff. It’ll make your spa feel homey and comfortable on future visits.

• Send gifts –  Send gifts for holidays and on special occasions. Besides building goodwill, they bring clients in for visits and sell your services. Read our ‘How To’ section for good gift ideas. 

Offering great gift packages will not only make your clients lives a little easier – it will ultimately increase your business.  But how do you do it? Here are some ideas to help you – and your clients - give great LPG gifts.
 

• Give clients in the form of a free LPG Treatment of their choice in exchange for spending x number of dollars over the course of the year.  Not only will you get the client in the office to redeem the gift (and expose them to other holiday specials), you’ll be introducing them to treatment offerings they might not have considered before.

• You can also sell the gift of relaxation by packaging an Endermologie treatment and some nice massage oils or scented candles for a special price.  It’s perfect for any occasion – but especially during the exhausting holiday shopping season. 

• Facial Fitness is always very popular for big events, like holiday parties or New Years.  Package a facial treatment with a Facial Fitness treatment or a dermatological grade skincare like Clayton Shagal for a discounted price.

• Or, you might sell vouchers in incremental amounts, rather than selling specific LPG Treatments. That way recipients can pick and choose treatments – and they can upgrade the gift certificate and/or combine it with a variety of other services.

• Dress the gift up in an eye-catching display with pretty bows and a personalized greeting card because the gift represents your spa.  And make to include your full contact information and directions because the client may be new.