As the professional skin care industry moves into the middle of the decade, it has become clear that the recession’s negative impact is fading, and the industry is poised for growth and adaptation. In the early 2000s, the spa industry was in an exploratory phase, seeking the next big thing in the industry, and gleaning inspiration from different fields and different countries. Then, the Great Recession took place and this exploration ceased, with skin care professionals and spa owners reigning in investments in the future to concentrate on the immediate need of staying afloat through the tumultuous waters of the unpredictable economic climate.
Beginning in 2014—and continuing on into 2015 and beyond—professionals are starting to feel the freedom and security afforded by a more stable economy, resulting in an exciting time in the spa industry ... one that will form the future of the profession. Due to a variety of factors—including continued regulatory battles, a growing emphasis on attractiveness and its affect on professional success, and boomers retiring and seeking wellness-based health alternatives—the spa industry is facing diversification on a level that it hasn’t experienced in the past. More and more, the generic day spa that offers basic facials and massage services is changing. Owners are beginning to choose a focus and build a targeted strategy to reach a particular type of client, providing specific services—often either medical spa or wellness—for clients who know their goals. This increasing customization is resulting in an interesting growth dynamic in the profession as a whole, and is the beginning of an industry transformation that, if allowed to evolve in a stable economic climate, will result in an industry with two equally strong arms—medical and wellness.
As this evolution begins, some very interesting trends are currently taking place that will continue to grow in 2015.

Read more of Cathy Christensen's article on the SKININC Spa Business Blog.