65. The Best Investment I ever made in my spa

65. The Best Investment I ever made in my spa

Sixty-five spa owners answered this question in a Facebook group and almost all of them got it wrong. Not because their answers weren't valid, but because they were focused on the wrong thing entirely. Equipment, marketing, education, mentorship, those can all be great investments. But if you're not auditing what you've already spent, you're just throwing money at problems and hoping something sticks. In this episode, Amanda breaks down exactly how to evaluate your past investments using real numbers instead of feelings, which categories of spending actually move the needle in a spa business, and a simple three-question framework to use before you spend another dollar. Whether you're a solo esthetician or running a full team, this episode will change how you think about every purchase you make going forward. Because the gap for most spa owners isn't skill. It's strategy. Ready to dive deeper into team leadership and the 90-Day Employee Reset? Register for the master class [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Asp1e3fQRB6vgSwus-kQ7A#/registration] www.Amandaluisaconsulting.com [https://www.Amandaluisaconsulting.com]

64. What Q2 Taught Me

In this quarterly check-in episode, Amanda pulls back the curtain on exactly what happened inside her spa in Q2: what she implemented, what surprised her, and what she's building toward in Q3. From finally raising her prices (and why literally nobody complained), to launching Monday morning huddles that her team actually looks forward to, to creating a hybrid esthetician-support staff role she's never tried before, this episode is packed with honest, practical insight you can actually use. If you've been putting off a price increase, unsure how to structure your team meetings, or trying to figure out how to hire strategically without burning yourself out, this one's for you. Plus: a surprisingly powerful mindset shift about the difference between being overwhelmed and being overstimulated, and the simple daily ritual that changed everything. www.Amandaluisaconsulting.com [https://www.Amandaluisaconsulting]

63. Client Retention Trouble Shooting

If your books feel inconsistent month to month, the problem probably isn't your marketing, it's your retention. In this episode, we break down a distinction that changes everything: total client retention versus new client retention. These two numbers tell completely different stories about your spa business, and most owners are only looking at one of them, if any. You'll learn what healthy benchmarks actually look like (80% and 50%, and yes, there's a reason for both), why new clients are quietly slipping through the cracks, and the exact systems that keep them coming back, whether you're a solo practitioner or leading a team. This is the episode that turns a frustrating pattern into a fixable one. www.Amandaluisaconsulting.com [https://www.Amandaluisaconsulting.com]

62. {Rebrand} SPA Business Podcast

You've been here from the beginning or maybe you just found us. Either way, this episode is for you. This week marks the final episode of Bougie and Boring and the official launch of the SPA Business Podcast. Same host. Same philosophy. Same commitment to the systems that build profitable spa businesses. But the new name? It means something. SPA stands for Strategy, Profit, and Automation, the three pillars that have always been at the heart of this show, and the foundation of every thriving spa business. In this episode, you'll hear the story behind the original name, why the show has grown beyond it, and exactly what's changing and what isn't. Every past episode stays up. Your subscription carries over automatically. And the content you've counted on is only getting deeper. This is not a reinvention. It's clarity. And it starts right now.

61. {Part 3/3} Is Your Team Set Up to Succeed?

You've made it through 90 days. Now what? The way you close this reset matters just as much as how you opened it. Today we're covering the three possible outcomes, how to tell the difference between genuine improvement and someone who just performed well for 90 days, and how to close the conversation with integrity no matter what happens. You'll learn: * The three possible outcomes of a 90-day reset and why each one deserves a thoughtful, intentional conversation at the end. * What successful improvement actually looks like beyond the numbers, and how to celebrate progress while making it the new standard moving forward. * What to do when someone improves in some areas but still struggles in others. * Why partial improvement is often the most common outcome and what it can teach you about your team and your leadership. * The leadership shift that happens when you stop avoiding hard conversations and start following through on expectations. * Why letting someone go after months of support, clarity, and coaching is not a failure. * How to tell the difference between real growth and someone simply doing the bare minimum to get through the reset. * The questions to ask yourself before making a final decision, including reviewing notes, looking for patterns, and trusting what you've observed over time. * Why clear is kind, and how being direct can actually be the most respectful thing you do for someone. * How to approach a separation conversation with professionalism, compassion, and confidence. * Why the way you handle a dismissal matters just as much as the decision itself because your entire team is watching. * What to say to the rest of your team afterward so they feel informed, supported, and secure. * How to create a culture where people are treated with kindness, expectations are clear, and accountability is part of the standard, not the exception. Most importantly: arriving at the decision to separate from a team member through a 90-day reset does NOT mean you have failed. It means you gave that person clarity, support, and a real opportunity to improve. And if they couldn't do it, that's information worth acting on. Before your final conversation, review your check-in notes from the last 90 days. Look at all those patterns. Look for moments where their growth showed up naturally versus when it felt forced. Then trust that picture. This is Part 3 of 3. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, go back and listen. They're the foundation for everything we've covered today.