Day Spa Market Shifts in 2008

Pink Papaya owner Ryan Epp said his spa clients are still seeking services despite troubled economy, but may increase the time between trips.

“The frequency may decline, not their type of services,” said Epp, who owns the Pink Papaya along with wife Miranda Epp. “We continue to see 8 percent to 10 percent annual growth over previous years.”

The Epps subdivided some space at the spa to add “experience” rooms where customers can sample scrubs and lotions, and have also added airbrush tanning and non-chemical plant peels.

Epp was one of just two owners on the Business Journal’s annual list of day spas (see the list here) to add employees during 2008, growing from 26 to 27 and landing at No. 4. The other, East Meets West Spa & Salon, went from 6 employees to 16 as owner Helena Gadison made her long-awaited move to a permanent, 10,000-SF home on Steele Boulevard in Fayetteville.

Gadison was originally supposed to be at the Bellafont development and spent the last year as a limited service operation out of the Legacy Building in downtown Fayetteville.

The area had a net loss after the closings of Luxe spa in Rogers and Nu-U Spa in Fayetteville. Nu-U was No. 1 on the 2008 list with 60 employees, but has since closed amid lawsuits and counterclaims by the owners. Former Nu-U partner Jason Fechter opened Sanctuary Spa at the old home of Big 8 Tire on North College in Fayetteville with 20 employees.