In an industry that’s always changing, you need to stay ahead of the trends.
Medspa clients are savvy shoppers who do their research. Being able to offer them treatments using the latest, most effective technology is key to the financial success of your business.
Acquiring the right technology and the right training for your team will help you stay one step ahead of trends and keep your clients happy and coming back for more.
Choosing the right technology for an aesthetic medical practice can be a daunting task. There’s lots to consider, so we’ve put together a few tips to get you started.
Check out the competition
It’s important to be aware of trends in the market, but if they aren’t relevant to your client base, you may end up buying a piece of equipment you don’t need. Avoid costly mistakes by first investigating what your competitors are offering. (See our blog: Secret Shopping Your Medspa Competition.)
Also, speak to sales reps about available technology and what’s likely to appear next in the treatments and services you’re considering.
Multi-purpose buy
You want to be on-trend with the treatments you’re offering, but you don’t want to be constantly buying new equipment. One option to consider is multi-treatment technology which allows you to deliver different treatments using one piece of equipment with different applicators.
Also, you may be able to update existing equipment with software changes and new training. This option is less time consuming and expensive than buying a new piece of equipment.
Calculate capacities
Make sure you’ve got the space for the equipment you’re buying and the rooms and tables you’ll need to deliver enough treatments to finance that equipment.
If you’re considering a multi-purpose piece of equipment, be aware that if it’s being used all day for one treatment, you won’t be able to use it for other treatments. If you’re only using it for one type of treatment, you may not be getting the maximum return on that piece of equipment.
You don’t want a piece of technology that’s capable of performing lots of different treatments but is only being used to do one thing. It may be more cost-effective to buy a single-purpose piece of equipment rather than one machine that does it all.
Before you buy, work out how many treatments you need to perform to pay off the equipment you want, and whether you have the capacity to perform the required amount.
Training day
Training is a key part of your medspa’s technology package. You want your team to be able to use the equipment safely and effectively, so that your clients achieve the results they want.
Before you buy, find out if training is included as part of the purchase price of any equipment. Satisfied clients are good for business, so it’s critical that your team know how to use the technology you bring in.
Whose job is it?
Another important thing to consider before you buy a piece of equipment is: who can use it? Each state has different regulations around who is legally allowed to perform certain treatments and who can use certain technology. If only a physician can perform a treatment, it may not be a cost-effective treatment for your medspa to offer. Understand the requirements of your state before you buy any equipment.
Budget, budget, budget
Last, but certainly not least, set your budget ahead of time. Calculate how many treatments you will need to perform over what time period to pay off the equipment before you need to upgrade or exchange it. Find out how long a device will last before an upgrade will be needed. With a better idea of life expectancy, you will be able to plan and budget for your next purchase.
Finally, ask about warranties, service plans, and post-sale support. Ideally, all of these will be included with your equipment purchase.
For more information about medspa technology and training strategy, contact the team at Acara Partners.