Environ - help!

[Lexminikins]

We are setting up a new business and have spent a fortune on CACI, Lasers, Sterex and lots of other equipment.

We were set to have Environ to compliment our CACi machine. We are having issues with Eniviron at the moment, we have gone through the rep visit and the training and only now have they told us with need the machine for £5k or they will not now supply!! They are also extremely pressuring and dictating various terms. We also do not take the pressure tactics of their demos - i.e taking a £20 deposit before the demo can start. Yes it is redeemable and refundable but our clients will not like this pressure tactic.

Although you cannot argue with the results of the products their support and marketing seems off key. We don't have enough pennies for the machine and we are about to launch soon.

Not happy. What have your experiences with Environ been?

[squidgernetball]

Hi, I've posted on here previously how pleased I am with Environ. I took it on 8 months ago, and my takings have flown. The open day is great - I take a £10 deposit and have had no complaints. The day was fab, and I've booked 2 more. As for the machine - I saw the rep 2 days after the rules had changed, and had to buy the machine. I had no other machine, so it was all very new to me, but best thing I ever did. Reps have been fab, training is fab, and products are just brilliant. Up to you what to do regarding the products, but I have had no regrets! I ama one man band, so the outlay for me, and the risk was huge, but rewards have been great. Hope that helps!

[Beansy]

I guess in retrospect that you perhaps could have asked whether the contract was conditional and / or asked to view their t's and c's before you committed to training etc. Hindsight isnt very helpful though....!

Taking a refundable deposit against treatments is very common so personally I don't have an issue with this.

I think Environ are excellent - the training, the products, my Rep, delivery, the results - can't really fault them (aside from the fact you cant see how much you have left of the products due to the design of the bottles!), I'm afraid.

[cherrybaby]

Hi Lexminikins,

I too fell in love with Environ when I did their 2 day product training after first checking that they a)provided to mobile therapists and b)didn't have an extortionate minimum opening order. These were both key for me so I booked the training. 4 weeks later when I did it was when they dropped the bombshell about needing to take on the machine. To say I was mortified is an understatement. I don't think anyone can deny the results, they speak for themselves and I would have had no problems at all in offering the treatments or retailing their products to my client base but needing to take the machine made it out of my reach. I was really annoyed and raised it with them but the only thing they would do was give a 3 month grace period to get the machine as a gesture of goodwill. Still no good, so I am still looking for another facial skin care range to offer. After seeing Environ, it's very hard to find something that compares.

[brandy1]

From what I have read, we are all in agreement that the products and results are super. The problem seems to be with the IIAA and their tactics. I tried to speak to someone in Cape Town about the machine - I already have galvanic and sonophoresis but on two separate machines. Why do I need to buy another one. It was made clear to me that unless I bought the machine that I would not be able to take on their products. I would really like to know whose policy it is that we have to buy the machine - IIAA or Environ. I went to the seminar in April and Dr Des said during it that anyone not using the machine on their clients was doing them an injustice. Do we assume from this that the policy is made by the IIAA and not Environ. I would really like to get to the bottom of it. £5,000 is a lot of money - I work from home and am a one man band. My product line I have now is not bringing in many clients. I simply cannot afford another costly mistake.

[cherrybaby]

But all the photos that you see and friends that I have that use the products have ALL been achieved without the machine so the statement that you're doing you clients an injustice is ridiculous! I've no doubt that it "enhances" the experience but surely you would just then charge a premium when doing a facial WITH the machine over the facial WITHOUT. They're just turning onto Dermalogica by alienating many capable therapists with this new policy and in turn, many potential clients.

[brandy1]

I do both manual and electrical facials using my regular products with some additional products that need to be used to conduct the current. I have to say that the result is better and the results last longer according to my clients. It is definitely the enhanced result that Environ is looking for.

What I don't care for is the policy that therapists are forced into buying the machine in order to be able to be an Environ salon. It should be our choice. Note: In my case, as already mentioned I believe, I have both galvanic and sonophorisis (ultrasound) albeit on two other good quality machines I already have. In my opinion it is morally wrong to insist that I buy their machine as I don't need it. Good business for IIAA. I wonder what the mark-up on the machine is? And of course the rep will then get her commission. Sorry to sound cynical.

[squidgernetball]

I can see everyones point re the machine. As I didn't have any machines, it wasn't too awful, but there are plenty of companies out there who have their own criteria. Plenty of companies will only supply you with 2 or more treatment rooms AND 2 full time therapists etc. With plenty of other companies you also have to buy their machine. The way Environ told it to me, is that clients can have a treatment without the machine, and the results aren't nearly so good, so they wanted to have the same results for clients wherever they went. I was meant to see the rep just before the switch to machine only, and my appt got cancelled and she came just after the rules had changed. In a way I was glad, as it forced me to invest in my business. I do before and after photos as on some clients the results are good after just 1 or 2 treatments. Maybe they should make this commitment clearer tho!!!