Remember that line "life is like a box of chocolates"?

Well, I use that type of analogy for my treatments, I liken my treatment experience to a meal in a posh restaurant.

Lets look at visiting a posh restaurant as a sensory experience and compare it to your signature treatment.

Ease of booking, when you booked did it instill confidence in their ability to deliver you a table at the time you wanted?

On arrival, did the venue look warm and inviting, and the place to be?
Was you greeted by the maitre de.

Were you escorted to the bar/waiting area and handed a menu.

On looking at the menu, did anything leap out at you? Make your mouth water or intrigue you? Did the waiter suggest accompaniments to make your meal more rounded? If you weren't sure of something, did they explain it to you so that you felt you had made the right choice?

When your table is ready, were you escorted to the table so you knew exactly where to go? What did you do with your coat? Was the table dressed appropriately, did it look clean and inviting?

Now is the fun part -

The meal arrives,

How is it placed infront of you?

Look at the presentation;

does it look like a piece of art?
does it make your mouth water?

How does it smell?

and finally

How does it taste?

After you have eaten, are you given time to relax over a glass of wine, or asked to sit in the bar or are you expected to pay and leave?

So, going out for a meal isn't just about the food, its about the whole experience. To me, a successful meal is that the experience has ticked all of the boxes.

Look at your signature treatment/your favourite or most popular treatment.
Can you tick the boxes above?
Would you say that coming to you for a treatment is a sensory experience?

Does your venue look warm and inviting?
Is the receptionist warm, welcoming and able to give the client relevant information.
Does your description of the treatment sound heavenly or is it downright confusing?
Do you suggest alternatives or additions if you think they warrant it? Ie if a client came for a detox treatment, would you suggest various treatments for salon and home use?
Do you escort the client into your treatment room, give them a place to put their coat, bag, clothes?
Do you tell them how to prepare themselves for treatment and where to sit/lie?
Does your treatment area look warm and inviting, does it look spa like or does it look ordinary?

When you deliver your signature treatment, does it tick the sensory experience boxes:

* smell nice (SMELL)
* feel nice (TOUCH)
* look nice (SIGHT)
* is their accompanying sounds or gentle music playing to aid relaxation (SOUND)
* most treatments do not involve taste as such, but is their a way you could include this in your refreshments at the end of the treatment? A slice of lemon in a glass of water, a herbal drink, a hot chocolate? (TASTE)

At the end of the treatment, do you give your client time to relax in the waiting area or time to ask questions and re-book.

Simple touches like scented candles, relaxation music, drinks at reception and a touch of undivided attention from your therapist makes a treatment an experience, hopefully one that the client would like to repeat.