Our founder, Gina Rivera recently landed a coveted spot on being named to a top 10 list of women making waves in the franchise world. To read the full article, please click here.
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How To Stay Organized and On Top of the Holiday Season
It’s easy to get overwhelmed during the holiday season. If you are a lifestyle professional, you know all too well of the craziness this season brings! On my weekly Facebook Live conversations with Jennifer Sapanaro from Salon Centric, we discussed the top tips to staying organized and on top of your December!
1. Utilize the holidays to get with your clients and make sure all of their information is up to date.
2. Take inventory of what you have on hand product-wise and get organized, look for intro kits.
3. Send appointment reminders because this is a busy time.
4. Try to stick to your schedule and not run yourself ragged.
5. It’s okay to say no and keep yourself healthy.
6. Be mindful when sitting down and making your schedule.
Gina’s Platform can help you with ALL of the above. Download my app on Itunes App Store or Google Play today and see the benefits for yourself! End your year and prep for the new one with organization and efficiency.
XOXO,
Gina
Gina Rivera
Beauty Icon and Expert
Gina Rivera skyrocketed to success when the company she founded in 2007, Phenix Salon Suites, became the fastest-growing salon suite company in the beauty industry. With more than 300 locations nationally and international expansion occurring in the UK, Entrepreneur Magazine named Phenix Salon Suites a Top 500 Franchise list seven years running.
All-in-One Gina’s Platform Will Automatically Run your Beauty + Wellness Business
What’s the best part of your job? If you said something along the lines of, “being creative and making meaningful connections with my clients” we’re talking to you.
Sure, scheduling still has to be done and payments need to be tracked, but if simply running your business is taking all the joy out of having it, time to call in some help.
Gina’s Platform is a personal lifestyle resource center connecting beauty, grooming, fitness, fashion, personal care and wellness professionals with their current – and future – clients. This free, all-in-one business management app helps salon owners, beauticians and wellness professionals tackle everything from scheduling and communications to marketing and payments so you can focus on actually growing your business, not just running it.
Let’s do a deeper dive to see how this business app for beauty and wellness professionals is revolutionizing personal care services!
Make a Personal Connection with Current Clients
Does Sarah have a gluten intolerance or latex allergy? Does Erin always go a shade darker during the winter months? Track it all in Gina’s Platform’s organized, comprehensive Customer Relationship Management system.
From client records for formulas to preferences and personal info, you’ll know everything there is to know about your clients. You can even send personalized messages like birthday and holiday greetings through the app.
Trust us, they’ll be touched you made them a priority!
Take the Headache out of Scheduling
Everybody’s busy, but there has to be a better way to coordinate schedules. Our beauty and wellness scheduling app lets you easily and instantly drive existing and new clients to make appointments, all while keeping your schedule perfectly organized.
Want the app to send automatic appointment confirmations and reminders? Done! Wish your clients could simply claim an open appointment on your calendar without involving you? Simply publish your availability and allow your clients to slot themselves in.
No more back and forth with Stephanie or trying to remember if you need to see Summer every six weeks or six months. The advanced appointment scheduling tool does it all.
Collect Payments in a Snap
You work hard for the money. Gina’s Platform makes sure you keep more of it, and keep it organized.
Take POS and invoice payments with a credit card fee of just 2.5%– the lowest in the industry! No contracts, no fees, a free reader, and no fine print.
Track cash and check payments too, using our revenue tracking and inventory management tool to prevent any shortfalls. Come taxtime you’ll be grateful you did!
Grow Your Business
You’re awesome. Why not give even more clients the opportunity to experience your personal service?
Gina’s platform has over 90 million potential users and a huge selection of free marketing templates to help connect you with customers looking for your services.
We’ll make you look like the polished, professional business you are with a Gina’s Platform website, free social media tools, and optional “Gina’s Deals” promotions to help you attract new clients.
Want to cut the time it takes to run your business and focus on nurturing it instead? Try Gina’s Platform for free. It’s the first-ever beauty and wellness business management app and the last one you’ll need to take your business to the next level.
Visit ginasplatform.com or download the Gina’s Platform mobile app to get started.
Gina Rivera
Beauty Icon and Expert
Gina Rivera skyrocketed to success when the company she founded in 2007, Phenix Salon Suites, became the fastest-growing salon suite company in the beauty industry. With more than 300 locations nationally and international expansion occurring in the UK, Entrepreneur Magazine named Phenix Salon Suites a Top 500 Franchise list seven years running.
Using a Personal Stylist: Not Just for the Rich & Famous!
“I have nothing to wear!,” said every woman, ever. It’s the age-old story of girl meets dress, girl falls out of love with dress, girl does a complete wardrobe overhaul. But what if you hate shopping? Live in yoga pants? Can’t seem to break out of your t-shirt and jeans uniform?
Enter: your personal stylist. Once reserved for celebs and the ultra-rich, personal stylists are now as accessible as your cell phone!
Seriously, it’s a new decade. Time to improve your confidence and put your best, cute shoed foot forward. Here are just some of the ways you can expect your life to change when you use a personal stylist.
What does a personal stylist do?
Before we go into detail about the life-changing art of personal styling, let’s first get you acquainted with the process.
The main goal of a personal stylist is to get your wardrobe in tiptop shape. They’ll help you identify your personal style and put together ready-to-wear outfits that fit your lifestyle.
First things first, what’s the state of your closet? Your personal stylist will usually start by helping you sift through your current wardrobe. During this process they’ll be able to identify holes to fill and encourage you to give away anything that isn’t up to par. Afterwards, a personal stylist will often do the shopping for you. Other times you might accompany them so they can get a better sense of what you’re drawn to. In either case, you’ll probably start with basic and essential pieces, and with their help, build different outfits for different scenarios.
Most people think that personal stylists are slaves to trends and will make you conform to the new “in”. What they don’t realize is while yes, they are equipped with knowledge of todays looks and the trends of the seasons, personal stylists are PERSONAL. They are there to not only there to pick and buy your clothes, they are there to boost your self confidence so that you can walk through town with your head held high knowing that you look good.
Now that you know a bit more about how personal styling works, here’s why it works!
You’ll Spend Less Time Shopping
Can’t stand crowds? Does the idea of digging through racks and stacks of clothing make you want to tear your hair out? Let your personal stylist do the hunting for you. That’s what they’re there for. Even in today’s day and age of online retailers and shopping it is easy to get lost in poor quality items and millions of fake promotions. The stylist is geared and equipped to navigate the sales, the trends, and even the mess of Black Friday shopping.
You’ll Never Miss a Sale
Everyone loves a bargain. Personal stylists keep tabs on all the in-store and online sales. Be it a flash sale or end of season clearance, you’ll be the first to know. It is their job to learn what brands are your preference and then to find you the best deal on those brands.
Your Clothes will be Tailored to You
Whether you have your clothes tailored to fit your frame, or simply want outfits that are “tailored” to your lifestyle, a personal stylist can easily orchestrate both. Your stylist is there to understand your body type and sizes. They then use you as a blank canvas to keep you up to date in the latest styles and trends while making you feel and look good in clothes and styles that are meant to fit you.
You’ll Get Out of the House Faster
Never be late to meeting or date again. Well, at least not because of outfit indecision. A personal stylist will help you construct grab-and-go ensembles for every occasion. These template outfits can be used time and time again or customized for the occasion.
You’ll Feel More Like Yourself
It’s true that the clothes don’t make the person. However, when you feel good about yourself, it shows. Your clothing is ultimately an extension of your personality and communicates so much to the world. The stylist will make sure that you are ultimately comfortable with yourself in a new look. If you are ready for a change and decide to turn things upside down, they will be there to help. If however you decide to just change up small things or just want to experiment with new styles, you will have access to you an educated opinion and keen eye for fashion.
With a personal stylist in your corner, you don’t have to be a fashion expert to look like one!
xoxo,
Gina
Click on the stylist tab on ginasplatform.com or on the Gina’s Platform mobile app to find a personal stylist near you.
Gina Rivera
Beauty Icon and Expert
Gina Rivera skyrocketed to success when the company she founded in 2007, Phenix Salon Suites, became the fastest-growing salon suite company in the beauty industry. With more than 300 locations nationally and international expansion occurring in the UK, Entrepreneur Magazine named Phenix Salon Suites a Top 500 Franchise list seven years running.
Massage: Which Type Is Right For Me?
The human touch is a powerful thing. For the last 5,000 years humans have indulged in massage for a variety of mental and physical health benefits. Different cultures have perfected their versions of the therapeutic rubdown, adding various techniques in the process.
Today, massage remains one of life’s most universally enjoyable experiences. There are hundreds of variations to choose from, so picking the right type of rubdown can be painfully overwhelming. We have consulted with massage therapists on what type of massage is best for different needs and different pains that you may be experiencing.
Don’t stress. Ahead are ten popular massage types and a little guidance to help you get the one you’ll most enjoy.
Best Massage for First Timers – Swedish Massage
Swedish massages are the most common form of bodywork – and for good reason. This ‘best all around’ rubdown helps with a host of healing properties from improved circulation and relaxation to decreased muscle tension and joint pain. This is best experienced as a “full body” massage to dissolve your built up tension.
Best Massage for Relaxation – Hot Stone Massage
Sore muscles are best soothed into submission with a hot stone massage. The masseuse uses flat, warmed rocks to loosen muscles through heat transference. The combination of stone and hand kneading will melt mental and physical stressors.
Best Massage for Tension Relief – Deep Tissue Massage
If you have seriously tense muscles, and a high pain tolerance, a deep tissue massage may be the perfect remedy. This technique focuses on the deepest layers of your muscles and connective tissues. It’s a hurts-so-good type that will likely leave you sore after. Talk with your massage therapist about the best practices and activities to reduce the tension and soreness that may creep back in.
Best Mood-Lifting Massage – Aromatherapy Massage
Essential oils are said to emit mood-elevating properties. When these concentrated plant extracts are used in an aromatherapy massage, it can be a mood-altering, anxiety-relieving experience that lasts long after you leave the table. Ask your massage therapist about which oils and scents are right for the mood of your choice.
Best Massage for Knots – Trigger Point Massage
Does your back pain feel like it’s radiating from one particular spot? A professional trigger point massage could help “untangle” you by using a technique that micro-targets myofascial pain. This type of massage is very similar to a deep tissue massage. It mostly just targets specific areas of your body that are plagued by knots.
Best Massage for Athletes – Sports Massage
Sports massages take their cue from Swedish and deep tissue massages. They’re designed to help athletic types improve their performance while treating the soreness and pain that comes from being super active. This massage tends to be more firm to release the strained muscles that come from exercise and physical activity.
Best Fully Clothed Massage – Shiatsu Massage
Not sure you want to completely disrobe in front of a total stranger? Try Shiatsu massage. It hails from Japan and is known for increasing the body’s natural energy flow. Practitioners make rhythmic gestures over your clothes, using just their hands and palms to increase your comfort levels.
Best Rejuvenating Massage – Thai Massage
If you’re a yogi or simply love the feeling of stretching your muscles, definitely try Thai massage. During this interactive spa session your masseuse will manipulate and extend different parts of your body, using different parts of theirs. You’ll leave more flexible and energized without having to do any of the work yourself. A word of warning as more than likely if this is chosen as your first therapeutic massage you may leave more sore than when you first came in. Be sure to limber up and drink plenty of water!
Best Spiritual Massage – Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurvedic massage is part of a 3,000-year-old medical practice that began in India. This full body treatment is paired with ancient techniques and oils that are said to have spiritual properties associated with them.
Best Massage for Specific Injuries – Neuromuscular massage
Neuromuscular massage is a cousin of the trigger point technique. It’s best for treating things like pulled muscles, back spasms, and lower back aches. It’s also good for helping heal soft tissue injuries by improving blood flow and oxygen levels.
If you are pregnant, especially in the early stages, some massages could be dangerous for your baby’s health. Please consult your doctor as to the best time to pause and resume your massages as some prenatal massages can be extremely relaxing and great for your mental state.
Ultimately, massages are supposed to be relaxing. Next time you find yourself stressing about which type to choose, consult this guide to make sure nothing rubs you the wrong way.
xoxo,
Gina
Click on the Massage tab on ginasplatform.com or on the Gina’s Platform mobile app to find a massage professional near you.
Gina Rivera
Beauty Icon and Expert
Gina Rivera skyrocketed to success when the company she founded in 2007, Phenix Salon Suites, became the fastest-growing salon suite company in the beauty industry. With more than 300 locations nationally and international expansion occurring in the UK, Entrepreneur Magazine named Phenix Salon Suites a Top 500 Franchise list seven years running.