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Spa Radiance Nestled in the heart of downtown San Francisco, Spa Radiance is a charming multiservice day spa that believes every treatment should be individualized to its customers’ needs. “We believe in result-oriented care in an ultra-luxurious environment whether it’s an extraordinary massage, indulgent facial or a beautiful, bronze sunless tan,” Vice President Randy Schreck says. “Rather than just slap creams on people and play soft music, we focus on the turnaround effect for our clients. We get inspired to ‘fix it,’ whether it’s a massage therapist working with on a client’s injury, an esthetician healing acne, or a makeup artist camouflaging a surgery or preparing an anxious bride for her wedding day.”
Spa Radiance officially opened its doors in 1997, but the mother-anddaughter co-owners, Galina and Angelina Umansky, have been caring for complexions for nearly 60 years. “The legacy began in Moscow in the early 1940s when Grandmother Rose established her skincare career, creating and perfecting custom treatments and remedies for her clientele,” Schreck says. Rose passed on her secret formulas and rigorous training to her daughter, Galina, and granddaughter, Angelina. The motherand- daughter team immigrated to the United States in 1974 and opened a small, exclusive spa in downtown San Francisco. “Angelina is gregarious, lots of fun and very lively,” Schreck says. “Business-wise, she is a top-notch entrepreneur, has great instincts and a tremendous ability to network, combined with a genuine sense of warmth and caring for her clients. Galina is a bit more reserved and shy when you first meet her, but she is just as much fun as her daughter. She has a definite twinkle in her eye. In terms of business, Galina is very client-focused, professional and is the financial mind of Spa Radiance.” In 1997, the Umanskys moved into a restored Victorian home in the Pacific Heights district that became Spa Radiance. In 2002, thanks to unprecedented growth, the family moved into an even bigger facility with larger rooms and twice as much space. “Our loyal following grows larger every year,” he says. “It’s a wonderful industry to be a part of. I love the fact that we can help people achieve their esthetic and healthrelated goals. It’s inspiring to tell a client who comes in with excessively dry skin or troubled acne that we can help. That’s one of the things that make all of our employees tick. I also like that we are on the precipice of many exciting advances that seem to be coming more and more rapidly in this booming industry.” Super Duper Services Being a part of a booming industry is nice, but no spa will survive without unique, effective and luxurious treatment options. Of its renowned facial treatments, Spa Radiance’s most popular choice is the Super Duper Facial, a fruit-acid wash followed by intense, deep cleaning to purify clogged pores. “Clients love it because it’s like three facials in one,” Schreck says. “The dermabrasion blasts dead skin cells, diminishes age spots and smoothes out fine lines. The luxurious experience is topped off with a multivitamin oxygen treatment.” As a part of the Expert Nails menu of services, the European Spa Treatment, an intense 7-step pampering ritual for the client’s hands and feet, and the Hot Stone treatment—which is designed to relieve pressure—refresh and revitalize through the use of heated stones and aromatherapy. For the body, Spa Radiance’s finest offering is the Super Duper Body Massage, which features an aromatherapy steam tent to clear senses, a massage to release toxins, a soothing eye-mask treatment and a luxurious paraffin dip to soften hands. Another treatment that quickly is growing in popularity is the spa’s sunless-tanning offering. Featuring the MagicTan booth, this 5-minute treatment is perfect for active, on-the-go clients, Schreck says. “The quality of the machinery has improved tremendously so the tans are much more even,” he says. “The solutions also have improved so people with all skin types can enjoy a tan.” In less than one minute, the fullyautomated MagicTan booth evenly sprays a fine mist of DHA and bronzing solution over the entire body. The sunless ingredient, DHA, begins to react naturally with the skin to create an even, golden-brown tan that lasts nearly one week. “And because the entire process is UV-free, those who are sensitive to sunlight or experience freckling are free to get the tan they’ve always wanted,” Schreck says. “We researched many options and felt this system delivered the most comprehensive tanning experience.” Spa Radiance hasn’t had its MagicTan booth for one year yet, but already it is selling 20 treatments a day and 140 to 180 treatments per week. First-time customers can purchase a two-session package for $30. Regular customers receive significant discounts for purchasing 5-, 10- or 20-treatment packages. “Offering services like sunless keep us fresh as well as traditional,” he says. “I think we stand out in our market because we are cutting edge—not bleeding edge. We take our time to research the latest in pampering care and make sure it is right for our existing clients but also make sure it will attract clients within our target market.” That target market includes men. According to the International SPA Association’s 2003 Spa-goer Study, men account for an astounding 29 percent of spa-goers, a 5-percent jump in one year. “That’s 13 million men who are enjoying manicures, facials, pedicures and body treatments, not to mention an increasing array of spa treatments created specifically for men,” Schreck says. While Spa Radiance has quietly catered to men for more than 10 years with its popular and comprehensive men’s menu of services, the spa recently launched the new Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired Terminator Treatment—guaranteed to have men leaving the spa proclaiming, “I’ll be back.”
Beginning with a fruit-acid wash and followed by intensive deep cleaning to purify clogged pores, the facial also includes dermabrasion. Finally, to ensure a lasting glow, men are treated to a relaxing multivitamin oxygen treatment. “Initially reluctant, most of our local male clients are first introduced to the pleasures of visiting a day spa after receiving a gift certificate from a partner or a girlfriend,” he says. “And then, they quickly become regulars because I see them sneak into the spa for a quick Lemon Drop Manicure or a Super Duper Massage following their long work weeks.” All of Spa Radiance’s therapists are trained extensively under the owners. The Umanskys spend an exorbitant amount of time recruiting people who have experience. “We train them in state-of-the-art treatments, support their continuing education and encourage their ongoing development as practitioners,” Schreck says. “We have services and products that are from all over the world—Germany, Russia, Canada, France, Italy and the United States. We like to make sure that we are representative and taking the best from all countries—not just our own. We invest a lot in marketing and public relations to ensure that others know about what we are doing and how it will be beneficial to them. We believe this adds up to a more indulgent experience.” While Spa Radiance has quietly catered to men for more than 10 years with its
popular and comprehensive men’s menu of services, the spa recently launched
the new Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired Terminator Treatment— guaranteed
to have men leaving the spa proclaiming, “I’ll be back.”
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Old-School Philosophy
“Honoring California’s new governor, who is clearly and
unabashedly coiffed, pedicured and polished, the Spa Radiance Terminator
Treatment is a 90-minute deepcleansing facial that tackles the specific needs of
men’s skin,” Schreck says. |