Trending Forecast: The Movement 

By ASCP Staff

 

I walked into a quiet, stark white, spacious room with enough empty plastic seating for close to 100 attendees. Having just stepped off the International Beauty Show floor with all its bright lights, loud music, colorful booths, and bustling commotion, entering this dull classroom was a shock to the system. Little did I know, the true shock to the system had yet to happen. 

I thought I was attending an “All About Business” class where, as the show program promised, I would, learn tips on how to be a successful spa owner in today’s business climate. Silly me, I assumed I would be told to keep my books neat, reward my staff, do some marketing . . . the standard stuff. Honestly, I didn’t expect to learn anything I hadn’t heard before.

It was in this hollow room designated for business education that I first witnessed the truly beautiful movement that is beginning to ripple through our industry. We always hear the chatter about “raising the bar” and “elevating our industry.” Well, this movement is causing exactly that. If the movement hasn’t yet hit your town, start it today. 

What is the movement I witnessed in this unglamorous trade show classroom? It is estheticians breaking down the walls of competition, putting their egos aside, taking on the abundance mentality, and bonding together for the common good of the skin care industry. 

The energy intensified when the presenter spoke about how he has fostered a community of professionals that get together for education, networking, support, and inspiration in his hometown. These skin care professionals have stopped seeing each other as competition and are getting together to learn from one another.  The presenter also shared how an underground group of industry leaders rented an Airbnb for an education-sharing session after trade show hours. Beautiful. These are the types of things that will make our industry stronger. 

A few class attendees told of other beautiful connections happening within the skin care profession within their towns—spas giving out tips and tricks, cross-referrals for advanced esthetic services, education being shared. Some esthetic celebrities popped into the classroom to show their support and I swear the air was buzzing. The energy was contagious. Suddenly, the classroom wasn’t so big and disconnected. When class time ran out, no one wanted to leave. We all wrote down our Instagram handles with promises to follow each other and stay in touch. 

This is the movement—a movement toward true community among estheticians in the skin care industry. There are enough clients to go around for everyone. Why not share our skills and experience with each other so our entire industry can raise the bar? Our industry is only as advanced as our weakest link. 

The newest hotshot to hit Instagram is not someone to be jealous of; they’re someone to thank for the inspiration they contribute to our industry. When your spa manager hires a clueless, recent graduate, it’s not the time to look down your nose. We’ve all been there. Step up to the plate and be a mentor. When a client calls for a service but none are available, refer them to another esthetician. That’s keeping business in our industry and saving the client from a DIY disaster that benefits no one. When our peer wins Esthetician of the Year, we should all celebrate the heck out of that incredible work that encourages us all to step up our game. 

The number-one takeaway: skin care professionals are in competition with unlicensed do-it-yourselfers, not one another. The esthetician next door, the one renting the suite down the hall, and even the skin care professionals working at the studio around the corner—these are your friends. They are your allies and support system. The esthetics industry is experiencing a movement, independent of manufacturers, trade shows, or elaborate marketing telling us what to do. We are moving back to a skin community. The movement is beautiful. Climb aboard—this is how we raise the bar.