Who doesn’t love a relaxing spa experience, but creating that perfect environment with the right atmosphere and products is key to the success of any luxury spa business. That’s where Jacoline Wentzel’s expertise at The Spa Warehouse comes in, providing specialist experience, advice and luxury products to spas across the African continent.
LoA chatted to this highly experienced spa and beauty business professional about what’s next for her business.
What does your company do?
The Spa Warehouse has been providing a personalized service to the spa and salon industry in Africa and Mauritius since 2005. We have associated ourselves with some of the leading professional brands and services available to the spa and salon market and distribute and consult throughout. With years of experience in business, spa management and supplying, we can offer our customers sound advice and business solutions for their spas and salons.
"I am extremely passionate about the spa industry and I always strive to help the spa owners and staff to understand their customers and offer the spa goers an experience they will never forget."
What inspired you to start your company?
I had a dream - a dream to have a one stop shop for all things spa. I have a passion for this industry and wanted to establish a sustainable business in the industry that I studied, worked for, and loved so much. So that is what I did in 2005 - I set up my own business.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our company was established in 2005 and keeps growing every year. We strive to offer our clients the best service possible and offer sound solutions for their beauty or spa business. We have some of the most prestigious clients in the industry that we supply or with whom were were involved in the set up of their spas, for example, the One & Only St Geran Mauritius, Spa at Ellerman House, Lume Beauty Atelier, Spa at The Westin, and Spa at Cape Grace. We have a track record of consistent and reliable delivery and we are focused on providing a personalized service.
"Our business has developed and grown so much over the last 10 years and it has been a pleasure to be involved with numerous projects, each one of them unique. I have seen the spa industry grow enormously and it has been such a privilege to see it unfold first hand."
Tell us a little about your team
I have two team members who work in my wholesaling division. Alta deals with orders and shipping and Lucrezia with marketing, launches and expos. I deal with sales and spa consulting. We also have a whole lot of independent partners who we have worked with for years, from couriers to carpenters, to seamstresses and accountants. We also have two other female staff members who work in our health and beauty shop in Paarl. Lauren, deals with the front shop and sales and Samantha is our in-house beauty therapist.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have always been employed as a manager of some kind. Spa Manager on ships or Sales and Marketing Manager for various companies. So with all my experience in my bag, I knew that if I could do it in other people’s businesses and be successful, why not do it in my own business. My family has a background of being entrepreneurs. My gran had her own shop, my grandfather his own butcheries, my father his own insurance company, and my mom an interior consultant. So I guess entrepreneurship was in my blood.
"In the last few years we have expanded into the rest of Africa and now design and supply throughout the whole of Africa."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We have created our own spa brand called Cashmere & Co that we distribute to spas. This brand is infused with our own signature fragrance of fynbos essential oils and is fully made in South Africa. We are busy rebranding it to suit the International market and will be expanding our footprint by exporting it to various countries all over the world.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I love having my time as my own. My brain does not work 9 - 5, so I love that I can decide what works for me that day and go sit and work wherever I want to. Sometimes I stay home, some times I am in the office, some times I drink tea at the Cape Grace and sometimes I find a corner in a local coffee shop. I also love that I can make decisions quickly and is able to implement any new ideas without having to go through a panel of people but can collaborate with whoever I want to.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Your dream will always just stay a dream if you do not start "doing". Put your phone down, stop living in that dream world of Instagram and Pinterest (don't get me wrong, I love them too!) and start making things happen around you.
Contact or follow The Spa Warehouse
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | EMAIL jacoline@thespawarehouse.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
When we think about spas, our minds turn to thoughts of relaxation, luxury, pampering and beautiful surroundings that take us away from the hurly burly of our everyday lives. Yet we don’t think about what it takes to design and create the ultimate spa environment behind the scenes. South African entrepreneur, Jacoline Wentzel, has built a highly successful and sustainable business as the specialist advisor and supplier to the spa and beauty business, helping her clients to create the ultimate relaxing spa environments behind the scenes. Her work speaks for itself in some of the most luxurious spas on the African continent. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa