Strategy Sponsored Supplement
Premiums and incentives are still an important aspect of doing business today due in part to the rise in targeted permission-based marketing and a competitive business marketplace that has put a renewed focus on employee recognition and retention.
But the underlying reason is really much simpler than that. Human nature hasn’t changed and what was true more than 100 years ago when companies first began gifting to drive sales and loyalty or to reward employees is still true today – incentives motivate people.
Today the most effective motivators are gifts that are more individual and experiential than in the past. For that reason, many companies are finding that gift card programs are the convenient solution for delivering the choice and personalization that reward recipients value.
WaySpa: 2000 spas, one card
WaySpa is one of the gift cards quickly gaining popularity as part of Canada’s incentive and loyalty programs.
“There is real trend towards luxury incentives and finding better, more interesting options. Our card offers all that and it is very personal,” says Melissa Breakwell, SVP of corporate sales for WaySpa. “It is an experience. We say that it is your health, wellness and pampering experience.
“One thing that you always want as an incentive is for employees to remember why they received the gift and for consumers to remember the company that gave it. If you had points and redeemed it for a grocery card, you just redeem it for groceries for the family and are not necessarily using it for yourself.”
Breakwell says companies today are increasingly focusing on health and wellness programs for their employees. She says the WaySpa card is a perfect fit for those programs – and it’s not just for women, “More men are going to spas now for facials, massages or a mani-pedi, because they want nice feet, too.”
The WaySpa card never expires and there are no fees. WaySpa gifts are available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $125 and $150 and in addition to plastic cards, e-gift certificates can be purchased and delivered digitally and emailed or printed directly from a browser upon completion of the checkout process.
Launched in 2003, WaySpa.com is an affiliate network of over 2000 spas across Canada that enables recipients of gift cards or e-certificates to go to wayspa.com and select a spa location by city, postal code and even by spa package or treatment.
The company’s recent merger with SpaWeek, a US-based spa and wellness company, has greatly extended the options available with a WaySpa gift. SpaWeek’s Spa & Wellness Gift Card is accepted at over 7,500 spas and wellness locations across North America and sold in over 33,000 retail stores including Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Sam’s Club and on SpaWeek.com. The WaySpa card is the exclusive card in Canadian stores including Target, Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco and Wal-Mart.
The new combined company will be called Interactive Wellness Group, LLC (“IWG”). The new name gives you a bit of insight into the future direction the company will take. SpaWeek CEO Cheryl Reid will serve as CEO, while WaySpa CEO Jeremy Creed will serve as president.
“We are excited to combine the strengths of these two dynamic organizations in an industry that is rapidly gaining traction,” Reid says. “We believe the merger will dramatically enhance the products we are able to offer our wellness partners and consumers alike.”
Company Profile
WaySpa is Canada’s largest spa and wellness marketplace and with just a few clicks of your mouse we can offer complete relaxation and rejuvenation.
A WaySpa gift card makes the perfect promotional tool, holiday gift, thank you, sales incentive or prize for your next big contest. With over 2,000 spas and wellness centres in our network, no other single wellness card packs as much of a punch. No matter where your employees, clients, or customers live, work, and play, chances are they’re a hot stone’s throw away from instant relaxation.
The best part is you can buy now and use later. With no expiration date this gift card will never go out of style!
Visit www.wayspa.com for more information on our program or call us at 1-800-929-7723 x 31
