Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 12

114 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 help and connect. But there are also a number of benefit levels we will add that will come as a paid model, very similar to the way other organizations are doing it around the country.” BVM: What is the biggest challenge for the spa industry, right now? Share: “On the plus side, I believe the one shining light for many people during the pandemic is they became very aware of their own wellness. Making their immunity strong; using the right skin care; taking the right supplements; eating the right food; exercising... I think it was a wakeup call. “The pain point is that our industry is probably short 100,000 people. We cannot hire enough massage therapists and estheticians and front desk staff to accommodate how unbelievably busy the spas are. This means that the spa channel facilities can’t be open as many hours as they would like, and they can’t wear down their existing staff. So we are suffering through the inability to hire in our industry.” BVM: What do you see for the future of the industry and the SIA? Share: “I have faith in our world. There are enough people, worldwide, who look forward, not backwards, that we will overcome this pandemic. It’s going to take time, but looking ahead I see a very bright spot in our future. I believe a lot of people are new to massage and esthetics and will continue to go to their facility, and participate in wellness. There are no bounds to the growth of the SIA in our industry. We are, and always have been, the leading association to the entire spa community and we will continue to connect across the globe. It’s our challenge, it’s our charge, and we will keep doing it.”