"Good piece this morning in the Los Angeles Times, writing about how massage therapy and other wellness services have become the hot new trend in California, being offered at a variety of retail outlets, including car washes:
"Having a bad face day? You can have it exfoliated almost anywhere. Even at the store. While the concierge collects your groceries."
The Times continues: "Whole Foods Market will open its second in-store full service spa this summer in San Francisco. JC Penney has 20 spas around the country. Fred Segal in Santa Monica offers a range of services if you tire of trying on clothes you can't afford, including a 90-minute, $165 massage. At a Coldwater Creek spa, you can buy the $65 Ultimate Pedicure before strolling over to the retail side of the operation to unload more money."
And, the Times goes on:
"The lines are blurring everywhere, actually.
"The concept of one-stop shopping has been expanded to include body scrubs, foot reflexology and eyebrow waxing. You can have your roots bleached while trying on a pair of jeans or indulge in a Blackberry Hand Treatment while an herbalist whips you up a health tonic.
"What does it all mean? That many Americans have either too much money or not enough time, or both.
"The answer doesn't matter to businesses trying to set themselves apart by associating their brands with pleasant experiences, and to sell more stuff along the way." Source: morningnewsbeat.com
Remember, retailing today is less about what you sell and more about how you sell it.
