Oasis Spa

I am taking a class called Small Business Management and as a part of the class we visited the Oasis Spa. The owner spent a couple hours with us discussing the intricacies of his business and the process he had undertaken in starting it with his partner.

The first Oasis Spa opened in Chiang Mai six years ago. The owner that we spoke to is a native of Thailand who worked in the medical field for ten years before deciding to open the spa. His partner is an American with international business experience. Together they noticed that there was an opportunity to start a spa in Thailand. Thailand has always been known for Thai massages, which is abundantly apparent when you walk down the street. You can stand on a street corner and see 4-5 places that you can get a massage, all offering them at prices around $5-6 for an hour (the cheapest I've seen is under $2!). Six years ago the Thai massage industry was closely linked with the sex trade in Thailand. This left a market open for a legitimate spa business that offered a luxury experience beyond anything that was being offered at the time. The Oasis Spa caters to this market exceptionally well. The attention to detail in the spa is incredible. The aromas, music, art, and the layout are all designed to maximize each customer’s experience. Everything in the spa has been hand selected by the owner for its traditional Thai qualities. The music, for example, is in the traditional Lanna style (Lanna is the former kingdom that Chiang Mai was the capitol of) and was developed by a doctor for its therapeutic effect, over the course of a year. Every part of the spa is attended to with the same attention to detail. The spas prices are also very reasonable, expensive only by Thai standards. A standard oil massage at the spa costs about $30 and we’re talking a luxurious experience.

The owner explained everything about how he started the business. Giving us details on how he selects and trains employees and how the business has expanded and the challenges that has brought with it. He explained how none of the technology on the market was quite suitable for monitoring the details of Oasis. He and his partner developed their own software keep the business running smoothly. He also talked to us about the importance of setting your business apart from the competition and marketing to the right group of people. He is an incredibly innovative and smart business man.

The success of Oasis speaks for itself. In six years of existence they have opened six spas throughout Thailand and they were just voted the best spa in Thailand. Learning from the owner of such a successful business was an incredibly valuable experience.

Check out the website: http://www.chiangmaioasis.com/En/l_cm.php