Member's Spotlight: Bodhi Tree Spa

Updated: Feb 20, 2023

In this month's Members Spotlight we leave the hustle and bustle of central London for the quiet countryside of Chalfont St Peter village in Buckinghamshire, where award winning Bodhi Tree Spa and its founder Carla Pasco Jones are located. Carla and her team are passionate about taking care of your overall mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, as well as your skin of course. Their ethos it’s all about being naturally and beautifully you. This view is deeply rooted in a balance of Eastern and Western philosophies for the mind, body and soul, focusing on the nurture of overall wellbeing. This is why they work hard to provide premium treatments in a relaxed, warm and friendly environment, to enable you to love yourself just that little bit more.

We met Carla and her mother Sarah a couple of years ago to assess the business, and learn how to scale it, using our tried and tested business audit. Carla at that time was very much involved in the day-to-day operations of the spa, which was not really where she wanted to be in the business.

With the wealth of information collected during the business audit we were able to refocus Carla's priorities and create a strong plan of action to increase revenue and reduce costs. Time management became a main priority, however, we also worked on creating a structure within the business, focusing mainly on stock and team structures. This ensured the business gained strong operational foundations and in result allowed Carla to achieve a better work-life balance.

Another key focus was the culture of the team: from retail training, creating individual growth plans to revisiting and revitalising Bodhi Tree Spa's brand. Through this we achieved income growth not only from the Spa activity, but also from all of the initiatives we have undertaken over the past couple of years, like their own retail products or wellness programmes. We're so happy to share with you this Q&A with Carla: The best piece of business advice you've ever received that you'd share with another salon owner Do your annual audit of treatments! This will allow you to establish and maintain services that are profitable. If you could go back and change anything or give your younger self some guidance for your business journey, what would it be? Keep a close eye on your books! It may be a tough love, but learn to love finance. Your favourite thing about being a business owner? Having the freedom, flexibility and control over the way we deliver services to our clients, ensuring they are in line with my ethos, morals and values. Also, receiving positive feedback from our spa guests about how amazing their experience was from arrival to finish and all the in-between bits. This definitely makes my day. And what do you find most challenging - and how you overcome it? Work/life balance and time management. Working on improving both every day! Someone or another brand or business in the industry who inspires you and why? No-one big in particular to be honest. Seeing other small businesses having the courage to put themselves out there, have faith in their abilities and follow their dreams - this is what inspires me! What do you love about being a Delforge Member, would you recommend us to other salon owners and why? Valerie's no-nonsense approach, being super supportive, empathetic and all with a fabulous, naughty sense of humour! Her expertise and knowledge is second to none. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Delforge Group as the advice has grown our bottom line exponentially.