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 How do you run 19 successful day spas? Put highly trained specialists at every station. That's the key to success at the Mario Tricoci Salons and Day Spas, found across Illinois, Ohio and Kansas and an additional seven Mario Tricoci Too locations that provide hair and nail care services only. Tricoci has found a method that works and he instills it in all 2,500 Tricoci employees.
The manicurists only do manicures and the pedicurists only do pedicures; those who cut hair only cut and those who color hair only color. The spas hire well-trained, certified professionals and ask them to choose a specialty before they begin their Mario Tricoci training. Training sessions run four to five weeks for manicurists or pedicurists, nine months for hair cutters/stylists, six to nine months for hair colorists, six weeks for massage therapists and eight weeks for aestheticians.
Tricoci Training
The training is not just concerned with what happens technically during a service, but includes the complete chair-side manner, greeting guests, develop relationships and bringing a session to a close. Trainees also spend time learning customer service skills and problem solving techniques. The training includes practice time, role play with live models and both written and practical tests.
"The level of expertise in our technicians is unsurpassed. Everyone is trained from the initial consultation, to the execution, to discover and answer the needs of the guest," said Elaine Sour, national spa director for Mario Tricoci. "To ensure our services are consistent we secret shop each of our locations twice a month."
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Tricoci has found a method that works and he instills it in all 2,500 Tricoci employees.
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The average Mario Tricoci client is 30-55, female, college educated and with a household income of $75,000-plus. His original clients from the 1980s s are now bringing their daughters for the spa's teen-focused services. There is also a growing clientele of men and four of the Mario Tricoci locations offer separate men's and women's changing facilities and lockers.
The largest of the Mario Tricoci Day Spas are in the vicinity of 17,000 square feet with more than 20 treatment rooms. Most of their locations are within shopping centers, while some occupy stand-alone storefronts. I visited the Mario Tricoci Old Orchard location in Skokie, IL, with nine treatment rooms and about 100 technicians on staff.
Hustling past the noisy power washers outside, I stepped into an oasis. In the lobby I was escorted to the candlelit, gauzily-draped waiting room and relaxed in one of the chenille covered chairs. After a moment's rest, I was greeted by Christa, my massage technician, and was given a spa itinerary that listed the times, services and the other technicians I would be meeting with that day.
 I started with the Mario Tricoci Signature Massage. They use shea butter and begin the session with a reflexology foot massage. The feet are then wrapped in warm, moist, lavender-scented towels. There is a great flow throughout the session and the background music is not your average collection of new age selections. The Tricoci soundtrack includes nicely syncopated piano and other upbeat but not intrusive selections. There are also quiet lulls in between the various selections that I found refreshing.
The Mario Tricoci Signature Facial includes a foot massage during the time the toning mask is drying, as well as a hand and arm massage during the cleansing mask time. Kasha was my technician and I could almost swear that she was timing some of her movements to the music playing in the room. Kasha has been with Mario Tricoci for 7 years and had been an esthetician for one year prior to joining the team.
The Signature Pedicure surpassed the average pedicure by including a foot and leg scrub and a hot stone treatment applied under the arch of the foot. I was given fun aqua sandals that were suitable for wearing home. Pam, my pedicurist, has been with Mario Tricoci for 10 years and her pleasure in the work was obvious.
Body treatments include eight types of massage, two body polishes, five masks and a few therapeutic wraps. Tricoci also offers 10 types of facials with many optional add-on features and there are at least 10 spa packages. A basic 50-minute Swedish massage is $70 and the teen deep pore cleansing facial is $55 while the top of the line, daylong package is $475.
New Services for New Needs
Key recent innovations include Breast Surgery massage for clients recovering from surgeries such as mastectomy, augmentation or reduction. In developing the services for the mastectomy patients, the Mario Tricoci team worked with an oncology nurse to develop the right program to improve range of motion and address other physical and emotional issues. This service was launched last October during breast cancer awareness month and Mario Tricoci raised $50,000 for www.CancerandCareers.org, a foundation dedicated to helping working women undergoing treatment for cancer.
For more information, visit www.tricoci.com
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