Yes! Send me the FREE digital editions of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines and the FREE weekly Spa Business and Spa Business insider ezines and breaking news alerts!
Thalgo’s new Indocéane Spa Ritual and homecare range
When and why did the Sirop family take over Thalgo? My father was a shareholder who thought the potential of Thalgo was huge and under-exploited. In February 1999, he acquired the company, intending to develop a leading French cosmetic line in the professional beauty market, with a reputation for strong innovation and marketing.
What was the most interesting aspect of Thalgo for you? We were attracted by the ‘brand territory’, because the concept of marine cosmetics is powerful and easy to understand, meaning Thalgo has clear positioning in the market. The brand also had a strong reputation for quality products and protocols and was already in 60 countries and doing 70 per cent of its turnover abroad.
Also, the portfolio included two strong flagships: Thalgo La Baule, one of the best thalassotherapy centres in France, and the Villa Thalgo Spa, which was the first marine beauty spa in Paris.
What changes have you implemented at Thalgo? We modernised the brand image. Then we extended Thalgo through the development of nutritional supplements, cosmetics for men, new spa treatments, new ranges and medi-cosmetic equipment. We also implemented a new beauty formulation chart (free of parabens, mineral oils, propylene glycol and GMOs) and launched an organic skincare range, terre & mer by Thalgo in 2009. The same year, we built a new Villa Thalgo, in the heart of Paris, which reflects the quality image of the brand.
Besides the cosmetics range, Thalgo has a number of different business strands. How do they all work together? Over the last 12 years, the company has moved from a single brand entity to a multi-brand, diversified group. Some of this change has come through external acquisitions and some through launches. Firstly, we acquired the professional skincare brand, Ella Baché, in 2003, followed by depilatory company, Perron Rigot, in 2004. Then the Terraké spa brand, which is targeted at the hotel and day spa market, was launched in 2006.
Last year we acquired 45 per cent of Nature Cos, an organic French make-up brand. We believed it would be complementary to our skincare brands, given we had no make-up brand within Thalgo.
We’re not only a manufacturer and supplier of products, but also offer a wide range of services. Owning a beauty school –Ecole Thalgo – gives us a strong competitive advantage, and the basis to develop partnerships with other beauty schools.
In 2001, we created a consulting service – Thalgo Spa Management – which is targeted at spa operators who are looking for management advice. We also have a spa operations division, which runs our spas and beauty salons in France. It’s a real competitive advantage, because it allows us to have a better understanding of our clients’ expectations and needs.
What’s the motivation for running many different businesses? We thought it was necessary to expand our brand portfolio, because expansion opportunities are limited with just one brand. We thought our clients would also benefit from a broader offering, such as wax and make-up. We aim to be the best supplier: not only a brand, but a group with many possibilities.
We have our own integrated research centre, headed by a pharmacist. To boost our marine intelligence, we work closely with renowned algae specialists, who help us to develop exclusive marine active ingredients. We also have a strong partnership with three dermatologists and one university professor, with whom we work to develop active ingredients and innovative products. We also carry out effectiveness studies to back up the efficiency of our formulae and support our claims.
What’s your most successful line? Our anti-ageing line, which launched in 2011. This has three ranges: the Collagen line is aimed at the first stages of wrinkles. It boosts collagen and is supplemented by a youth drink, as we like to work from the inside out. The second range uses hyaluronic acid to plump out deeper wrinkles. The third range – Silicium – smoothes, tones and lifts the skin when it starts to lose tone. This has been tremendously successful and we feel it offers an alternative to invasive surgery.
What trends do you predict for the industry in 2013? We’re seeing a significant shift in consumer attitudes and a focus towards wellness and preventative health treatments and services, rather than just pampering. Consumers are more demanding and they want to see tangible results.
Everybody is stressed, so spas need to provide consumers with effective and achievable ways of destressing, not just with treatments, but by offering relaxation exercises, such as yoga, t’ai chi and meditation, as well to make it more effective.
The male market continues to grow, with an increased interest from men of all ages in facials and nail services, as well as massage, which has always been popular. Spas must adapt to this growing segment to fully optimise their potential for growth.
What are Thalgo’s plans going forward? We have a three year aim to grow worldwide by 25 per cent. This is ambitious in the current climate and we are focusing a lot of our efforts on Asia, which is a growth area. To this end, we created an office in Singapore last year.
The Middle East and North America are also likely to be strong markets and we will be building up partnerships with beauty spas and day spas. We see hotel spas as a strong source of image and brand awareness, so will also be looking to grow this area.
In the longer term, innovation will be the key to growth and we will relaunch our premium line – Exceptional – at the end of 2013. In 2014, we will revamp our slimming range and launch a scientifically proven medical cosmetics range.
We’re also planning to boost the brand visibility, with a newly launched website and a new social media strategy. Excitingly, we have just teamed up with French free diver, Aurore Asso, as we have shared passions about preserving the marine bio-diversity. We are planning to film some TV documentaries in seven different locations which have important marine aqua systems.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2013 issue 1
Project update: Floating point
Michel Kreuger, the man behind Amsterdam’s €9m Floating Gardens spa, tells Magali Robathan how the innovative project is shaping up
Everyone's talking about...: Online reviews
Economists have revealed that just half a star difference in online consumer reviews can make or break a business. But are spa operators doing enough to boost their online reputation?
Marketing: Award winning advice
Spa judge Samantha Foster shares her top tips on how to write an award application entry with a winning edge
Interview: Deborah Szekely
The extraordinary Deborah Szekely has spent 73 years in the industry, creating Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door. Her 90th birthday marked the dawn of a new era, with the launch of lobbying organisation Wellness Warrior. She talks to Liz Terry
Research: Recovery begins
Hotel spas in the US are starting to bounce back from the economic downturn. Andrea Foster from PKF Consulting analyses its 2012 Trends® in the Hotel Spa Industry report
Trends: Watch this space
The Brazilian middle class, millennials and gamification will have a significant impact on the spa industry moving forwards. Health and wellness experts at global foresights firm The Futures Company tell us why and suggest other trends to keep an eye out for
Promotion: company profile: Thalgo
Spa Business talks to Bernard Sirop, managing director of Thalgo, about the evolution of the company and where it is set to go in the future
Spa science: Entering the telo-age
Jay Williams explains the science behind telomere health – DNA structures linked to cellular ageing – and how it can be used in spas
Top team: Botanique Hotel & Spa
The hottest new spa in Brazil is backed by leading entrepreneurs including The Body Shop’s Gordon Roddick and AOL co-founder David Cole. We find out more
Promotional feature : Concept development
Special experiences are created when spa concepts are expressed through great design. Kate Corney talks to WTS president Gary Henkin and business partner Doug Chambers, principal of Blu Spas, about concept and branding
Product focus: Amenities - part two
Amenities, which are often overlooked by spa suppliers, can bring in 20 per cent of revenue for a product house. Spa Business get the low-down
Research: Fighting fat
A new type of ‘beige fat’ cell has been found to burn energy rather than store excess calories. Scientists say it could be key to tackling obesity
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
Thalgo’s new Indocéane Spa Ritual and homecare range
When and why did the Sirop family take over Thalgo? My father was a shareholder who thought the potential of Thalgo was huge and under-exploited. In February 1999, he acquired the company, intending to develop a leading French cosmetic line in the professional beauty market, with a reputation for strong innovation and marketing.
What was the most interesting aspect of Thalgo for you? We were attracted by the ‘brand territory’, because the concept of marine cosmetics is powerful and easy to understand, meaning Thalgo has clear positioning in the market. The brand also had a strong reputation for quality products and protocols and was already in 60 countries and doing 70 per cent of its turnover abroad.
Also, the portfolio included two strong flagships: Thalgo La Baule, one of the best thalassotherapy centres in France, and the Villa Thalgo Spa, which was the first marine beauty spa in Paris.
What changes have you implemented at Thalgo? We modernised the brand image. Then we extended Thalgo through the development of nutritional supplements, cosmetics for men, new spa treatments, new ranges and medi-cosmetic equipment. We also implemented a new beauty formulation chart (free of parabens, mineral oils, propylene glycol and GMOs) and launched an organic skincare range, terre & mer by Thalgo in 2009. The same year, we built a new Villa Thalgo, in the heart of Paris, which reflects the quality image of the brand.
Besides the cosmetics range, Thalgo has a number of different business strands. How do they all work together? Over the last 12 years, the company has moved from a single brand entity to a multi-brand, diversified group. Some of this change has come through external acquisitions and some through launches. Firstly, we acquired the professional skincare brand, Ella Baché, in 2003, followed by depilatory company, Perron Rigot, in 2004. Then the Terraké spa brand, which is targeted at the hotel and day spa market, was launched in 2006.
Last year we acquired 45 per cent of Nature Cos, an organic French make-up brand. We believed it would be complementary to our skincare brands, given we had no make-up brand within Thalgo.
We’re not only a manufacturer and supplier of products, but also offer a wide range of services. Owning a beauty school –Ecole Thalgo – gives us a strong competitive advantage, and the basis to develop partnerships with other beauty schools.
In 2001, we created a consulting service – Thalgo Spa Management – which is targeted at spa operators who are looking for management advice. We also have a spa operations division, which runs our spas and beauty salons in France. It’s a real competitive advantage, because it allows us to have a better understanding of our clients’ expectations and needs.
What’s the motivation for running many different businesses? We thought it was necessary to expand our brand portfolio, because expansion opportunities are limited with just one brand. We thought our clients would also benefit from a broader offering, such as wax and make-up. We aim to be the best supplier: not only a brand, but a group with many possibilities.
We have our own integrated research centre, headed by a pharmacist. To boost our marine intelligence, we work closely with renowned algae specialists, who help us to develop exclusive marine active ingredients. We also have a strong partnership with three dermatologists and one university professor, with whom we work to develop active ingredients and innovative products. We also carry out effectiveness studies to back up the efficiency of our formulae and support our claims.
What’s your most successful line? Our anti-ageing line, which launched in 2011. This has three ranges: the Collagen line is aimed at the first stages of wrinkles. It boosts collagen and is supplemented by a youth drink, as we like to work from the inside out. The second range uses hyaluronic acid to plump out deeper wrinkles. The third range – Silicium – smoothes, tones and lifts the skin when it starts to lose tone. This has been tremendously successful and we feel it offers an alternative to invasive surgery.
What trends do you predict for the industry in 2013? We’re seeing a significant shift in consumer attitudes and a focus towards wellness and preventative health treatments and services, rather than just pampering. Consumers are more demanding and they want to see tangible results.
Everybody is stressed, so spas need to provide consumers with effective and achievable ways of destressing, not just with treatments, but by offering relaxation exercises, such as yoga, t’ai chi and meditation, as well to make it more effective.
The male market continues to grow, with an increased interest from men of all ages in facials and nail services, as well as massage, which has always been popular. Spas must adapt to this growing segment to fully optimise their potential for growth.
What are Thalgo’s plans going forward? We have a three year aim to grow worldwide by 25 per cent. This is ambitious in the current climate and we are focusing a lot of our efforts on Asia, which is a growth area. To this end, we created an office in Singapore last year.
The Middle East and North America are also likely to be strong markets and we will be building up partnerships with beauty spas and day spas. We see hotel spas as a strong source of image and brand awareness, so will also be looking to grow this area.
In the longer term, innovation will be the key to growth and we will relaunch our premium line – Exceptional – at the end of 2013. In 2014, we will revamp our slimming range and launch a scientifically proven medical cosmetics range.
We’re also planning to boost the brand visibility, with a newly launched website and a new social media strategy. Excitingly, we have just teamed up with French free diver, Aurore Asso, as we have shared passions about preserving the marine bio-diversity. We are planning to film some TV documentaries in seven different locations which have important marine aqua systems.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2013 issue 1
Project update: Floating point
Michel Kreuger, the man behind Amsterdam’s €9m Floating Gardens spa, tells Magali Robathan how the innovative project is shaping up
Everyone's talking about...: Online reviews
Economists have revealed that just half a star difference in online consumer reviews can make or break a business. But are spa operators doing enough to boost their online reputation?
Marketing: Award winning advice
Spa judge Samantha Foster shares her top tips on how to write an award application entry with a winning edge
Interview: Deborah Szekely
The extraordinary Deborah Szekely has spent 73 years in the industry, creating Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door. Her 90th birthday marked the dawn of a new era, with the launch of lobbying organisation Wellness Warrior. She talks to Liz Terry
Research: Recovery begins
Hotel spas in the US are starting to bounce back from the economic downturn. Andrea Foster from PKF Consulting analyses its 2012 Trends® in the Hotel Spa Industry report
Trends: Watch this space
The Brazilian middle class, millennials and gamification will have a significant impact on the spa industry moving forwards. Health and wellness experts at global foresights firm The Futures Company tell us why and suggest other trends to keep an eye out for
Promotion: company profile: Thalgo
Spa Business talks to Bernard Sirop, managing director of Thalgo, about the evolution of the company and where it is set to go in the future
Spa science: Entering the telo-age
Jay Williams explains the science behind telomere health – DNA structures linked to cellular ageing – and how it can be used in spas
Top team: Botanique Hotel & Spa
The hottest new spa in Brazil is backed by leading entrepreneurs including The Body Shop’s Gordon Roddick and AOL co-founder David Cole. We find out more
Promotional feature : Concept development
Special experiences are created when spa concepts are expressed through great design. Kate Corney talks to WTS president Gary Henkin and business partner Doug Chambers, principal of Blu Spas, about concept and branding
Product focus: Amenities - part two
Amenities, which are often overlooked by spa suppliers, can bring in 20 per cent of revenue for a product house. Spa Business get the low-down
Research: Fighting fat
A new type of ‘beige fat’ cell has been found to burn energy rather than store excess calories. Scientists say it could be key to tackling obesity
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
Aditya Saluja, an industry leader in luxury wellness hospitality, has been
appointed as
commercial director of spa and wellness for the spa management division of
Minor Hotels,
MSpa International.
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, a destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy,
will reveal a new spa in February 2027, which has been designed by wellness expert and
consultant Patrizia Bortolin.
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
