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Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales
for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the
company is helping spa operators become
more efficient with space-saving but
stylish spa equipment and accessories
Paris has experience in both design and operations
As a leading spa equipment manufacturer, what problems does Living Earth Crafts seek to solve for operators? One of the most frustrating aspects for operators is all the various components that have to be integrated into the treatments room, which are often already very challenged for space. So facilities end up with a room full of separate pieces of equipment and storage that don’t have any cohesiveness about them.
For example, stone warmers and hot towel warmers have traditionally been large unsightly units, often made from white plastic, that don’t fit into the kind of spa design that we’ve seen trending in recent years.
Simply making them in a different colour doesn’t really work, as they still stand out in a room, and often have to be right in the middle of the floor. They tend to have a look and a style that’s generations older.
What’s the solution? Eliminating the clutter and increasing functionality are two key aspects that we’ve been focused on at Living Earth Crafts. A crowded treatment room is something that really takes away from the experience element of the spa.
A few years ago I started to study the trends happening in the home kitchen industry with all the clean lines and integrated cabinetry, and saw that I could create the same kind of integration with a massage table, with external components that slotted seamlessly in or underneath.
Tell us about your new launches? We’ve just launched an integrated hot warming drawer that can be used for hot towels or stones, or to warm spa linens. It’s a handcrafted warmer that looks beautifully modern, and slides seamlessly under any of our massage tables.
We were not able to find an acceptable unit that existed for a spa’s needs, so we set out to build a custom-created system. It has a complete digital control system, with temperature presets so there’s no worry about scalding anyone. There’s no more dings or ticking timers, as we’ve included a built-in digital timer for 2, 4, 6 or 10 hours with automatic cut off.
The multi-functional drawer is also available as a retrofit for any massage table. Currently, our drawer is able to mount in the side or fit at either end of a table. Its multiple heat settings are pre-adjusted for working with hot towels, a medium setting for stones, and a low setting for warming linens and robes.
Our other product is targeted specifically at the smaller spas and chains, many of which opt for the pedestal or scissor-lift tables, because they are more economical and create more floor space than traditional cabinet tables.
With these tables, traditionally therapists have had to use a bolster but there is no easy or convenient location to store them or keep them easily at hand.
So we’ve designed a very simple yet effective accessory to answer this problem. We’ve created a lightweight metal bolster holder that sits underneath the massage table. It can’t be seen when the table is draped, yet it’s very easy for the therapist to reach out with one hand and put the bolster into position when needed.
What’s your background? I’ve been involved in the designing, building and operating of spas for over 20 years, so I understand the problems from both sides. When I first transitioned to the spa/wellness industry, I also put myself through massage school and worked as a therapist so I could truly understand the operational issues at first hand.
Tell us more about the company... Living Earth Craft and sister company EarthLite are the world’s largest spa furniture manufacturers. We operate four spa equipment companies, and we’re in 160 countries worldwide, selling more than 45,000 massage tables a year
Living Earth Crafts is our brand for the high-end resorts, hotels, casinos and retreats. EarthLite is the biggest brand in the mid spa market and also supplies the training schools and independent therapists. StrongLite is our brand for therapists and schools only, and Inner Strength is a budget line for students or the home wellness market.
What are your eco credentials? Sustainability is one of our core missions. Our message is that wood is a very precious commodity. We do all our own sourcing, milling and manufacturing.
We own a factory in China – it’s the only way we can guarantee that we are dealing with 100 per cent FSC Forest woods. We use every bit of the wood with no wastage – even the sawdust goes to local farmers. Also, all our Living Earth Craft products are made in our factory in California.
About eight years ago we also completely eliminated polymers from our table tops and now only use PU vinyl, which is a recyclable product. The chemical additives in PVC are awful, and even though they may prolong the life of a table, we believe eliminating it just makes it a much better product.
Of course it makes a chink in our profit, but it’s a really important message for us and we don’t want to compromise. For the same reasons, we only use water-based lacquers on our woods.
Who are your clients? We supply a large segment of the market, almost up to 80 percent of spas in the US, and we’re also strong in China and Asia.
Europe was our biggest single focus last year, and we now supply a majority of major spas in Europe, working with the industry leading companies like ESPA International, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott and Four Seasons for example, right through to smaller independent operators.
All the big brands are entering Europe and as they develop, our partnership allows us to develop with them.
What about your client support? In Europe, we have warehousing in Rotterdam, a factory outside Paris and carry live product inventories worldwide.
We’ve handpicked three really great European distributors to work with – Spa Vision, Ellisons and Beauty Express, who can really service our business on the ground and offer the best hands-on technical support and expertise to our clients. Each handles a variety of clients across the industry and they are all truly top-notch providers.
What do you love about the spa industry? I really love the challenge of helping spa clients to bridge the gap between the technology, the furniture and the spa operations. Gimmicks and gaudy designs are easy to create, but I prefer to help spa therapists with practical solutions...ones that make a real difference in their work.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales
for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the
company is helping spa operators become
more efficient with space-saving but
stylish spa equipment and accessories
Paris has experience in both design and operations
As a leading spa equipment manufacturer, what problems does Living Earth Crafts seek to solve for operators? One of the most frustrating aspects for operators is all the various components that have to be integrated into the treatments room, which are often already very challenged for space. So facilities end up with a room full of separate pieces of equipment and storage that don’t have any cohesiveness about them.
For example, stone warmers and hot towel warmers have traditionally been large unsightly units, often made from white plastic, that don’t fit into the kind of spa design that we’ve seen trending in recent years.
Simply making them in a different colour doesn’t really work, as they still stand out in a room, and often have to be right in the middle of the floor. They tend to have a look and a style that’s generations older.
What’s the solution? Eliminating the clutter and increasing functionality are two key aspects that we’ve been focused on at Living Earth Crafts. A crowded treatment room is something that really takes away from the experience element of the spa.
A few years ago I started to study the trends happening in the home kitchen industry with all the clean lines and integrated cabinetry, and saw that I could create the same kind of integration with a massage table, with external components that slotted seamlessly in or underneath.
Tell us about your new launches? We’ve just launched an integrated hot warming drawer that can be used for hot towels or stones, or to warm spa linens. It’s a handcrafted warmer that looks beautifully modern, and slides seamlessly under any of our massage tables.
We were not able to find an acceptable unit that existed for a spa’s needs, so we set out to build a custom-created system. It has a complete digital control system, with temperature presets so there’s no worry about scalding anyone. There’s no more dings or ticking timers, as we’ve included a built-in digital timer for 2, 4, 6 or 10 hours with automatic cut off.
The multi-functional drawer is also available as a retrofit for any massage table. Currently, our drawer is able to mount in the side or fit at either end of a table. Its multiple heat settings are pre-adjusted for working with hot towels, a medium setting for stones, and a low setting for warming linens and robes.
Our other product is targeted specifically at the smaller spas and chains, many of which opt for the pedestal or scissor-lift tables, because they are more economical and create more floor space than traditional cabinet tables.
With these tables, traditionally therapists have had to use a bolster but there is no easy or convenient location to store them or keep them easily at hand.
So we’ve designed a very simple yet effective accessory to answer this problem. We’ve created a lightweight metal bolster holder that sits underneath the massage table. It can’t be seen when the table is draped, yet it’s very easy for the therapist to reach out with one hand and put the bolster into position when needed.
What’s your background? I’ve been involved in the designing, building and operating of spas for over 20 years, so I understand the problems from both sides. When I first transitioned to the spa/wellness industry, I also put myself through massage school and worked as a therapist so I could truly understand the operational issues at first hand.
Tell us more about the company... Living Earth Craft and sister company EarthLite are the world’s largest spa furniture manufacturers. We operate four spa equipment companies, and we’re in 160 countries worldwide, selling more than 45,000 massage tables a year
Living Earth Crafts is our brand for the high-end resorts, hotels, casinos and retreats. EarthLite is the biggest brand in the mid spa market and also supplies the training schools and independent therapists. StrongLite is our brand for therapists and schools only, and Inner Strength is a budget line for students or the home wellness market.
What are your eco credentials? Sustainability is one of our core missions. Our message is that wood is a very precious commodity. We do all our own sourcing, milling and manufacturing.
We own a factory in China – it’s the only way we can guarantee that we are dealing with 100 per cent FSC Forest woods. We use every bit of the wood with no wastage – even the sawdust goes to local farmers. Also, all our Living Earth Craft products are made in our factory in California.
About eight years ago we also completely eliminated polymers from our table tops and now only use PU vinyl, which is a recyclable product. The chemical additives in PVC are awful, and even though they may prolong the life of a table, we believe eliminating it just makes it a much better product.
Of course it makes a chink in our profit, but it’s a really important message for us and we don’t want to compromise. For the same reasons, we only use water-based lacquers on our woods.
Who are your clients? We supply a large segment of the market, almost up to 80 percent of spas in the US, and we’re also strong in China and Asia.
Europe was our biggest single focus last year, and we now supply a majority of major spas in Europe, working with the industry leading companies like ESPA International, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott and Four Seasons for example, right through to smaller independent operators.
All the big brands are entering Europe and as they develop, our partnership allows us to develop with them.
What about your client support? In Europe, we have warehousing in Rotterdam, a factory outside Paris and carry live product inventories worldwide.
We’ve handpicked three really great European distributors to work with – Spa Vision, Ellisons and Beauty Express, who can really service our business on the ground and offer the best hands-on technical support and expertise to our clients. Each handles a variety of clients across the industry and they are all truly top-notch providers.
What do you love about the spa industry? I really love the challenge of helping spa clients to bridge the gap between the technology, the furniture and the spa operations. Gimmicks and gaudy designs are easy to create, but I prefer to help spa therapists with practical solutions...ones that make a real difference in their work.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
