Wednesday, 7 December 2016

Introduction

JQ Spa is a CAT 1 spa that operates 24 hours a day and is located at neighborhood areas. JQ Spa uses a lot of green and brown for their designs and layouts. These colours gives off a therapeutic feel of healing and calming.


Blk 56 New Upper Changi Road
#01-1320
Singapore 461056

Reception Counter
Waiting / Resting Area




Sales and Marketing


Facebook Page

We did not find any official website for JQ Spa, but they do have a Facebook page!
 It includes basic information about the spa such as locations of their different outlets, operating hours, contact details and some photos too !

Welcoming faces of the staffs !


Based on the information provided on the Facebook Page, we find that it could be further improved as it was not informative enough...
For example, they can include their spa menu, as well as the updates of promotions to attract new customers !

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When we were just looking around outside the spa during our site visit, the spa receptionist came over to open the door for us and invited us into the spa. How nice and attentive of her !

She patiently answered to our enquiries and even handed us a name card. When our eyes glanced through the entire reception area, the spa menu located next to the counter caught our attention !



Call us maybe?

We were greeted by this big spa menu!!!

HOWEVER... We felt that it did not meet the standards of the 5 GOLDEN RULES of a spa menu.
Below are its Good and Bad points.




Spa Reservation and Reception Experience

Reservation

We called JQ spa with the aim of clearing our doubts and making of reservation.

During the call, the spa receptionist was rushing us into making our reservations despite us telling her that we would like to ask a few questions beforehand. However, she did eventually welcome our questions and answered them patiently.

Through the conversation, we felt that the spa receptionist was familiar with their products, and was able to recommend and advise us with the types of massages that we can do as some of us have sensitive skin issues. In terms of language proficiency, the staffs were able to speak fluent Chinese since most of them came from China. However, not all the staffs are comfortable in communicating in English.

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Spa Visit

“Have you made an appointment?”

We were greeted by the spa receptionist upon arrival at the spa.

Despite the fact that we have made a reservation with the spa, the receptionist did not acknowledge our reservation and straightaway asked us to fill up the “log-in” book.

We feel that she should make an effort to cross-check and double confirm with us, for example
“Ms Goh, Reservation for 4 people?”

Time to sign in ! 

The spa receptionist was quite rude when attending us. She showed us the “annoyed” face when being asked questions and started to get irritated when she was unable to clear our doubts.

Moreover, she even answered a call while attending to us. We were left dumbfounded when being interrupted abruptly and rudely. This unacceptable behavior was unfortunately repeated thrice and we were quite upset about it.


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Upon payment, we requested for receipts to be issued. However, we were told that it would only be given after our massage.


By the end of the session, the spa receptionist who attended to us before had totally forgotten about it. We have to request it once again from another receptionist who was new to the place. She was not well-trained and equipped with the necessary knowledge of the cashiering system and thus, took quite a long time to issue the receipt. However, she felt bad to keep us waiting and kept apologizing.


Therefore, we feel that there should be a Standard Operating Procedure in the spa, whereby all the staffs will be trained in all areas and provide a standard service to all customers.

Receipts

After the spa visit, we realized that there were some inconsistencies in terms of recommending the signature treatment.

For example, when we called to make a reservation and enquire on their signature treatment, the staff told us that rejuvenation therapy was their most popular massage. However during our spa visit, another staff mentioned that the Chinese-style, Swedish and Aroma Oil Massages are the most popular treatments instead.


We felt that they should have a standardized signature treatment and introduce it to all customers.

Standardization and Consistency !

Types of oils used 

In addition, some of the staffs were unsure about their products.
For example, when we asked for the types of oils used for aroma oil massage, the spa receptionist was able to mention that the commonly used oil is lavender oil.

On the other hand, during our phone call, the spa receptionist simply mentioned ‘normal oil’ without any further explanation. She was unable to describe and elaborate further.


However, she did suggest and recommend us to opt for sports massage that does not require any oil, giving us another alternative that is safer for guests who have sensitive skin.




Spa Design, Ambience & Maintenance


WELCOME!!!


JQ seems rather pleasant when we went for our site visit.
CLEAN. NEAT. BRIGHTLY-LIT. NICE DECORATIONS.
Moreover, the spa menu mounted on the wall showed the types, duration and prices of the massages.



PICK ME ! XD

The stairs leading us up to level 2 was so narrow and quite steep!
KEEP YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN If you did not walk properly, you would go tumbling down the stairs! One attractive feature of the staircase was the decorations using brown strings and green leaves, giving off an ECO feel.


Time to go UP ! ^^

We observed that there was a small tinted window on every treatment room door.

We felt insecure when we were undressing in the room.
Besides that, we suspect that some of the windows were actually spoilt, as they are using a piece of paper to block out some of the windows on the treatment doors.

WHY??? O.O

Overall, the whole spa was rather relaxing due to the warm effect given out by the yellowish-orange color lighting.
In addition, they played a mixture of both classical and instrumental music as background music which gave a relaxing effect.

WOWWW

Individual shower room with vanity, as well as hand sanitizer are available in each treatment room.

Oily-Oily
Time to Shower! 
Washroom with basin is available at the ground floor.

Urgent ! 

Each treatment room also had a clock for the massage therapist to keep track of the time.

Time Check !


Lastly, we felt that lockers should be provided for customers to keep their belongings, especially valuables.

Spa Therapists and Spa Treatment

Treatment Room

After we went our separate ways to our individual massage rooms, some of us were given instructions to undress ourselves and get changed, while some were not. As this was the first massage experience for some of us, we felt a little lost after being guided into the room.

Therefore, we felt that JQ Spa should have a policy whereby all the therapists should brief their customers on what to do prior to their treatments. Short and clear instructions would be much appreciated.

Another thing we realized was the inconsistency in the services provided. Even though all of us chose the same massage, some of us had a chance to experience a full body massage, from head to toe, while others did not - missing the head or the feet massage. To be fair, we felt that all of us should have received the same amount of treatment we paid for.

In addition, we felt that peace and quietness is very important during the massage, in order for us to fully relax and enjoy the whole process. However, renovation works could be heard from the surrounding neighborhood. It was quite disturbing and noisy. It happened a few times, lasting for a few minutes each.


Moreover, one of our therapists even brought her phone into the treatment room and answered the calls 3 times within the 1 hour massage. It was quite disturbing and annoying. She did not even excuse herself.
Instead, she stopped massaging and answered the phone call. We felt that it was quite rude.

Also, as the walls of each treatment rooms are not soundproof, some of us were able to hear the conversation next door. Even though we understand that this is not some high class spa, but we still hope that we can remain undisturbed for just an hour massage.


Apart from the noise, we were most upset on the issue of Privacy and Modesty !

The therapists did not knock or wait for our reply before entering the massage room. Even though all of us are ladies, but we felt that are privacy was invaded as some of us was not even done with undressing. How would you feel when someone walk into your room while you are half naked? 

Therefore, we felt that they should at least knock the door, or wait for our reply and acknowledgement before entering the room.

Last but not least, even though our massage sessions were disturbed, some of the therapists were very caring. At the end of the massage session, they offered us a cup of warm water. Besides that, our massage costs $55 for an hour, we felt that it was a pretty decent price. 


Conclusion

In conclusion, based on our observations and experiences in JQ Spa, we believe that there are still many factors that JQ Spa can improve on. With the improvements made, we believe that they will be able to attract more crowds and earn more revenue.