SMME #463 From Military Leadership to Spa CEO: Ashley's Journey to Building a Team That Actually Works

What does a former military and law enforcement professional know about building a successful spa team? Everything.   In this special episode, Daniela introduces Ashley, Addo's newest coaching team member, whose unique background in military leadership and law enforcement has translated into exceptional team building and spa management skills. From putting mud on her skin as a child to leading a thriving spa with a team that's been together for years, Ashley's journey is both unconventional and incredibly insightful.   If you've ever struggled with hiring the wrong people, felt stuck because you can't step out of the treatment room, or wondered how some spa owners seem to build dream teams while you're constantly dealing with turnover, this conversation will change your perspective.   In this episode, we discuss:  How military and law enforcement leadership principles translate directly to spa business success The "ideal employee avatar" concept and why it's as important as your ideal client avatar Why hiring from scarcity always leads to the wrong team members The difference between honoring your team's unique communication styles while maintaining non negotiable standards How to delegate effectively without losing control of quality or culture Why your first hire doesn't have to be perfect and what to do when alignment isn't there The 90 day probationary period strategy that protects your team culture   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Feeling overwhelmed by social media? You're not alone. In this episode, Daniela breaks down exactly how to create a sustainable social media strategy that doesn't require you to be glued to your phone or film content daily.   Whether you're drowning in daily tasks or ready to scale strategically, you'll discover how to build an editorial calendar with evergreen content that works for you while you focus on being a Spa CEO.   In this episode, we discuss:  • The exact four content categories that keep your feed balanced and engaging  • How to create 48 pieces of evergreen content that cycle for months  • The specific AI tools and scheduling platforms that do the heavy lifting  • How to batch content creation in just 2 to 3 hours  • The engagement strategy that takes only 15 minutes, three times per week  • Why consistency doesn't mean you have to post manually every day   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

What if your entire year could be guided by just one word? In this episode, Daniela sits down with Addo Coach, Sara Sykes-Moore to explore how choosing a word of the year can anchor your mindset, decision-making, and business strategy. From navigating AI adoption to handling unexpected challenges (yes, including a deer running through your house), this conversation reveals why openness and resiliency are the two superpowers every spa CEO needs in 2026. Whether you're rebuilding systems, testing new strategies, or simply trying to find clarity in the chaos, this episode will help you identify the theme that will guide your most successful year yet. In this episode, we discuss:  Why 2025 felt like a year of transformation and uncertainty for so many spa owners How choosing a word of the year creates focus and clarity in business Why entrepreneurship is your greatest personal development teacher (besides kids) How to honor yourself while serving your clients and team at the highest level   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Is the thought of raising your prices making you anxious? You're not alone, but here's the truth: if you're not increasing prices annually, you're slowly putting yourself out of business. In this episode, Daniela tackles one of the most uncomfortable but essential aspects of running a sustainable spa business: strategic price increases. Whether you're keeping pace with inflation or making a bigger jump to get your pricing where it needs to be, this episode walks you through exactly how to do it with confidence and clarity. In this episode, we discuss:   Why annual price increases are essential for business survival (not greed)   The two scenarios: incremental 2 to 5% increases vs. the "rip the band aid" approach   Effective communication strategies for announcing price changes   Scripts for handling client pushback with confidence   Year end promotion strategies to help clients lock in current pricing   Why losing some clients is part of healthy business growth   Resources Mentioned in Episode #460:  Why and How to Raise Your Spa Prices in January (Without Losing Everyone)   Price Increase Communication Templates (DM us on Instagram @addoaesthetics)  Cost of Treatment and Profitability Tracker (available in Growth Factor Fundamentals)   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Q4 isn't just about hitting revenue goals. It's about setting yourself up for sustainable success in the new year.   In this episode, Daniela walks you through the seven essential CEO tasks every spa owner needs to complete before December 31. From team performance reviews to financial planning, product pricing strategy to systems audits, this tactical checklist will help you close out the year with clarity and step into the new year with confidence.   What you'll learn during this episode:  • How to conduct strategic team performance reviews in October (and why doing them all at once saves time and money)  • The financial planning conversation you need to have with your CPA before year end • How to audit your product pricing and profitability to protect your margins  • The difference between a growth year and a sustain year (and how to decide which one you need)  • How to build your annual marketing calendar with 18 month vision and quarterly execution • The systems and software review that could save you thousands of dollars  • How to block CEO time in 2026 before your calendar fills up   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

What does it take to pivot from a $25 million clothing empire to launching a facial bar franchise during a global pandemic? In this inspiring episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, Daniela sits down with Michele, founder of Face Foundrié®, to explore her remarkable entrepreneurial journey from fashion retail to facial bars. Michele shares the raw truth about selling her nine-location clothing chain and then five minutes later, launching Face Foundrié®. This was just months before COVID hit, and she built a franchise model that sold out Minnesota in 30 days. This conversation goes deep into the realities of franchising, from navigating legal complexities to empowering franchisees while maintaining brand consistency. Whether you're considering franchising your spa concept or simply want to learn from a serial entrepreneur who's built multiple million-dollar businesses, this episode delivers actionable insights and genuine inspiration.   In this episode, we discuss:  How to know if franchising is right for your spa business The critical legal and financial foundations needed before franchising Why Michele chose the "sisters, not twins" approach for her locations The difference between being a franchisee versus starting from scratch How to maintain brand consistency across multiple locations and states Strategic ways to support franchisees without stifling their entrepreneurial spirit The mindset shift required to go from solo spa owner to franchisor   Resources Mentioned in Episode #458: From Apparel Empire to Facial Bar Franchise: Michele's Journey Building Face Foundrié®   Face Foundrié®  Face Foundrié® on Instagram Michele on Instagram   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

What if gratitude could become your most powerful growth strategy this November? In this episode, Daniela reveals how to transform authentic client appreciation into a systematic referral engine that drives sustainable revenue growth without feeling salesy or transactional. You'll learn how to combine strategic gratitude campaigns with a scalable referral system that your entire team can execute. Whether you're feeling stuck at a revenue plateau or ready to break through to seven figures, this three-phase framework will show you exactly how to turn thanksgiving into bookings, referrals, and long-term client value. Spa CEOs will discover the exact scripts, tracking systems, and KPIs needed to make referral marketing predictable and repeatable, not just a nice idea that never gets implemented. In this episode, we discuss:  Why referred clients have 37% higher retention rates and spend 200% more than non-referred clients The three-phase "Booked and Thankful" framework for November growth How to systemize gratitude at scale using tracking boards and team accountability Exact referral scripts that feel natural, not salesy, for three key client touchpoints Advanced KPIs including referral ask rate, participation rate, and conversion benchmarks How to build professional partnerships that generate consistent referral traffic Compliance considerations for referral programs in medical spas   Resources Mentioned in Episode #457:  Booked and Thankful: How Spas Turn Gratitude Into a Referral Engine   Monday.com for referral tracking systems Growth Factor® Fundamentals   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Are you using AI to replace human connection, or to create more of it? In this episode, Daniela and Lucy dive into how AI tools are transforming spa marketing by handling the repetitive tasks that drain your time, freeing you to do what matters most: build genuine relationships in your local community. You'll discover why the next five years will demand deeper local connections, how to become "the mayor of your town," and practical strategies for transforming content across platforms in minutes instead of hours. Whether you're drowning in content creation or struggling to find time for community engagement, this conversation will shift how you think about AI, productivity, and building a thriving spa business rooted in authentic relationships. In this episode, we discuss:  Why AI should enhance human connection, not replace it How to become a community pillar through local engagement opportunities The evolution of social media marketing and content creation strategies How to transform one piece of content across multiple platforms efficiently How we 5x productivity gains while reducing team size Why being present in your community matters more than ever   Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Remember when blogging felt like midnight writing sessions and endless editing? It's back, but this time it's different. In this Marketing Month episode, Daniela and Lucy dive into why consistent blogging has become one of the most powerful SEO tools for spa businesses in 2025. With AI making content creation faster than ever, strategic blog posts help you build authority with search engines, attract your ideal clients, and establish your spa as the go-to expert in your market. If you're ready to dominate local search, this episode gives you the practical strategy to make blogging work without the burnout. What you'll learn during this episode: Why 2025 is "the year of the blog" for spa businesses How consistent content builds trust with Google and increases your authority score The difference between static websites and living, breathing online storefronts Using AI tools like ChatGPT to create first drafts without losing your authentic voice The "human eyes on it" rule for AI-generated content Practical SEO tips including indexing, meta descriptions, and keyword strategy Why updating your website regularly matters more than you think Resources Mentioned in Episode #455: Marketing Month Part 3: Why Blogging is Back (And How AI Makes It Easy) Growth Factor Fundamentals (Access done-for-you marketing resources) Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder of Addo Aesthetics and creator of the Growth Factor® Framework, a proven system that's helped hundreds of spa owners build profitable, systemized businesses. With nearly 20 years in the aesthetics industry, she transforms overworked aesthetic professionals into confident Spa CEOs through strategy, systems, and soul led support. Daniela is also the host of Spa Marketing Made Easy, a top ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, where she shares real world strategies to help spa professionals grow with clarity and confidence.

Still chasing the latest AI tool without knowing what problem it solves? In this episode, Daniela and Lucy shift the conversation from tool obsession to strategic problem solving. You'll discover how to track your lead sources, calculate your true client acquisition costs, and use AI to strengthen your marketing foundation. If you're ready to scale with data, this episode walks you through a quick way to understand where your clients come from, what it costs to acquire them, and how to optimize your efforts with AI. In this episode, we discuss:  How to track lead sources with a simple notebook system at your front desk Why SEO optimization and weekly blog posts matter for spa lead generation How to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Whisper Flow to create content faster Moving from shiny object syndrome to strategic AI implementation Resources Mentioned in Episode #454:  Marketing Month Part 2: Using AI to Solve Real Marketing Problems (Not Just Add More Tools) Wispr Flow for voice to text transcription Keep the conversation going inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Community by clicking here. IG / @addoaesthetics WEB / addoaesthetics.com YOUTUBE / @addoaesthetics LINKEDIN / @addoaesthetics   ABOUT THE SPA MARKETING MADE EASY HOST      About Your Host, Daniela Woerner Daniela Woerner is the founder and CEO of Addo Aesthetics, a leading community for aesthetic professionals, and the creator of the Growth Factor® Framework—a proven system that has helped 582 six- and seven-figure spa owners scale their businesses with strategy and systems. With nearly two decades in the aesthetics industry, Daniela has trained alongside top physician-dispensed brands, consulted with leading dermatologists, and helped thousands of spa professionals streamline their operations and maximize profitability. Her mission? To transform overworked aesthetic professionals into Spa CEOs—building a business and life they love with the strategic systems needed for long-term financial growth. As the host of the Spa Marketing Made Easy podcast, Daniela brings expert insights, real-world strategies, and in-depth conversations to help spa owners elevate their marketing, optimize their operations, and create sustainable success. With over 400 published episodes, 1 million+ downloads, and a ranking in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide, Spa Marketing Made Easy is the go-to resource for spa and aesthetic professionals looking to level up. Tune in each week for actionable strategies, expert interviews, and inspiration to help you build a thriving, systemized, and scalable spa business!