Shinju Spa

Maybe it is the look and feel of the rooms or the treatments they have on offer. Well, in this reporter’s opinion, it is all of these things and so much more that make a truly unforgettable spa experience.

When Gabe and Emily from Shinju Spa invited me and a few of my work colleagues down to Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast to “experience” their newly opened spa we all jumped at the chance... who wouldn’t! So we piled into my car and traveled the hour and a half to Coolangatta. I must say I would have driven further... this was the “true” spa experience that I alluded to above. It had it all and so much more.

Early in 2005 Gabe and Emily noticed a gap in the Gold Coast beauty industry for a boutique spa with a difference. “The influx of people from Sydney and Melbourne demanding a high quality of service was evident and we wanted to fulfill that need” said Emily. With treatments from Elemis including the Skin Specific and Advanced Anti Aging facials, Aroma Spa Ocean Body Wraps, Deep tissue massage, men specific treatments and a tanning option to suit anyone they really have left no stone unturned. There is something here to make anyone feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

But that’s not all, to create the ultimate experience they have opened a Tea & Tonic Bar adjoining called Urban T specializing in pre and post treatment teas and elixirs that just top off your experience.

When we arrived we were greeted by both Gabe and Emily and sat down for a chat with them in the Urban T Bar. But like two proud parents desperate for us to see their “baby” we were quickly ferried off to have a look through.

The glass door opened and we were transported (in their words) “into a world of complete sensory heaven, where time is left at the door and a new journey begins”. I had an instant feeling of calm wash over me as I walked through the Japanese inspired treatment rooms, and I pictured myself lying on the bed in the midst of a facial. The wet room and Vichy shower has to be seen and experienced to be believed and the tanning options are of the highest standards.

Nothing has been left unnoticed at Shinju Spa, Gabe and Emily have thought of everything from individually temperature controlled rooms to that one on one service you expect but so often do not receive. Kristy, our customer development manager and I were lucky enough to receive a Elemis Taster Facial, a half hour treatment which promises an instant pick me up for dull, lifeless skin. It was fantastic! The massage techniques used are an accumulation from those used all over the world and the foot cleanse and arm massage gave the facial that little bit extra. I can’t talk for Kristy but I walked out after my facial feeling everything they said I would... relaxed, rejuvenated and enlightened.

A real point of difference for Shinju Spa, along with the Urban T Bar concept, is that they are the only spa on the Gold Coast using Elemis, a world leader in results driven skin and spa therapies. After my facial I could see why Elemis products are so sought after. Onto the business side, Gabe and Emily are Shortcuts aficionados and use all the features to their advantage. They use and love the newly released Spa version of the software and are very much enjoying the new features including series sales and resources.

Their favorite feature at the moment obviously, as a new salon, is the marketing function. They are using this to manage the database they have already created and to increase it as word of mouth and referral business takes on. “Series Sales is working very well for us,” said Gabe, “not only for spa packages but for our tanning session cards and memberships.”

Gabe and Emily have a huge amount of passion for the industry that they have been involved with collectively for 20 years. With the life mantra “never lose sight of what you set out to achieve”, Gabe and Emily continue to work towards making Shinju Spa the ultimate spa experience not only on the Gold Coast but across Queensland.