Recession Helps Business at Ethos Spa

While most people are cutting back and saving more in this economic climate, Ethos Spa Director Sabrina Gordon says the new spa on Summit Avenue is seeing an influx of clients due to the recession.

'They want to put their best foot forward," Gordon said of professionals in town who are either trying to hold onto current jobs or who are seeking new ones. "This is an investment in themselves."

The spa, which opened May 7, offers a wide range of services including customized facials, dermal fillers, body smoothing, and laser hair removal.

"Our clients are professional women who want to look natural and want to be as beautiful as they can be," Gordon said.

The spa was opened by two board certified physicians: Dr. Hardick Soni and his wife Monika. Dr. Hardick Soni is an emergency room physician and medical director at Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville.

Gordon said the team picked Summit partly because of its location and proximity to New York, but also because of the clientele.

"Summit is really the kind of town we wanted because it is a place where the clients here are educated and committed to living a healthy lifestyle," she said.

The bulk of the spa's business comes from the spa's laser treatments, which require a physician to perform, something Summit was lacking at its existing spas, Gordon said.

"Dr. Soni's hands are amazing," Gordon said. "He understands proportions and what it means to be beautiful."

While Gordon said the spa will work in conjunction with their staff plastic surgeon or area doctors and dermatologists, their facility is non-diagnostic.

As a result, they've used local architects, contractors and interior designers to create a luxurious, non-clinical spa atmosphere.

The services provided at Ethos, Gordan says, result in subtle changes. It's how they got the spas name: Ethos. The word comes from the Greek root meaning a change that happens within. Gordon says it's those small treatments that make the world of difference for most clients.

"It's emotional," she said.

But Gordon also said the types of treatments being offered at Ethos are unique because they are non-invasive. For example, the Velashape treatment uses infrared light and radio frequencies to warm body tissue to 120 degrees, metabolizing and "melting away" the fat.

"Skin care is at a point where women nowadays don't have time to hide for 5 days after a surgery," Gordon said. "We provide services for that woman."

"You'll never leave Ethos looking like you've been poked or prodded," she said.

Ethos also uses natural products in their facials, such as pumpkin enzymes and liquorice and mulberry roots to target under-eye darkness.

"We don't feel we're different," Gordon said of their standing among other spas in town. "Summit is a great spa town. We feel we add something."

The last Thursday of every month Ethos hosts an open-door wine and cheese night for clients and non-clients alike. At these events prospective clients can learn about services and receive free product samples.

Ethos is also giving back to the Summit community this October by giving 10% of the spas proceeds to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure and is also planning a benefit event to raise money for abandoned pets.