Meet The Mentor - Abi Wright

I don’t remember ever thinking about needing a (career) mentor, actively looking for one or having it suggested to me either whilst I was teenager or first starting out in the Industry. This got me thinking - is it more spoken about now? Has everyone realised the importance of sharing their advice, guiding the next generation or being there to support someone with difficult career decisions? Or has it always been there and maybe I was being mentored without realising?

I look back to my first job in Beauty. It was a salon in the nearest town and the owner had been one of the lecturers at my College. It was one of the first and only Elemis salons in the South West (yep it was that long ago) and I remember being so cocky and confident of my abilities when I started (I was CIDESCO trained don’t you know). Obviously I was an amazing therapist already…pah! The experienced and mature team guided me (read re-trained my terrible waxing techniques to name a few) and I really believe they gave me the true confidence to leave the county to further my career. I see now that they were my first mentors and since then I have been incredibly lucky to meet some inspiring, hard working and driven leaders who have taken time to nurture, develop and support me, often I’m sure without realising.

Our Industry, like all, does have its share of people not willing to support, to push people aside and not support or develop their team members. Try and stay away from these people. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and want to make you push yourself. I really can’t stress enough how important it is to reach out, ask questions to your senior team but also if you have advice to give it, help the new girl and share the lessons you have learnt. Ask if there is a mentoring program at your work, research someone in the industry you admire and reach out. Who knows what could bloom and what you could become with the right support.

I really wanted to do a series of blogs talking to some of our Industry’s leaders, changers and inspirational ladies & gents who have changed the outlook of our sector in their own way and style. Some I know well and can proudly say they have supported, inspired or helped me.

This week I am speaking to Abi Wright, founder of Spa Breaks, a website nearly everyone in the industry has heard of or worked with. Many don’t know Abi started this from a simple vision and now employs over 90 staff. A extremely talented business woman, spa lover and someone who wants to make spas accessible for everyone.

Abi is the founder of Spa Breaks, Europe’s largest spa booking agency. Before starting the website she worked in the world of hotel spas for more than ten years and in that time she got to know how many amazing experiences were available. However, she felt that the message wasn’t getting out there and that spas were seen in a very linear way - as the domain of rich, perfect women with perfect lives and lots of money. She wanted to show everything that spas had to offer - from the real wellness side of things to the fun of an afternoon tea with friends and facials and how important all of that is to wellbeing. When she set up Spa Breaks she really wanted to showcase spas differently, market them more dynamically and make it really easy for individuals to find the right spa break for them through the advice and expertise of the team. Her goal was to bridge the divide between commercial success and brand integrity for the many amazing spas in the UK and around the world.

Best piece of advice you were ever given?

Surround yourself with good people. It’s not really something I was told but something I realised very early on. Your team are the people who you spend the most time with, they are the people who help to challenge your ideas and make them happen. They have such a big impact on the experience you have at work and how your business comes across, they really are your biggest asset, and they make the journey fun as well.

What is your perception of spas and do you feel the perception of beauty therapists need to change?

I think in terms of visiting spas there’s still a perception that spas are just luxuries rather than about meaningful wellbeing and I guess that has a knock-on effect in terms of how some people (not all) perceive the work of beauty therapists and spa therapists. The reality of course is that there is huge breadth of skill in the spa and it’s my firm belief that whatever treatment you are having, whatever spa experience you are having, it’s all a fundamental part of modern wellbeing in a really meaningful way. The other thing I am really passionate about is bringing a greater appreciation of the commerciality and commercial potential of spas. We work with spas to help make all the wonderful wellness facilities and knowledge they have to offer into a commercially viable, profitable business. I firmly believe that wellness and commerciality can go hand in hand without compromising on integrity. Understanding that spas are serious businesses is vital for attracting people with vision and determination to drive individual destinations, and the industry as a whole, forward.

Best kept secret spa & which treatment would you pick and why?

Oh gosh I really couldn’t choose just one! I have been saying for a while though that I think the spas in Ireland are not given even half enough credit for the amazing breadth of facilities, services and experiences that are available. I think the secret is slowly getting out, especially with the likes of Galgorm Resort and Spa making a real name for itself in both the wellbeing and luxury hotel market. In England meanwhile, spas have really stepped up their game in the last few years. Whether they’re boutique spas like Ringwood Hall, wellbeing retreats like Homefield Grange, or vast and exceptional spa hotels like Rudding Park, which has added an exceptional rooftop spa garden into the mix, I think it’s a really exciting time for spas.

How do you practice wellbeing in your workplace?

From a small team of three, we have grown to a family of more than 90 members of staff with an office of knowledgeable spa consultants in Brighton. Preferring to practice what we preach, we believe in the importance of a good work/life balance so in 2017 we moved our team offices from London to Brighton to allow for easier commuting and the healing powers of a seaside location. This coincided with a number of initiatives coming to fruition as well. We reduced the working day by 30 minutes, extended holiday to 25 days as standard, and introduced wellbeing support to the office with regular chair massages and yoga sessions.

What do you wish you had known before taking your first management role?

That other people are also learning as they go along as well.

If you could tell your 18 yr old self one thing what would it be?

You’re going to prove your teachers wrong! I didn’t really stand out at school and when I was about to leave, my careers teacher told me I wouldn’t amount to much. It became a real driving force for me, but clearly it also haunted me! Then again if I had known that I would have my own business when I was 18 I might not have tried so hard, so perhaps it’s a blessing I didn’t know that then!

Thanks to Abi for her wonderful insight!