Spa Businesses Coming Together - Is It a Good Match?
by Susie Ellis
SpaFinder Insider

Last Wednesday evening I had dinner with Nancy Griffin, founder of Spa Trade and Spa Exec, and Joyce Jamison, Vice President/Group Publisher of Questex's Beauty & Spa Media Group which publishes American Spa and American Salon Magazines. It was a chance for the three of us – all with varied careers in the spa world – to share experiences, opinions and ideas.

Of course the big news, is that Joyce’s company, Questex, just purchased Nancy’s companies, Spa Trade and Spa Exec.

I think it was a smart move and the kind of consolidation we will likely see more of in the future. Spa Trade and Spa Exec seems to fit well into the Questex portfolio.

I have known Nancy for many years – ever since we bonded over a shared interest in spa data when she was at Cornell. Peter and Nancy have always enjoyed a common interest and understanding of the value of the Internet for the spa industry. (Many years ago there were few who saw the possibilities, however Nancy and Peter were always on the same page.) Nancy worked for SpaFinder briefly when she ran our day spa retreats. We have seen her grow from someone interested in the spa arena to someone who now has great influence in it. In some ways, she has even become a sort of "watchdog" for our industry. While her tendency to sound alarms may not always make her the most popular person in the room, she is more often than not, right.

Joyce and I had met before although we have never had the chance to spend time together so dinner with Nancy in New York was a treat. Of course I read American Spa magazine cover to cover and have always enjoyed and admired the magazine. Since American Spa is sent directly to subscribers and is not sold on newsstands, it is possible to have beautiful covers on which you don’t have to have a lot of cover lines (they help with newsstand sales). Joyce seems like a
kind-hearted person with a good sense of "next steps" for our industry.

We will all have to stay tuned to see how their new collaboration works. My guess is that it will be a home run.

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