Ardis Schmitt wishes she had a crystal ball to see into the future.
The owner of Revive Medical Spa in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has had her business’s doors closed since March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Things were booming for Revive Medical Spa before COVID-19, something which she can’t help but lament these days.
“Life was fantastic before COVID-19. We are in our third year of business. We had 50 percent growth year over year. Nobody has that crystal ball as to what will happen in the summer and fall,” Ardis said.
“I think we are well-positioned to make people feel comfortable, despite COVID-19. That’s why I feel like we will have people coming back pretty steadily when we reopen.”
What The Future Holds
Ardis has a plan for when Revive Medical Spa opens again. Separating her customers into different rooms and keeping up her reputation of keeping an immaculately clean business is where it will begin. She already has removed the oxygen bar that used to be a featured service.
“We’ve always been clean, and my customers know that,” Ardis said. “For many procedures, we will wear a mask. We will do everything we can to protect our clients and our staff. Each individual customer will go into different treatment rooms.
“Anything that was a communal area has been taken away. Everybody will be brought in and immediately taken to a treatment room. And we will have an easy mobile checkout process.”
Ardis is already setting up appointments in June for the reopening. She is hoping for pent-up demand based on her customers’ needs.
“Our regular customers know that we will be making some changes,” she said. “I want to be one to take care of anything people need. From people who drop a black credit card down, to someone who just wants a $20 Vitamin B-12 shot, I want to help any way I can.”
One obstacle to recovery may be the spa’s location near Detroit. Farmington Hills is only 25 miles away from the Motor City, which has been a hotspot for COVID-19 in the United States.
“We have been an epicenter for the virus. It’s a little bit better in remote areas of Michigan. I expect us to stay closed until June 1. That’s how it’s looking right now,” Ardis said.
Equipment Makes A Difference
Revive Medical Spa offers the latest in aesthetic treatments and solutions. Ardis, who has been certified by the National Laser Institute, also offers sclerotherapy and micro-needling.
She has financed four different pieces of equipment with Stearns Bank to offer advanced and quality treatments. She has financed two different Vivace RF microneedle devices that help with anti-aging, the Subnovii LF Advance Plasma device that rejuvenates skin, and the Deka Motus AY Alex Laser that offers painless hair and vessel reduction. Ardis takes education courses to learn new techniques and treatments.
Ardis said without the help of Stearns Bank’s Equipment Finance Division, she wouldn’t have been able to afford these advanced pieces of equipment.
“A lot of our success was based on the equipment we have financed through Stearns Bank. It has helped us grow like crazy,” she said.
When COVID-19 hit, Ardis called Stearns Bank to defer payments with no penalty and no interest. The relief was needed since she can’t offer services outside of the storefront location.
“Stearns Bank had a process in place for people like me, they followed it and that was good enough for me. I know other med spa owners who weren’t able to get this kind of relief from equipment payments,” Ardis said. “This equipment has been so vital for me. It has created more foot traffic and allowed for more business to come in.
“I would absolutely come back to Stearns Bank to finance more equipment again.”
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