FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #16 The Art of Self-Care: How Collage Spa Creates a Community of Connection
The wellness journey can be challenging, especially when quality services require a long commute. Brian Lam, owner of Collage Spa, recognized this gap in Fredericksburg and created something extraordinary - a sanctuary where premium spa experiences typically found in major cities became accessible locally.
When Brian moved from New York in 2010, he brought with him not just expertise in massage and skincare, but a vision for what self-care should feel like. "There were things I enjoyed that were further away, and I felt like I could bring that here," he shares. Today, Collage Spa operates three thriving locations across Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and Spotsylvania, offering a comprehensive range of services from massages and skincare to nails, acupuncture, waxing, and hydrafacials.
What makes Collage truly special goes beyond its services. As a former therapist himself, Brian created a business that occupies the sweet spot between franchise operations and individual practitioners. "I know what it's like to be in the room," he explains, which has shaped his approach to supporting staff while maintaining the highest standards for clients. This philosophy has paid dividends - after 15 years in business, Collage boasts impressive staff retention rates and a loyal customer base.
The name "Collage" perfectly captures Brian's vision - just as an art collage combines different elements to create something beautiful, guests can mix and match services to craft their perfect self-care day. Whether you're seeking a quick escape from parenting responsibilities, a bonding experience with your child through parent-child nail services, or a social outing with friends before dinner downtown, Collage provides the setting for meaningful connections.
As Brian aptly puts it, Collage is "the spa where everyone knows your name" - a testament to the community they've built. His heartfelt message resonates beyond business: "Self-care has real value in your life... I want to empower people to do it." Experience the difference for yourself by visiting www.collagespa.com or calling to customize your perfect spa day.
Brian Lam
Collage Spa
(540) 479-6470
info@collagespa.com
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2:Welcome to another episode of the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. Today we have a fantastic neighbor to introduce you to. Brian Lam is the owner of Collage Spa. Brian, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me. Nice to be here with you, Dori.
Speaker 2:I am so excited. Can you please share with the listeners a little bit about your business?
Speaker 3:Sure, we're Collage Spa and we have three locations one in downtown Fredericksburg, the second one was Culpeper downtown Fredericksburg. The second one was Culpeper, and then we just opened our third location in Spotsylvania, by the hilltop levels and courthouse area. So now we have three spas and we offer massages, skincare, nails, acupuncture, waxing, hydrafacial. So I kind of we wanted to have like everything under one roof so it's like a one-stop shop for all your self-care needs.
Speaker 2:I love that you could spend the whole day there. Yeah, we love it.
Speaker 3:We love it when people do, but it's fun. You could have one, you could come for one thing, or you come for multiple things, or you could come with a friend. So it's really nice, kind of a great environment.
Speaker 2:Love that, so tell us, how did you get into this?
Speaker 3:Well, I moved to the area in 2010 from New York and my previous life I did marketing for fashion, but I was starting to get burned out from it and I kind of learned from myself and my own self-care the value of self-care and wellness. So I started to transition my career into massage and skincare. So I went to school and I worked at spas in New York. So when I moved here, I worked at a couple other places, but then I really found that there wasn't something that was local right. There was a lot of things that I enjoyed that were further away and I felt like I could bring that here. So I feel like the services that you get um, you know, whether dc richmond or even northern virginia, we are providing it here, so you don't have to commute and do the drive like who wants to get a massage and then have to drive back an hour, you know right so that was the whole goal of it.
Speaker 3:But it was also to provide like a great um, you know environment for therapists and since I was a therapist, I know what it's like to be in the room. So I really wanted to provide, like you know, a work environment that was supportive for the therapists basically. So it wasn't, you know, people that had to do their own business or that they didn't have to go to, like a franchise chain. So we're independent, which is kind of nice, but we're really supportive for our employees and our techs.
Speaker 2:Nice, nice. So not only are you paying a lot of attention to the customer experience, but you also pay a lot of attention to your staff's experience. So kudos to you, yeah, like.
Speaker 3:I feel like I'm in the middle, you know where, which is what you know. I think management is. So we care a lot about the customer experience, but we also care a lot about the employee and their career goals and making it a great environment for them. But I've been lucky because I think we've grown in. We've now it's been 15 years, um, and we have the steady growth, but we've been able to retain a lot of people and talent because of how we treat them and stuff. So I always appreciate that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, huge compliment. That's amazing. So what are some myths or misconceptions that you find about the industry?
Speaker 3:I think you know it's funny because I've been in it for so long, but I really think it's such a special experience, right, and I feel like people do put a lot of trust in us because I think people see our reviews, they book in.
Speaker 3:I think a lot of people are just nervous what to expect, and it's always good to communicate and to know what to expect, and I think we try to do that as well. But you know, at the end of the day, there's people that really are trusting themselves to us. You know whether it's their face or you know they're undressed because of a massage and or their health of their nails. So, really like that's why we want to keep that standard high, not only for us but for the industry, because if we do well, then people have that trust and they could go to other people and then we can elevate the industry as a whole. But I feel like because of our reputation and now with Google reviews and everything, they're able to see and what to expect. But I think the biggest thing is people need to communicate what their expectations are and we're able to provide that because I think we want to customize that service for them. But I don't take it lightly that people just have to trust and know us.
Speaker 3:But I think a lot of people might not get regular massages or it might be their first time, but it's kind of like ask questions and I always think we like to play matchmakers. So it's great, like we have a great front desk. So call the front desk and say this is what I'm looking for, this is kind of what I like, and that's how we're able to really personalize that service for you, cause it would be like like oh, then you need to go to this person because this is what they do well at. So we play matchmaker and that's kind of fun that's amazing.
Speaker 2:So you take the responsibility very seriously for, uh, your customers experience. So I love that so much. Yeah, yeah, thank you for for taking such care, and I know that your customers appreciate that. That's why they keep coming back. So kudos, kudos to you. Okay, so three locations and you clearly are putting a lot of work into your business. So when you're not working, what are you doing for fun? We need to know.
Speaker 3:It's funny because for so many years I think I've just been building the business. So when you're not working, what are you doing for fun? We need to know. It's funny because for so many years I think I've just been building the business and you know it was a fast pace, and then to think that there was COVID in those couple of years, right? So everyone just kept talking to me like, oh, you should have hobbies, or you don't have hobbies and I'm like my job's my hobby, or, like you know, it's all encompassing. I do have two kids, two daughters, so one is 10 and one is five. So you know, lately I've been, you know, after school activities and getting them to do that. But personally I think I've been enjoying like cooking more. I've been reading a lot of cookbooks and maybe getting into some garden work, just something that is creative but works with my hands, because I do like that now that I'm more on the administrative side.
Speaker 3:So I think I need to just get back into being some creative and that I do enjoy and stuff, but there's not a lot of time in my week as I try to split up my business and my personal life together. So, but those are things that I kind of am enjoying right now.
Speaker 2:Nice Ages five and 10. Those are busy ages.
Speaker 3:They are. They are, but they're fun.
Speaker 2:They're fun. I'm exhausted for you, okay, so let's switch gears a little bit. So can you describe a hardship or a life event, something that you have gone through, and now that you're on the other side of it, you feel like you are stronger than ever.
Speaker 3:I mean, I mentioned COVID and I think I do talk about it sometimes a lot when people interview or talk to me about it. That was just difficult because we were changing so much and I you know there was and I you know I just spoke about how highly I feel about the standards and taking care of clients that you know I was worried to operate because I didn't want to jeopardize my employees and my clients. So it was a difficult position but yet we needed to, you know, have a business and be sustainable and to, you know, kind of recover from that. So that was a big kind of trauma, I would say, and sometimes I think it was as fresh as, like you know, maybe two years ago, but it's been five years. So you know, I think that was a big hardship, it definitely pushed me a lot. But since I've done it I also realized, hey, if I overcame that, then I can overcome you know, smaller things in the business and stuff. But we were lucky I think we had a lot of support from the community. Again, my employees, most of them, returned to work then and then we just had to keep coming up with policies or things to make sure that everyone was safe, getting what they needed and for us to operate safely. Um, so you know, we got out of covid a little bit.
Speaker 3:Now where I'm at is I kind of want to reintroduce things that we kind of stripped away during COVID and maybe was hesitant to bring back. For example, we used to have kids services for nail appointments and when it was COVID we kind of took that away and then we were so busy after COVID because I think, you know, people weren't traveling and people really needed self-care at that point we just never had the opportunity to bring back. But now we are bringing back kids' services with the parents. So now the parent can come and then a child can come and they both get mani-pedi services together. So we're adding that back in.
Speaker 3:Things like we just took out a lot of little things, like maybe like drinks at like. You know just, we just took out a lot of little things like you know, maybe like drinks at like. You know, when you come to a spa there's like a little bar and we had tea, but I wanted to just now bring in more of that luxe experience little touches that might have gone away because of COVID and because we were so you know, so stressed or frantic about other things.
Speaker 3:But now I think that that's my focus a little bit. It's just to kind of re-elevate and bring back those touches that we might have lost.
Speaker 2:JENNY GUY that's awesome. Well, you're much more resilient because of it and I love that you are doing the kid service. That's so fun. A mommy and me, yeah.
Speaker 3:And, like you know, really I think, like I, you can come alone to the spa because you want an escape, and for us we're just really easy. Like you know, if you're a mother you might not have that time. You can't, you know, book a weekend spa trip, Right. But if you have an hour and you say, hey, take care of the kids, I'm just going to go and get something myself, and you get that hour and then you leave feeling refreshed or you leave like you did something for yourself. That's really what we're here for and I love that. But I also love that. You know, if you wanted to connect with a friend, you know, and you want to, you know, come and get your nails done and then go for dinner downtown, or you just you know. Or you want to connect with your kid, you want to have a little mani-pedi service together and that's your little bonding time. That's what we're here for really. It's just that connection.
Speaker 3:We're about community, we're about people and I think that's kind of nice. Like we want people to look forward to, of course, coming to the spa, but I think when we treat them like they're familiar, it's kind of like the spa that everyone knows your name is kind of what. I think you know where we're like oh hey, Dory, how are you Like, how are you? And then you feel like like oh, these are my people, and you know like, this is where I can be a little social and get a little mini escape. I think that's what we've done so well at, you know, and that's why we've kind of grown and succeeded that's amazing.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 3:I love all of that. I know I'm throwing a lot out there.
Speaker 2:No, I love it. I love it a lot out there.
Speaker 3:No, I love it. I love it, think about it a lot and think about what we do, and I really love the fact that I get to do it every day.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. I love that. So when you're a business owner, you're dreaming business, so I get it. Yes, yes.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm always thinking like, oh, what's next? What did I envision and how does it play out in reality? So it's really kind of fun that way.
Speaker 2:So we covered a lot, but is there anything else that you want the listeners to know about Collage?
Speaker 3:Spa. No, I just think, like we're here for everyone. We love meeting new people. Um, you know, I think self-care is important and has so much value to it, so I don't want people to feel like, you know, that they can't do it. I want to empower people to do it, and it's just, you know, I think it's a way to grow in life but also enjoy it.
Speaker 3:But I think self-care is just such an important part of it and it doesn't have to be at the spa. I think, you know, even if you go out for like a daily walk and have a moment to yourself, it can have a lot of profound effects for your health. So I think, just people have to find what they like, and I think that's why we we, you know, it's like some people are just nail people and some people are massage people, some people are skincare people, and so that's why we try to, you know, address it all. So just find something that you like to do and and treat yourself, but also know that it has real value in your life, and so that's what I would love to tell people Awesome.
Speaker 2:And if they want to get in touch with you or learn more about Collage Spa, where can they find you?
Speaker 3:Yep. So we have a website. It's wwwcollagespacom, and collage is C-O-L-L-A-G-E. A lot of people get confused with college spa, butcom, and collage is c-o-l-l-a-g-e. A lot of people get confused with college spa, but it's collage. Um, and we named it that because we just want you to pull all these different elements and make your own experience. Um, just like like an art collage, like people can post, like different things. So that's kind of where I got the inspiration from there. But you can visit our website. It has information. But again, as I said, just give us a call. If you're a first-time client, give us a call, let us know what you're looking for and we're happy to customize your spa day with us.
Speaker 2:Amazing. Brian. Thank you so much for joining me on the Fredericksburg Neighbors podcast. I appreciate you being my guest.
Speaker 3:This was so fun, thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to fxbgneighborspodcast. com. That's fxbgneighborspodcast. com. No-transcript.