Editor’s note: This article was first published in June 2010. Its claims that personal shoppers are still little known, and personal trainers less widespread in Spain and South America than in the US, reflect that time.
Personal shopper, personal trainer, beauty treatments…
Body care and personal wellbeing businesses are an emerging sector, driven by a change in consumer mindset: these days we need to feel good about ourselves, both physically and psychologically.
The advantage of this type of business is that it can target individual customers as well as companies’ employees.
Some business ideas of this kind
1. Image consultant and personal shopper
This business model was imported from the United States, so it is still not very well known in Spain and South America. That makes it a great business opportunity.
In the United States, a personal shopper is something like a shopping expert who advises clients on what kind of clothes to wear for each situation, what style best suits their personality and where they can buy it. But because the kind of client who hires these services is usually short on time, your job would be not only to advise them but also to go shopping for them.
An image consultant also teaches etiquette for meetings of different levels of formality and recommends changes in appearance, or what we might call a new look, if needed.
Building a path and a reputation in this business today would give you a considerable advantage in the future over your competitors, and there will be plenty of them.
2. Personal trainer
This is a good market in Spain and South America, because it is not yet as widespread as in the United States.
You can offer your services at clients’ homes and to other businesses as an add-on for their customers, such as gyms, hotels and beauty centers.
If you have experience in the field, it’s all a matter of making yourself known.
3. Men’s beauty salon
According to a study carried out in the United States, grooming is something very personal and private for men, so they feel intimidated when they have to share a treatment room with women.
It’s as if women were discovering their secrets for looking attractive.
That’s how men’s beauty salons came about, just like women-only gyms. The services offered to men are the same as those offered to women: hair removal, tanning, manicures and so on.
Since these salons exclusively for men opened, demand from men for this kind of service has increased.
4. Eastern disciplines
Today there is clearly considerable demand for yoga and tai chi. The good thing about working as an instructor or coach in these Eastern disciplines is that it doesn’t require a big investment and clients come in groups.
And then there’s everything related to martial arts, which reaches a very broad section of the population. Children, women and men alike are drawn to this kind of service at some point.
See also: Business ideas you can start with no investment
Featured image: www.localfitness.com.au, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
