In the spa industry, staying on top of trends while keeping your team sane is a balancing act. You want to offer what’s new and in demand, like red light skin therapy, but the logistics can be a beast. Equipment, training, workflow, marketing, booking systems…it can be a lot.
Sundays Sun Spa Shop, now the largest sun spa in Virginia with 30 locations across Hampton Roads, Florida and North Carolina, has cracked the code on integrating red light therapy in a way that boosts client satisfaction, increases revenue and keeps staff energized instead of overwhelmed.
The Goal: Introduce Red Light Therapy as a Scalable, Staff- Friendly Service
The team at Sundays wasn’t just chasing trends. They saw red light therapy as a natural extension of what their clients were already asking for:
- Skin rejuvenation
- Anti-aging
- Better spray tan results
- Post-wax calming
- A non-invasive, wellness-forward add-on
Sundays main obstacle was that it needed to do it without:
- Bogging down their team with endless training
- Slowing down booking and room turnover
- Confusing clients with “another new thing”
Sundays took a phased, strategic approach that spa owners everywhere can learn from.
The Strategy: Smart Moves That Made Red Light Therapy Work
1. Equipment That Fits The Flow
Rather than picking the biggest or trendiest machines, Sundays' tanning salons invested in high-performance, efficient systems that integrated smoothly into its existing treatment rooms. Self-serve setups for full-body red light therapy became a key piece of its automated model— allowing guests to enjoy the benefits without requiring hands-on staff time.
Invest where it matters. Sundays started changing lamps every 400 hours instead of 800 for a better tan. The same philosophy applies to red light devices—better gear, better experience.
2. Trained Staff With Purpose, Not Pressure
Instead of overwhelming the front desk and estheticians with a 3-day crash course, Sundays rolled out targeted training, focusing on real-world use and how to talk about red light therapy with confidence.
Sundays also leaned on vendor support and made sure team leads had extra guidance, so the learning didn’t fall on everyone all at once. The staff is what makes Sundays special. When the team feels supported, they become your business’ best advocates.
3. Bundled Services to Maximize Results (and Revenue)
Here’s where things got brilliant: Sundays started pairing red light therapy with other treatments their clients already loved.
- Red light before spray tanning = deeper, more even glow
- Red light after waxing = calmer skin, less redness
- Red light with massage = full-body rejuvenation
Clients didn’t have to be convinced—they felt the difference. When results speak for themselves, rebookings take care of themselves too.
4. Let Red Light Therapy Market Itself
Instead of slapping red light on the menu and hoping people would ask about it, Sundays built it into the client experience:
- Clear signage in spa rooms
- Staff recommendations during check-in
- Email promos introducing it as an “upgrade”
Let’s not forget—this is automated spa service. Once it’s in the system and the rooms are set, it’s easy to scale without burning anyone out.
The Results: Glowing Clients, Happy Team, Consistent Growth
After integrating red light therapy, Sundays saw a noticeable increase in:
- Repeat visits - thanks to improved spray tan results and the relaxing, feel-good nature of red light
- Retail and service bundling - clients were more likely to buy memberships and packages
- Staff morale - less pressure, more positive feedback
- Operational efficiency - red light therapy added revenue without adding major time or labor costs. The best part? It aligns perfectly with their core mission.
The essence hasn’t changed: to add value to the lives of Sundays’ members. What began as tanning has now morphed into an amazing venture that provides automated choices in sun, spa, weight loss, detox, massage and airbrushing.
Lessons for Spa Owners and Managers
You don’t have to be a 30-location mega spa to learn from Sundays’ success. Whether you’re a boutique facial studio or a growing medspa, these key takeaways can help you integrate red light therapy without chaos:
- Choose scalable equipment that fits your business—not just your wishlist.
- Train smart. Start with your leaders, keep it simple and let curiosity lead.
- Bundle services that complement each other—your clients will love the results.
- Use automation where possible to avoid burning out your staff.
- Don’t force it. Start small, test, adjust and scale.
Final Thought: When the Light’s Right, Everything Flows
Red light therapy isn’t just a luxury add-on—it’s a gateway to better client results and smoother spa operations.
Sundays Sun Spa Shop didn’t just chase a trend, they built a strategy around it. The result? A thriving sun and spa empire where clients feel amazing and staff feel supported.
Whether you’re just getting started or expanding your service menu, remember this: the glow your clients walk out with should never come at the expense of your team burning out. Let red light be the win-win it’s meant to be.
