THE COLISEUM DAY SPA
ALEXIS (top row, middle) and her team
Much like the venerable Roman amphitheatre for which it's named, Alexis de Smidt hopes The Coliseum Day Spa also stands the test of time.
Owner de Smidt, who opened the spa last November at 1447 Bellevue Avenue in West Vancouver, already has some history on her side. The location was the site of Alexis Seaside Spa - no relation to the current owner - from 2000-2005, and from '05 through 2010 it was home to La Donna Fina beauty spa, which de Smidt bought in 2010.
After a thorough renovation and a move to more spacious street-level quarters from its previous second-floor location, de Smidt re-christened the spa and added a host of new staff members to deal with demand and an added array of full medical aesthetic services previously not offered at La Donna Fina. And whereas La Donna Fina only had two permanent employees, the new location feature no fewer than eight.
In that respect, says de Smidt, it's been a period of enormous growth for both her and her business.
No matter how big the business has become, however, de Smidt's philosophy of putting clients and customer care first remains the same.
"It's our vision to provide a facility where clients can receive quality, leading-edge services from highly trained and experienced staff and state-of-the-art equipment along with products that have been researched and sourced with care," says de Smidt, who moved to Vancouver from South Africa two years ago.
"The transition has been a lot of hard work but we have had a lot of support from our clients and community neighbours during all the changes. We've been overwhelmed with the success and support we've received on the commercial level." While The Coliseum continues to offer mainstream aesthetic services like spray tanning, manicures and pedicures, facials, vegan and chemical-free skincare and nail products, lash extensions, teeth whitening and waxing, it also now features a number of new services such as dermal injectable fillers, Botox, laser hair reduction and laser skin rejuvenation, Endermologie and medical skin consultations with new staff member and resident Dr. Lydia Waterson.
Waterson was trained in and practiced both general and cosmetic health for 25 years in England, Ireland and South Africa before coming to Canada. Also joining Waterson as new staff members at the Coliseum are two Aestheticians, a laser technician and receptionist. The original receptionist at La Donna Fina, Andrea Leslie, is now manager and future partner at The Coliseum, while the spa has also retained the services of its original aesthetician, Janice McDonald, who has been promoted to head clinician.
"With most people running a very busy lifestyle nowadays we chose to do away with the traditional spa environment of relaxing and unwinding and decided to focus on results and value," she says. "In today's economy, people want results and we give it to them. As our slogan says, we're not selling time - we're selling results." And those results not only apply to the female clientele - The Coliseum provides a number of services for male customers as well.
While de Smidt has only called the North Shore home for two years, she says she already feels right at home in the West Vancouver community.
"I love the people here. They're wonderful, and obviously the views and geographic locale is just beautiful."
The Coliseum Day Spa is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ET TO KNOW ME
WE ASKED ALEXIS DE SMIDT:
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME?
When the sun is shining, the sun deck.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOW?
As corny as it sounds, America's Funniest Home Videos. It captures life as it is.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPECTATOR SPORT?
That would be watching my husband fishing. It's relaxing, fun family time and we get a fresh dinner, too.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS?
For dinner on top of Grouse Mountain and a walk around Stanley Park.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BEVERAGE AND FOOD?
A nice Blanc de noir and a fresh salad.
