BUYING A PEDICURE CHAIR

Finding the best pedicure chair for you and your salon is a huge decision. It can be overwhelming deciding between the endless selection of pedicure spas with varying features, styles, and price points – but it doesn’t have to be! Use Buy-Rite’s top 10 tips and make your research and decision fun and easy!

1. Turnkey Plan

The #1 most important part of finding your perfect pedicure spa is being able to answer WHO, WHERE, and WHY.

WHO is providing your pedicure services? Are your stylists offering pedicures as an add-on service, or are you having a dedicated nail technician provide a luxury experience? Don’t forget to ask your stylist or nail technician what accessories they may need to properly provide their services!

WHERE will you be providing your pedicure services? Is there a dedicated space for a relaxing spa experience or will you be incorporating pedicure services in your current space? Fitting products to your space is essential in keeping a clean look to your salon or spa.

Finally, WHY are you choosing to add a pedicure spa to your salon or spa services? There is a big difference in investment for a salon that provides add-on services and a salon or spa that creates a luxury spa experience for their clients. A larger investment allows for a more luxurious experience, and a higher price tag on your services.

2. Quality & Brand Reputation

It is essential to purchase a high-quality pedicure chair if you want a comfortable, long-lasting unit that will give you your money’s worth. An important factor during this purchasing process is choosing a well-known, reputable, experienced brand that makes exceptional products and has been in business for many years. When purchasing such a high-ticket item, it’s extremely important to select a brand that’s very well-known and trusted within the industry. A few trustworthy brand options that are industry leaders, innovators, and luxury pedicure chair specialists are Pibbs Industries, J&A USA, and Continuum Footspas. Each of these brands are known for being industry leaders that salons and spas can trust.

3. Comfort

There is a wide range of styles in pedicure spas, so it is important to know what kind of experience you want to provide to your clientele. Several luxury pedicure massage chairs have the option of shiatsu massage with heat or a more basic vibration, while other pedicure spas do not have any massage features at all. Understand the experience your potential clientele is looking for in order to know what you need. Would your clients prefer a manual, lever-based chair adjustment or would they prefer all chair adjustments to be electronic with remote control? Additionally, don’t forget to consider an ergonomic chair design and comfortable, padded cushioning. Finally, when considering comfort, don’t forget about your nail technician! Consider the possibility of pivoting arms, and pivoting or adjustable foot and leg support to provide your tech with the greatest environment to master their techniques and help reduce physical stress.

4. Design

There are endless styles and designs for pedicure spas, so it is key to ask the question, “will this fit my salon’s look and feel?”. Higher end luxury pedicure chairs will naturally have a higher design aspect, but you can still accomplish a modern style and stay in budget by considering options like changing colors to match your salon’s look. Some pedicure spas have multiple options for base and chair colors – making it easy to create a unique style that is perfect for your salon or spa’s design!

5. Cost

You can offer pedicures at your salon or spa by investing anywhere between $79 to $8,550. With this wide range of available options, it is important to consider the client experience. If you’re looking to have stylists offer pedicures as an add-on service, you may be able to go a more price-effective route with portable pedicure spas such as a footsie pedicure spa or a convertible, portable pedicure chair. If you are looking to offer pedicures as a deluxe service by your stylists or a dedicated nail technician, remember a greater initial investment means a luxury client experience, and more money in your pocket.

6. Plumbing vs. No Plumbing vs. Portable

It is ESSENTIAL to fully understand and know ahead of your purchase if you are looking for a pedicure spa that requires plumbing, no plumbing, or is portable. Most of us are not stylists and plumbers – so what’s the difference? A no plumbing pedicure chair is a stationary unit that requires the nail technician to physically fill and remove the water in the removable pedicure bowl.

On the other hand, a classic spa-style plumbed unit is stationary and is connected to the water line. If choosing a plumbed unit, make sure it is a pipeless pedicure chair for sanitation purposes.

Finally, if you are looking for a way to add to your services without taking up too much space, a portable pedicure spa is a great option. Unsure of whether you need a pedicure spa that is plumbed or not? One of our experienced sales representatives can help you find your perfect unit!

7. Features

When choosing the best pedicure chair for your salon or spa, don’t forget to consider additional features and options that are available. Most importantly, make sure the colors of your pedicure spa match with your salon or spa décor, as you want your new service to be seamlessly integrated into your beautiful salon! If you’re planning on providing manicures, consider a swiveling chair or a chair on an electrical track for easier client adjustment, and adding manicure trays to your pedicure spa. Finally, consider if you will need to purchase plastic liners or other accessories for your fiberglass or glass pedicure bowl.

8. Warranty

Knowing the warranty on your potential pedicure spa is essential in understanding the quality of the product and the manufacturer. Never buy anything with less than a 1-year warranty on parts – there is no warranty for a reason! Once you know the warranty and make your purchase, make sure a licensed plumber installs your spa pedicure chair! This is an essential step in case there’s a problem with your pedicure chair down the road, as most manufacturers will request a licensed plumbing receipt from the install for your warranty to be valid.

9. Replacement Parts

Pedicure spa chairs are a lot like cars – maintenance and upkeep are required. Make sure ahead of your purchase that the manufacturer will be able to provide you with replacement parts. Without good customer service and readily available parts, you could get a lot less time and profit out of your major investment.

10. Find a Company That Will Be There for You!

Once you narrow down your choices for your perfect pedicure spa, don’t forget to research the company! You want to make sure that they have been in business for many years so you know they will be there for you down the road. Additionally, give them a call to check out their customer service so you know they will help you with your decision and beyond. Finally, take a look at their google reviews! Previous or current customers are often the best and easiest way to discover the type of customer service you will receive!

Deciding to add pedicure services to your salon or spa is an excellent way to increase your revenue and clientele. With the endless options of styles and the extensive price range, searching for the best pedicure chair for you and your salon or spa can be a daunting task.