As our Little Love Letter Campaign continues to litter the world with love we wanted to share this interview we did recently with the manager of Spa Gregories in Newport Beach, California. Amanda recently won the 2014 ISPA Innovate Award for incorporating our Little Love Letters into the spa and this just goes to show what an impact a few pieces of well placed paper can make. If you'd like to get your own box of blank Love Letters for your school, store or spa or even yoga studio - anywhere! Then let us know. In the meantime keep sharing the love people!
Carrie & Jo
Amanda, what was it about the Little Love Letter Campaign that caught your attention?
At the time we were looking for something to bring into the spa that would cultivate gratitude and a way for our guests to interact with each other. It was during this time that I was introduced to the Little Love Letter Campaign and received my first ‘love letter’ from a co-worker. That message was exactly what I needed that day. I immediately fell in love with the concept!
2. What made you decide to introduce it into Spa Gregories?
We loved the idea of our staff and guests finding these positive, inspirational messages hidden throughout the spa. We truly believe that the person who finds the love letter is exactly who it was meant for and it could have a great effect on their day. We decided to have fun with the campaign- we hid the letters in lockers, robe pockets and taped to mirrors. The response was overwhelming! Soon we had dozens and dozens of new letters each week.
3. What has the response been like?
In one word, amazing! One specific story always stands out in my mind:
A guest, who was currently undergoing treatment for cancer, was scheduled to receive a one hour oncology massage at one of our locations.
The guest was relaxing within our quiet room and asked one of our manager’s how to work the meditation station. Our manager gladly demonstrated the use, they shared a giggle over how technologically challenged they both feel sometimes. The guest then went on to say “A miracle just happened here today”. Our manager shot out another giggle assuming the guest was referring to her triumph of learning a new technology. While the guest continued on with her thought, our manager quickly realized she too was witnessing a miracle….. “When I sat down, I looked to my right and noticed this little piece of paper that read ‘you are a light that shines to the world’”. The guest couldn’t believe it when she read it, it was exactly what she needed in that moment.
The guest then began texting her sister to share her little miracle that had just occurred at Spa Gregorie’s. She asked if the little letter was hers to keep and quickly folded and stored it safely in her pocket. Choking back tears, our manager explained the concept of our Little Love Letter Campaign.
Where this Little Love Letter came from is unbeknownst to us, but what it did for our guest and for us, is unforgettable.
It’s amazing HOW BIG the little things can be.
And this is why they are miracles; they happen when we least expect them and when we are most in need of them.
London Underground Love
4. Aside from winning your recent innovation award what other feedback have you received from the ISPA community?
The spa community in general is embracing the Little Love Letter Campaign, we have shared the Little Love Letter Campaign with Pulse Magazine and Day Spa Magazine. The response is always wonderful.
5. So you think the Little Love Letter Campaign has the capacity to have a wide spread appeal?
Absolutely! Everyone could use some extra positivity and inspiration in their lives! So far everyone has LOVED the campaign.
Carrie and I would both like to thank Amanda for all her work in bringing the Love Letters the attention they deserve and for supporting something that we both so strongly believe in. Love your work!
Paper Love in Perth, Australia.