Imagine having the skills and confidence to write a business plan that lands you a $100K line of credit to open your own business the day you walk into the bank. This is a true story related at the 2021 Repêchage Power Lunch by Vanessa de Mello, Director and Co-CEO of the Beauty Depot and The Esthetic Institute Training Center in Calgary, Canada about a recent graduate of the CIDESCO Beauty & Spa Management Diploma Program. According to de Mello, the bank manager even asked the graduate who had written her business plan.
In this final installment in the series of blogs on the many business building strategies and inspirational stories shared at the recent Repêchage Power Lunch, CIDESCO Section Canada President Vanessa de Mello outlines how she and her business partner were able to grow their business and help their students create success through implementing online educational programs.De Mello related how she had started both the Beauty Depot and the Esthetic Institute Training Center twenty years prior shortly after attaining her degree in business in 2000.
The Esthetic Institute Training Center (TEI) is a CIDESCO internationally accredited and award winning Post-Secondary School offering multiple Beginner & Advanced Esthetic diploma programs and over 50 certifications in two locations in Calgary, Canada. The Beauty Depot is one of the primary and largest professional, wholesale distributors in Canada for Esthetic & Spa supplies and distributors for Repêchage. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they are currently expanding their warehouse, and are in the process of opening a Medi-Spa and laser training center.
Their greatest challenge as educators for the past two years was maintaining their curriculum, which they were able to do by moving their classes into the virtual space. Working with their in-house IT and educators, the business was able to shift students to an online curriculum platform. To keep clients engaged with the Beauty Depot distributorship, De Mello took to social media to deliver information and messages, as well as promoted the webinars hosted by Lydia Sarfati, CEO and Founder of Repêchage and President of CIDESCO Section USA.
CIDESCO Beauty & Spa Management Diploma Program
In developing curriculum overall for TEI, de Mello knew that proper business education was essential. That’s why she was thrilled in 2019 to work with Lydia Sarfati to bring the CIDESCO Beauty & Spa Management Diploma Program to the education center.
Founded in 1946 in Brussels with their Head Office in Zurich, Switzerland, Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie (CIDESCO ) has set world standards for beauty and spa therapy. CIDESCO’s membership is open to the leading schools, colleges, beauty salons and spas of the world and students looking to achieve a superior level of training and the CIDESCO Diploma qualification which is recognized worldwide. In addition to providing accreditation to beauty therapy schools and colleges, CIDESCO equips spa professionals with training in a wide array of subjects, including beauty and spa management, skin care, esthetics, body therapy and facials. This training is delivered both in-person and online through CIDESCO schools located around the globe, and graduates of CIDESCO’s diploma and certificate programs are internationally recognized for their high level of qualification
“In my opinion, this program would be equivalent to a first year degree business degree program,” says de Mello. “I haven’t seen any other program with these credentials available in our industry.”
The CIDESCO Beauty & Spa Management Diploma Program is an internationally accredited, 320-hour, 4 month, online, Business Management diploma program. According to de Mello, it is an academic, intensive program that is self-paced, and provides in depth training in efficiently and effectively operating a beauty or spa business. This class provides a very comprehensive understanding of how to manage all aspects of a spa environment for individuals considering spa management or ownership. At the TEI, this class is supported by live weekly lectures and check ins with a CIDESCO Educator & TA CIDESCO Educator.
This extensive program includes 16 lectures, at home assignments and interactive learning. It requires 20-25 hours per week, which is equivalent to a first year business degree program. It includes lectures, readings, and assignments, and projects covering:
- Trends and Technology
- Operational Management
- Leadership
- Professional Development
- Stock Control
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- Finance
According to de Mello, students earning this internationally accredited diploma will elevate their business and spa management education and knowledge to a new level because the CIDESCO brand identifies the individual as a worldwide leader in the industry. The program also helps instruct on how to develop and establish a comprehensive, business plan, providing the platform to launch your own business, as seen by the recent graduate who received a $100K line of credit for her self-written plan after completing the course.
This business course also helps estheticians have a competitive edge in the beauty industry, and is available to everyone, no prior beauty or spa training is necessary. One unique benefit of the CIDESCO course is that it provides the individual with the credentials to work internationally as a spa manager
“It’s an academic intensive program that is going to provide you with efficient and effective fundamental managerial skills to run your business. “ De Mello emphasized that it’s particularly beneficial for those who do not have any formal business education. “The take home from this is to really empower yourself with knowledge and to do everything you can to keep your business moving forward. And of course, education is key.”
The CIDESCO Beauty & Spa Management Diploma Program is available through www.estheticinstitute.ca. For more information on CIDESCO courses, go to https://www.americasbeautyshow.com/pages/cidescousa . For more information on how to create a business plan, and further develop your educational possibilities, see Lydia Sarfati’s Success At Your Fingertips: How to Succeed In the Skin Care Business.
What is the importance of continuing education to you? Let us know in the comments.
