The passion for saunas continue to grow in North America

Healthy skin tone

Spending time in a sauna helps remove dead cells, relaxes facial tension, improves skin elasticity, and rinses out bacteria, leaving the skin soft, moist, and youthful looking. Some people claim it gives them a ‘just tanned’ look year-round.

Additional advice

Retailers should also point out only a doctor can recommend specific sauna benefits for an individual. Some veteran bathers like to enjoy beer in the sauna, or while cooling off between rounds; however, in general, sauna bathing and alcohol do not mix. Further, pregnant women or individuals with heart conditions should avoid the sauna without the approval of his/her physician.

The long and short of it is sauna use has an impressive history when it comes to health and wellness, and customers will be excited.

Know the options

Retailers preparing to offer saunas for sale to their customers should also become familiar with what choices to offer them. For example, the two main heater options are electric and wood burning. Which is better? Well, this is a subject to debate. Both are perfectly viable options that promote the authentic sauna experience, thus making it a matter of personal preference.

Further, it should be determine whether the customer is set on an indoor or outdoor sauna, how many people they want to accommodate (e.g. just two people or larger groups), and if they prefer a lighter or darker lumber. This author’s company manufactures sauna models designed specifically for outdoor use versus indoor applications, and come in a wide variety of sizes and lumber types.

Once a retailer has nailed down the vision their client has in mind, the sauna supplier will be able to make it happen. For those in the pool and hot tub industry, saunas are a perfect complement to the products they are already selling, as they also help to promote leisure, relaxation, and personal wellness.

For those retailers who are always in the process of developing their brand to accommodate a diverse range of customers, they may have the perfect niche market for sauna sales.

Rick Mouw is president of Almost Heaven Saunas, a Holland, Mich.-based manufacturer of traditional saunas for nearly 40 years. He can be reached via e-mail at rick@almostheaven.com.