Nu Skin's new spa product a hit

US-based direct-sales firm Nu Skin Enterprises (Thailand) has raised its revenue target 8.33 per cent to Bt1.3 billion after sales of its new Galvanic Spa System proved successful.

The Galvanic Spa System II uses a device that allows Nu Skin cream products to be absorbed into the skin more quickly and deeply. It represents an improvement over the original system and was introduced to the Thai market earlier this year.

General manager Pakapun Leevutinun yesterday said her company had hosted a nationwide road show these past three months featuring the new product. The company sold 10,000 units for revenue of Bt100 million, up 400 per cent from last year's sales of the original model.

"We had great success introducing our new Galvanic Spa System, because Thai women are still concerned about their looks despite today's severe economic and political problems. This product is a do-it-yourself spa, one that costs much less than going to a spa salon, only Bt180 per person per time on average, while spa services in hotels or salons cost between Bt3,000 and Bt5,000. These two factors are the key to the success of this product," she said.

She said the revised revenue target represented an increase of 15 per cent over last year's figure. Meanwhile, Nu Skin membership in the Kingdom has risen 10 per cent from last year to 230,000.

"The number of Galvanic Spa Systems that we could sell [during the road show] means we'll sell more personal-care products, because consumers must apply these products, including our anti-ageing cream, with this instrument. So sales of those products will increase significantly," she said.

Pakapun said the Galvanic Spa System represented 15 per cent of total sales but that the company expected that to increase to 20 per cent by the end of the year.

Tania Bliss, director of marketing for the US, Europe and the South Pacific at parent Nu Skin Enterprises, said her company had introduced the Galvanic Spa System into those markets two years ago and that the product had been quite successful, particularly this year. This is because network businesses like Nu Skin tend to grow during economic downturns, due to people looking for a little extra income on the side.

She said second-quarter sales of the new Galvanic Spa System in the US, Europe, Latin America and Canada had risen 21 per cent, 61 per cent, 88 per cent and 32 per cent respectively quarter on quarter.

In the US, which is home to the parent company, the company expects total revenue of US$200 million (Bt6.84 billion) this year.