TRIBE517: A NEW RISING STAR

A new rising star

We meet Claire Caddick, founder of Tribe517, to hear why the brand’s curated collection of unisex products and treatments is wellness gold for spas

New, exciting and creating a stir at spas the length and breadth of the UK, Tribe517 offers an extraordinary collection of hand-crafted natural spa products created by respected spa consultant Claire Caddick, who has put her heart and soul into curating every product at her 400-year-old barn on Beddau Farm in South Wales.

Claire Caddick Founder, Tribe517

Launched in 2016, the business grew out of Caddick’s desire to create products and treatments that could really deliver results and create a lasting impression for every spa guest. Her passion for the highest standards – from product formulation to therapist training and menu engineering to suit every spa – really shines through. Every detail is lovingly crafted using her 37 years of spa industry experience.

The brand’s unisex offer is now attracting a growing portfolio of spas looking for a point of difference, with 16 properties across the UK including Moddershall Oaks in Staffordshire, Breedon Priory in Leicestershire, Wave Garden Spa in Snowdonia and Weaver’s House Spa in Suffolk.

As well as supplying branded and own-brand products, Caddick is also introducing in-room amenities for hotels this year. We ask her more about how Tribe517 can provide spas with a competitive edge.

Why did you launch Tribe517 and what makes it special?

Sublime spa services are my passion and it’s been my dream to launch the perfect spa brand for many years. “We don’t have minimum orders or demand a certain number of treatments. It’s a flexible approach that works”

We focus our attention on the therapist in a unique way for the industry. We train them to deliver our massages in a way that doesn’t drain them, so that they feel empowered and also grounded by the meditation elements in the treatments.

Also, when we create signature experiences, I look at the provenance of the areas, the plants and botanicals. I work very hard to make them bespoke and unique to each site.

How does your approach to business make the brand a great spa partner?

I don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’. I treat every project differently and I go and meet with every client’s team and ask what is it that they really need.

We offer our own range of products and are also able to create bespoke own-branded ranges for our partners. In addition, I bring my consultancy skills to each partnership and this elevates what we can offer. We don’t have minimum orders or demand a certain number of treatments. It’s a flexible approach that works.

What training and support do you offer your spa partners?

Training takes from two days to one week. I’ve worked as a therapist for 37 years and I know how hard it is to facilitate the correct training. We focus on using the therapist’s body weight to deliver the massage. We don’t follow a Swedish massage model but we do include stretching and some movement. We also teach elements of breathwork and mindfulness in the session, which the therapist guides. This benefits both client and therapist.

In what ways does the brand embrace the principles of sustainability?

Everything we use is natural. We don’t have anything that has chemicals and our packaging is all biodegradable, recycled and recyclable. We have over 120,000 bees on our farm, which supplies the products with ingredients, including our new honey-butter body product coming this year.

To find out more about the range of therapist-led spa partnerships that Tribe517 offers, visit: www.tribe517.com