Hollywood Glamour Bathhouse By Louise May

The founder of Eden Spa in Camden NSW, has taken her beauty expertise one step further to create a destination Palm Springs-inspired Bathhouse in a quirky bushland setting, 80 minutes south of Sydney.

Transformed from a previous, local post office into a fully refitted Retreat with a Palm Springs inspired twist. The Bathhouse takes its design cues from a retro, California retreat, complete with a pastel colour palette and old school Hollywood glamour.

The Bathhouse founder and creator, Ashlee Laura, says, “The bathhouse has been a vision of mine for the past ten years. I opened Eden Spa in Camden because I wanted to create an environment for clients to feel comfortable and have a safe space to relax in. I also wanted to create a place that my team could grow and learn, while also feeling valued and appreciated.

The next step in the evolution of my business is The Bathhouse. The vibe is very different to your average retreat. It’s a reflection of all things fun, quirky and a little bit cheeky. I think we could all use a little bit of that! You’d be used to soft and calm surroundings when visiting your traditional day spas, whereas The Bathhouse vibes are full of energy.

We’re creating a judgement-free space, where clients can be themselves and leave feeling like they’ve just gotten off the plane from an unforgettable holiday,” says Ashlee.

With two float tanks containing 400kgs of Epsom salts, along with 3 hydrotherapy spas, a magnesium plunge pool, Vichy showers, a steam room and sauna, meditation gardens, three treatment rooms and we can’t forget the mini-bar…The Bathhouse offers two-hour soak sessions or full day packages. all their belongings away and escape into a holiday dream. All they must do is BYO bathers! Speaking of BYO… leave the liquor at home and let the resort therapists treat you to a range of fruity cocktails to sip on, in your own cabana by the pool. You’ll also find at the bar, light catering including cheese platter, fruit salads and chocolate fondues.

The Bathhouse also offers individual, pregnancy and couple’s treatments available including facials, scrubs, massages, body wraps and the novel ‘Cocktails in the Rain’ experience. The Bathhouse also stocks Beauty Chef, an internal supplement to help treat the skin from within and a.live body by Alisa and Lysandra Fraser.

All treatments are incorporated with earth conscious products including Organic Rituals skincare, Ashlee’s very own skincare range.

Ashlee says, “We wanted to use Australianmade products that are all natural and environmentally-friendly. We are very passionate about the type of ingredients that we put on our client’s skin. From years of experience, we know that natural and free from chemicals is the best, and this range is designed to protect and treat the skin without stripping away the natural oils.”

The Bathhouse welcomes groups of up to 40 guests for picnics, hen’s parties, photoshoots, group retreats, baby showers and more. The bathhouse has capacity for six clients at once for beauty treatments, up to four clients for float therapy and up to 40 people for soaking in the baths.

Editor, Louise May spoke with owner Ashlee Laura, to find out more about her journey in the Industry and her Inspiration around The Bathhouse.

Tell us how you got started in the industry?

I always knew I my heart that I wanted to run my own business however never knew what avenue I wanted to take. I never really enjoyed school, but I was super creative. When I completed year 12, I went to Tafe and studied my Diploma in Design and my Diploma in Event Management. I then completed 4 years of studying for a Bachelor in Business, majoring in Marketing full time whilst working full time. I worked for some amazing companies in the marketing department including Swissotel, Rheem & Gravox. Working in completely different industries gave me such a diverse understanding of business and how to create brands that connect. My good friend at the time was a Beauty Therapist and approached me about starting her own business (at this time I was pregnant with my first child). My husband encouraged the idea as he knew how passionate I was about starting a business and knew I wasn’t completely fulfilled in my current role. It felt like an amazing opportunity, I had always loved treating myself to day spas as well as seeing my Dermal Therapist weekly to correct my skin. A few years prior I had a very traumatic experience within the workplace and developed a speech disorder called Spasmodic Disorder caused by stress, which affected my speech. It was extremely debilitating for me which caused me to go into a deep depressive spiral. The only way to assist with my speech was Botox injections into my vocal cords every 3 months. After the experiences I endeavoured in the workplace, I knew I wanted to recreate a space where not only my staff would feel valued, but a space where my clients would also feel respected and empowered.

What drew you to therapy in the first place?

There is nothing more rewarding for me then helping people. I have always loved making women feel amazing in their own skin, this is my number one value. I wasn’t a Beauty Therapist when I opened my business Eden Spa, but quickly knew that if I wanted the business to be successful, I needed to know the ins and outs of the entire business. Therefore, I went on to study Beauty Therapy.

How did your business “The Bathhouse” come to be?

When Eden Spa hit its 5th Birthday, I stepped completely away from the spa and rented my own office so I could dedicate myself 100% to growing the business. I built all the systems and created a structure while the business still made over $1 million p/a. I started to feel like I had achieved all of my goals and I wanted more. I needed a new challenge, something to work towards. I tossed and turned around the idea of selling my business however, our gift voucher sales are seen as a liability to some buyers. On average only 60% of gift vouchers are redeemed but on paper, vouchers are seen as a liability, unfortunately. During the first pandemic lockdown in 2020, I have never worked harder in my life to ensure we had a flow of income. We were closed for 3 months and managed to make $85,000 in Facial Boxes (a concept that was created to enjoy facials from the comfort of our clients’ homes – Organic Rituals our natural skincare range wage born). I was absolutely blown away by the love and support that was given to my business, and all of the hard work had paid off. This was a pivotal moment for me, where I realised, I need to go bigger and better. Rather than selling my business, I wanted to open up a sister company that women need in their lives. A place that’s a little more upbeat and vibrant than your traditional day spa. A place where you can destress and feel like you’re away on a holiday resort. I had always wanted something as big as this almost like a wellness retreat, but I’m so much more in love with The Bathhouse concept.

What do you consider your own top 3 pillars of success to be?

I would most certainly say determination to succeed is my first one. I have always been an overachiever, which can often be a difficult thing for me, as I can be too hard on myself. It’s something I’m always working on though. My second pillar would be communication within my team. Communication was never a strong point for me, which is why It’s now so important. After many experiences, I had a life changing moment where I knew it was one of my imperfections. My third pillar is caring for others. I really do care and am so passionate about my team, clients, and our local community. I always love to give back wherever I can. My husband often says I give and care too much for my team, however I feel like I have had so many amazing team members over the years that have contributed to the success of the business and also helped me grow as a leader.

What are your top 3 tips for managing people?

I personally think this is actually the hardest part of running a business but when you get the formula right, you will never look back. 1. Ask Questions – Have regular one on one meetings and ask lots of questions.

Get to know your team members if they say, “I don’t know” ask again, “If you did know, what would be the answer”. This is probably the most common line I say to my team. Not only does it help them open up but also gets them to start thinking on their own two feet, rather than you telling them the answers all the time. 2. Monkey see, monkey do – Behave and set an example, you need to show common courtesy. If you are running late just because you are the manager or owner, you should be calling your team to let them know because if the role was reversed you would expect the same? Yes? If you talk badly about clients, guess what your staff are probably doing the same. You need to set an example rather than telling your team what you want, show your team what you want. 3. Regular training and meetings – While most business owners are very good at multi-tasking and don’t like being micromanaged, you will find a lot of your team members actually need structure and a lot of it. Having regular meetings and training not only upskills and empowers your team but also helps them feel connected if they feel like they are working towards a bigger goal. Set goals and company values and in every meeting, touch on these and ensure your team member all have their personal targets and goals to work towards a greater goal.

How do you juggle a work-life balance?

6pm unless it’s urgent. I used to receive text messages at all hours of the night for little things and it use to drive me mad. I actually love work and I love staying up to all hours working on projects etc. My husband and I have 2 children and my husband owns a very successful solar company. I feel like our businesses are just a part of our life. We spend a lot of time with our children plus they like to come and help us at work after hours. It’s a bonus when they get to have a sneaky swim in the bathhouse pool and spas. We are a very unstructured family, but it works for us. I personally think there is a lot of talk around work-life balance which sometimes sets a false meaning of what that actually means. Personally, if you are happy within yourself and all your family members are the same, you do have a balanced life.

What ways do you like to unwind and get out of “work mode”?

I actually love being in work mode. I’m the happiest when I am working on projects and talking business. However, there has been times when mentally I need a break, so I spend a few days in Hunter Valley at a Retreat, and it always fuels my soul.

Are there any must haves that you love to start your day with?

Well, I don’t drink coffee so that’s not one. I can’t start my day without a fresh shower and a to-do list, I’m a massive list person and don’t feel productive unless my desk is cleaned, and my list is written.

What’s given your business strength over the years?

My determination to not give up and my passion for building a profitable brand. I absolutely love branding and know my brand wouldn’t be so recognised if I didn’t invest in it. Social media has differently been another key driver over the years. I actually visit Bowen Therapy; it is absolutely amazing, and my healer Mandy has really helped me understand that I can’t control any situation. I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason and it’s the life lessons that are the greatest gift. We can’t control anything or the world around us. It’s important to just be understanding and accepting of all situations, this is how I stay calm and collected.

Any tips to staying motivated when pivoting takes its toll?

Mindset, focus on your mindset. For years I always had terrible thoughts. I would put myself down and just had a negative mindset towards just about everything. It’s taken a lot of work and practice to shift my mindset and I haven’t had any terrible thoughts for years. Sure, doubt likes to take a visit every now and then however, I sit and do an energy clearing (little meditation) and it brings me back. Everyone is different and you just need to find what works best for you, find what fills your soul.

What is one piece of advice that you could offer to others about business?

You should never go into business because you want to make more money. You should go into business because you love what you do. You need to understand your why and purpose and connect with it. The reason this is so important is that a lot of businesses have struggled over the past few years. For me we had the bush fires, floods, three-month covid lockdown, more floods, a second covid lockdown and now actually closing because of staff shortages. If you are passionate and have the ability to connect with your purpose, none of these hurdle’s matter. You should still have the fire in your body to keep going as I have. Owning a Business is like riding a roller coast blindfolded, you need to be ready as it is an absolute thrill ride.