Sponsor of the month

Guess who was the “Тор Entrepreneur” winner for DAYSPA magazine? Why, our very own Sveta Yakubovich ! Sveta also received the local “Women in Business” award for 2012, presented bу the Wichita Business Journal. Yakubovich, who is the owner of Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy here in Wichita, spent the better portion of 2012 making а media frenzy. American Day Spa magazine featured an article, written bу Sveta, on retail sales in the Spa Industry for the October 2012 issue, while Associate Body Work and Massage Professionals did а member profile on Sveta’s for their winter issue.

It all started in 2000, when Sveta’s Skin and Body Therapy opened its doors in Wichita Kansas, and has been rapidly growing in size and services offered ever since. The luxurious spa started primarily with massage and body services for its loyal clientele. Throughout twelve successful years in business, Sveta’s has added а full aesthetics menu, natural nail care, and а private skin care line. With the expanding menu came the physical expansion of the spa itself. Now, with nine treatment rooms, two pedicure stations, couples massage room, guest lounge, and an enhanced lobby, Sveta’s Skin and Body Therapy can accommodate couples, group functions, and special requests.

An exceptional service has а better chance for long lasting results when paired with the proper home routine. То help our clients look and feel their best inside the spa and out, Sveta’s offers an exceptional boutique. Anyone can take а step inside the modern lobby to find products to fit their needs, regardless of skin type. Sveta’s offers а private skincare line, which includes both natural and organic options, variety of body care, nail care, Glo Minerals Make-up and Chinese herbs to customize the right home routine for each client. If Sveta’s doesn’t have а product in stock, they will special order it for а client’s needs.

Over the last twelve years Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy has been growing and developing into the top day spa in the Midwest. An excellent array of treatments, retail options, and an exuberant, friendly staff, makes Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy the ideal choice for the total body experience.

Wilson Estates Living

With Sveta’s, Dream Becomes Reality For Russian Immigrant.

With Sveta’s, dream becomes reality for Russian immigrant. At 21, Sveta Yakubovich felt like she hadn’t done anything with her life.

At 30, the possibilities looked endless.

And today at 41, she can say she’s accomplished quite a bit without yet being satisfied. She has a thriving business – Sveta’s in Bradley Fair – a happy marriage and two children.

“I feel like I can do anything,” she said.

It’s a world apart from the future that seemed laid out before in her native Russia.

Yakubovich grew up in Nizhny Novgorod, the former Gorky and the fifth largest city in Russia.

After Mikhail Gorbachev ushered in the glasnost era, one of Yakubovich’s aunts made her way to Wichita, with help from the Mid-­‐Kansas Jewish Federation. Yakubovich wanted to go as well, but life got in the way for a while. She married, graduated from college and got pregnant.

Yakubovich worked as a physical education teacher.

But she couldn’t afford a nice pair of shoes, couldn’t travel, and saw no hope of advancement in Russia for herself or her son. And when a stranger’s comment on a bus drove home the reality of discrimination against Jews in her homeland, Yakubovich made the decision to emigrate.

“Here I felt like you could have a job and a normal life,” she said.

She arrived in 1993 with $500 and two suitcases to her name. She spoke no English. She had a 6-­‐month-­‐old son, Misha. She received public and private aid.

Her teaching degree from Russia meant nothing here. But she was able to put to use the massage training she’d received while earning that degree. “In Russia, massage is a huge part of sports training,” she said.

She worked as a masseuse in what was then the Wichita Racquet Club, now Genesis.

She communicated with flash cards and phrases learned from customers, all of which she practiced in front of the mirror and with fellow Russian immigrants.

She still remembers one of the first ones: “Please lie back with your head on the table.”

She took English classes at Butler Community College and acupuncture classes at the Kansas College of Chinese Medicine. She absorbed everything she could from customers, who often became friends and mentors.

When one of them, Bradley Fair developer George Laham, suggested she open a spa in his upscale shopping center, Yakubovich said her first reaction was: “Are you insane?”

She opened Sveta’s in 2000.

“I didn’t know that every third business fails, which is good,” she said.

She started with five employees. She gradually added services – facials, pedicures and manicures, waxing, chemical peels and makeup.

Like every business dependent on discretionary spending, Sveta’s saw a significant downturn in the 2008 recession. But it survived, and in 2010 it expanded into the space next door, going from five rooms and 1,100 square feet to 10 rooms and 2,200 square feet. Today more than 20 people work for Yakubovich, most on a part-­‐time basis, which she said is the norm in the industry.

The spa has a couples room and, thanks to its overall size, can accommodate large parties and special events. Prices range from $25 for a basic manicure or waxing up to

$367 for the Imperial Package – deluxe massage, facial, pedicure and manicure. The average customer spends about $80.

She said her clientele is about evenly split between men and women, with men getting the majority of massages and women the other services.

Yakubovich sells a line of skin and body products with her name on them that are made by a Canadian company. A letter campaign has gotten her featured in trade publications such as DaySpa magazine.

Yakubovich said she thinks she’s succeeded by growing slowly, in response to customer demand for services, and avoiding fads “that come and go.”

She puts a big emphasis on personalized service, urging her staff to remember whether a customer prefers bottled water before or after a massage, for instance. Little bags of candy are set out for customers around the spa, and Yakubovich confesses to being a stickler for cleanliness.

The opportunity she sought as a teenager has become a reality. Her son, Misha, is a student at the University of California. Her daughter, Masha, is 10 – “my obsession,” she said.

Her husband, Simon, works as a massage therapist at Wichita Country Club.

She seems to appreciate freedom in the way that perhaps only somebody who’s lived without can.

“Here you can do anything,” Yakubovich said. “You don’t have to be super-­‐smart here. Maybe I shouldn’t say that. You just have to have determination.”

The Wichita Eagle

American Spa

“То boost sales, we will educate our staff and our clients about all the products we offer. It is important that every member of our staff, from the therapist to the spa coordinator, is knowledgeable about all the lines we carry. Effectively communicating knowledge and passion about our products to our clients is essential to further sales. We encourage our employees to establish personal and team goals, and we publicize our top performers’ results. То bring education to our clients, we also feature specific services and products quarterly and invite our clients to partici­pate in spa parties.”

Women in Business

Nineteen years ago, Sveta Yakubovich came to Wichita with her husband and 6-month-old son.

Sveta was 21 and barely knew English. She planned to become a physical education teacher.

“I just wanted a better life for my kids, a better future,” Yakubovich says.

She began giving massages, a staple for athletes in her native Russia, for what was supposed to be a side job. To interact with her clients, she would have phrases written out in English on cards, which she would practice over and over.

Apparently, It was endearing to her clients — as was Yakubovich’s inquisitive and high-­energy personality. She soon was making more money at massage therapy than she could as a teacher.

In 2000, she opened Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy at Bradley Fair. Her company now has 23 employees.

No doubt, Yakubovich benefited from having a high-­‐profile clientele base.

Emprise Bank’s Mike Michaelis and real estate developer George Laham are part of it.

“I met incredible people,” she says. “I’m so glad I came to Wichita. People here are so nice and excited.”

Yakubovich developed a business philosophy that she believes sets her apart — it’s about much more than just a massage.

“It’s not the technique that will bring them back. It’s the front desk. It’s cleanliness. It’s efficiency. … In Wichita, lots of people are businesspeople, doctors, business owners. We really treat them like family. We’re clean and professional. We’re kind of big enough and small enough that we can still be intimate.”

Fellow WIB honoree Katie Lynn, executive director of Arts Partners and a long time client, says Yakubovich always is learning.

“She’s taken advantage of the opportunity of learning from some of her clientele, which is great,” Lynn says. “She’s somebody I really admire for how she’s been able to succeed.”

JoVetta Wescott, executive director of the Kansas Parish Nurse Ministry Inc., remembers the first time Yakubovich told her about her plans to start her own business.

“She has big visions of where she wants to go, and it’s not to keep up with anybody else. It’s what she wants to do business-­‐wise,” Wescott says.

Wichita Business Journal

Women in Business Nominees

In September, the Wichita Business Journal will recognize outstanding women in the Wichita area for their career accomplishments and contributions to the success of other women. Congratulations to this year’s honorees:

  • Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books and Cafe.
  • Tami Bradley, Bothner and Bradley.
  • Linda Brantner, Delta Dental of Kansas.
  • Karen Cox, ProviDrs Care.
  • Doris Harms, Electromech Technologies.
  • Pat Jones, Dress for Success.
  • Dixie Larson, Kennedy and Coe LLC.
  • Katie Lynn, Arts Partners.
  • Samantha Marnick, Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
  • Jill Miller, Jill D. Miller Creative Solutions.
  • Linda Parks, Hite, Fanning and Honeyman LLP.
  • Rachael Pirner, Triplett Woolf and Garretson LLC.
  • Tarcisia Roths, Newman University.
  • Susette Schwartz, Hunter Health Clinic.
  • Jackie Vietti, Butler Community College.
  • Debbie Winter, Bombardier Learjet.
  • Judy Worrell, Berry Cos. Inc.
  • Sveta Yakobovich, Sveta’s Skin and Body Therapy.
  • Linda Weir­‐Enegren, LS Industries.
  • Lori Davis, Grant Thornton LLP.

Wichita Business Journal

Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy to Double in Size at Bradley Fair

WICHITA — A decade after opening at Bradley Fair, Sveta Yakubovich is doubling the size of her Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy.

“We’re still keeping . . . who we are,” she says. “It’s just kind of time to grow.” Part of the reason with the timing is because Zumo Juice will be leaving its space.

Sveta’s has 1,000 square feet and will now have 2,200 square feet with the Zumo space. Construction starts in October, and the business will remain open during the expansion.

The additional space will allow for double bookings for, say, a mother and daughter who might like to schedule appointments at the same time.

“We’re turning down lots of business like that,” Yakubovich says. “That would add, I think, a lot.”

She’ll also have a larger room for training employees and offering clients classes for things such as couples massage.

The reception area also will be larger, and there will be a private relaxation area for clients to use between services.

Spangenberg Phillips Tice is the project architect. Key Construction is the contractor. Sveta’s expansion is one of several new things happening at Bradley Fair.

LBD, etc., a women’s clothing boutique, and Carla’s Love It, a clothing and gift store, recently opened. Newport Grill, a seafood concept by the owners of Yia Yia’s EuroBistro, opens in November.

Yakubovich says a down economy is a great time to expand. “When the economy changes and becomes better, we’ll be ready.”

The Wichita Eagle

Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy to Expand in Bradley Fair

(WICHIТA, KS) – Laham Development has announced that Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy will expand its present location in Bradley Fair. The spa is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in Bradley Fair and will hold а celebration in the fall of 2010, when renovation is completed. Sveta’s will double its size with the expansion, acquiring the space previously occupied bу Zumo Juice. The announcement was made bу Cathy Erickson, vice president of Laham Development.

Sveta’s signature emphasis оп client privacy will be enhanced with the expansion. The spa combines therapeutic services with а high level of convenience. This approach is designed to work well with clients’ busy schedules. The entry waiting area size will be increased, with а small private waiting room added for clients to relax between services. The expansion will include space to accommodate groups for private parties and to teach massage classes. This will also provide space for the future addition of other services.

“The growth of our business created the need for тоге massage and facial rooms, said Sveta Yakubovich, owner. “We will also be adding а couples’ room where two people сап enjoy facials, massages or even pedicures together. We have always provided personalized attention to our clients and the additional space will help us to enhance this with some new equipment and а little more elegance,” Sveta continued. “The opportunity for increased space allows us to stay in the location we love and start our next decade at Bradley Fair.”

Bradley Fair recently announced three new additions to the lifestyle center. The Lbd, Etc., а boutique specializing in women’s clothing opened оп August 14. Carla’s Love It, а locally-owned clothing, jewelry, and gift store will open оп August 31. Newport Grill, а new restaurant concept1 will open in November. Newport Grill will feature fresh seafood, steaks, chops and seasonal specialties. The restaurant will be located оп the south side of Bradley Fair Plaza, with а view overlooking Bradley Fair Lake.

А project of Laham Development, Bradley Fair opened in November 1990. The lifestyle center features тоге than 50 stores and restaurants, including specialty boutiques and prominent national retailers. The focal point of the center is Bradley Fair Plaza, а scenic open-air venue that features а lake, an island waterfall and а year-round fountain. Each year, а number of community events are hosted оп Bradley Fair Plaza including summer jazz concerts, opera performances, and holiday carriage rides. А new event, Autumn & Art at Bradley Fair, will be held in September. Autumn & Art is а fine arts fair with exhibits by over 60 local, regional and national artists1 culinary arts and entertainment.

The project architect is Spangenberg Phillips Tice. The project contractor is Key Construction, Wichita.

For more information, visit bradleyfair.com. and lahamdevelopment.com.