High-end wellness centres moving to office buildings

The number of beauty and wellness centres in the country and moreso in Nairobi has gone up significantly in the past few years.

The increase of these luxury facilities, are testimony that Kenyans have started appreciating the premium services that these set-ups offer.

Like traditional wellness centres, for instance, checking in at Revitalize Wellness Centre or Workout Express, one is able to get grooming services, fitness training, massage sessions and consultation on healthy living practices.

However, one distinctive characteristic of the aforementioned establishments is their locations.

Instead of setting up base in shopping malls or busy market places, as would naturally be expected, the proprietors of these facilities opted to conduct their businesses in or near office buildings.

The quietness of a building that primarily hosts office spaces accords a peaceful environment for customers to splurge and get pampered.
Revitalize Wellness Centre is situated on the ground floor of ICEA Lion Centre at Riverside Park in Westlands, His and Hers Barber and Beauty Centre is at the Commodore Suites in Kilimani while Workout Express is in Muthaiga Court at 6th Parklands Avenue.

Neo Amidiva Beauty is at 14 Riverside, a hub for blue-chip companies. Evidently, these establishments are set up in areas where a number of people would argue is ill-positioned for their kind of services. 

But these businesses have been recording an increasing number of clients with every waking day partially for the reason that they are positioned in a busy environment where those who come to them need time to unwind and relax.

Faith Kabira, the proprietor of His and Hers Barber and Beauty Centre, remains confident about the performance of her business and says that the location has not impacted negatively on the growth of the business.

“I trust that the quality of service offered is what defines the outcome of a business because we serve clients from as far as Machakos,” says Kabira.

Like Kabira, Veronica Waweru of Workout Express settled on the current location of her business because of the serene ambience.

“We strive to provide a place that is like a second home for our members; where they can be at ease and be able to exercises and have fun without distractions such as too much movement and noise,” says Waweru.

Security is another factor that drove these entrepreneurs to move to office blocks. For instance, since the Westgate attack, individuals are cautious about spending a lengthy time in the malls, which have been painted as easy targets for terrorists.

Aware of the challenge, Kabira says she decided to settle for a location that would accord comfort to clients, encouraging them to stay around for as long as their schedule allowed. 

This proved to be a smart move because throughout a typical day, there are clients ringing in to book appointments.

Wellness centres located in office buildings are also popular because of the convenience they offer. People working in the buildings are able to conveniently pop in for a massage, a haircut or styling for the ladies or a gym session after work, without having to navigate through the sometimes depressing Nairobi traffic jams. 

Clients who visit the facilities from other areas are encouraged by the availability of parking, given that all these centres are located outside the Central Business District.

The Nairobi skyline is fast-changing as landmark commercial developments take prominence.

Mixed-use buildings like Le’ Mac in Westlands, which is still under construction, have incorporated spaces for offices, apartments, restaurants and grooming and fitness amenities.

This growing flexibility of office-space setups has in effect allowed entrepreneurs to think creatively, exploring the need for convenient and safe access to grooming and wellness services right where they work.