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Serendipity Day Spa

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Serendipity Day Spa owner Holly Dufresne Rodrigues believes deeply in the restorative power of touch. Her faith in connections—be they physical or psychological—is profound and permeates everything she

does. Whether talking about building the spa, training employees, volunteer-ing in the community, or serving on the state cosmetology board, Rodrigues radiates enthusiasm. It is clear that she is committed to touching the lives of everyone she encounters. “Every day I’m blessed,” Rodrigues observes. “I’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

ser·en·dip·i·ty [ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]: 1. An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. 2. Good fortune, luck.

senior esthetician stacie haas provides a signature facial to a spa guest.

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clockwise from top left: the recently renovated relaxation room is a great place for guests to unwind. Guests enjoy a light spa lunch. senior massage thera-pist laura montminy provides a guest with a swedish relaxation massage. four guests receive serendipity’s award-winning deluxe spa pedicure. serendipity day spa owner, holly dufresne rodrigues.

“...my main goal was to create a place where clients felt welcome and at home. It’s a unique blessing to be able to share a few hours with clients. I want people to know that we value them.”

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Life’s JourneyIn speaking with Rodrigues, one realizes that her Pembroke, New Hampshire-based spa is aptly named; she clearly feels that her professional journey to this place has been a series of serendipitous discoveries, and one that brings renewed joy each day. Rodrigues came to the spa business through a circuitous route. Her initial career plan was to be a nurse, where interactions with patients quickly convinced her that the healing power of touch was real and profound.

While working at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, Rodrigues discovered that she also had an aptitude for teaching, and she loved it. A desire to work with plastic surgery patients led her to secure training in the cosmetic laser field, and before long she was traveling extensively to conduct classes in cosmetic laser pro-cedures. Rodrigues was happy and loved her work, but the demands of a growing family, coupled with a particularly tough drive home one winter day, convinced her that a change was needed. At around the same time, she recalls, she had a conversation with her daughter, who remarked, “Mom, when you open a spa, you should call it ‘Serendipity.’” Although the idea hadn’t been in her plans, her skills made her perfectly suited, and a short time later, that’s what she did.

In 2003, Rodrigues opened Serendipity Day Spa on Hammond Street in Concord, where she saw clients with the assistance of three employees. Response was positive

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Steeplegate Mall 270 Loudon Road Concord, NH 03301 Located inside Sears 603-224-9939

Mall of Fisherville 108 Fisherville Road Concord, NH 03303 603-225-4113

H&R Block Premium Ralph Pill Marketplace 22 Bridge Street Concord, NH 03301 603-225-0424

Fort Eddy Plaza 36 Fort Eddy Road Concord, NH 03301 603-225-3731

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and Rodrigues quickly outgrew the space. In 2006 she relocated to a beautiful, 18th century farmstead at 23 Sheep Davis Road (Route 106) in Pembroke. Her approach to renovating the house and transform-ing it to become one of the state’s premier day spas is typical of her inclusive, and very personal, style. “The house is old and has a lot of character,” Rodrigues says. “It has great bones and really good energy. In designing and decorating the spa, my main goal was to create a place where clients felt welcome and at home. It’s a unique blessing to be able to share a few hours with clients. I want people to know that we value them.”

Judging from the response Rodrigues received, clients certainly value her! Friends and family flocked to the house to help clean and decorate. “I had clients stop-ping by to offer me items for the house,” Rodrigues marvels. “They brought mir-rors, curtains, all sorts of decorative pieces. The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming. People love to be a part of something; clients are really invested in this place,” Rodrigues notes. “It was just incredible.”

A ProfessionAL stAffPeople visit a spa for any number of reasons, Rodrigues explains. They may be seeking a temporary respite from the stresses of everyday life, celebrating a special occasion, or simply enjoying a few hours of pampering and conversation with family or friends.

Whatever the reasons, Rodrigues and her staff have them covered. In addition to of-fering a rich assortment of spa services and medical day-spa treatments such as facial peels and hair removal with the Palomar Intense Pulsed Light system, Rodrigues also offers spa visitors an array of special perks. Relaxation areas, complete with refresh-ments, are available to guests before and after their treatments. During the cooler months, guests may relax in front of a roaring fire, and in the summertime they’re welcome to venture out onto the patio to enjoy the cool breezes and the home’s lovely surroundings, including a pond. Additionally, the spa offers a variety of seasonal specials, among them the perenni-ally popular “Spa-garita Special,” for which staff members turn the spa into a tropical paradise for a month. The fireplace is filled with sand, a Tiki hut encloses the reception

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desk, steel drum music wafts through the air, and a margarita machine dispenses frozen treats (sans tequila, of course).

Rodrigues’s team consists of up to 45 dedi-cated technicians and ancillary staff (staffing needs fluctuate with the seasons) who take their jobs seriously. Many have been with Rodrigues since she opened her doors and are like family, supporting Rodrigues person-ally as well as professionally. “My staff was incredibly supportive during my son’s battle with cancer last year,” Rodrigues notes, “and my new husband, John, has been instrumen-tal in the spa’s success as well. Anyone can do a manicure or a pedicure,” Rodrigues asserts. “It’s the heart behind the procedure that makes the difference. Really caring about our clients and the level of service we provide is what’s most important to me and to my staff.”

Maintaining a staff with a high level of knowledge and dedication isn’t easy, and Rodrigues doesn’t take it for granted. Continuing education is critically impor-tant to Serendipity’s success, so Rodrigues leaves nothing to chance. She serves on the state’s Board of Barbering, Cosmetology & Esthetics (a position she was appointed to by the governor and subsequently elected to continue) and is implementing a “level system” within the spa to ensure that all her employees continue to hone their knowledge and skills. Staff members are rated based on their skill at performing a service, the quality of their client reviews, and their pursuit of continuing education in their field. They are also encouraged to participate in community service projects. “This is not common in the industry,” Rodrigues admits. “Unlike massage therapists, estheticians and manicurists are not typically required to acquire continuing education credits unless they are instructors.”

However, that’s not the case at Serendipity. “I require all my staff to continue learning about their specialty and strongly encour-age them to give back to the community. It’s part of what sets Serendipity apart from other spas.” Clearly, for Rodrigues and her staff, touching each client in a special way is critical and doesn’t just happen by chance. “You have to care when you’re touching people,” Ro-drigues concludes. “It can’t just be a job.” V

Serendipity Day Spa23 Sheep Davis RoadPembroke, NH(603) 229-0400serendipitydayspa.com