By Venessa Anthony Spa Ceylon is a convenient and wonderful gift to give, especially during this season when you want to spread the message of love and care. It’s a gift of wellness for anyone, regardless of their identity. Spa Ceylon Co-founder Shalin Balasuriya spoke to The Morning Brunch about Spa Ceylon’s latest collection, The Royal Garden. “It’s a whole collection of gift boxes and special gift packaging. The concept was inspired by the royal gardens in Ceylon, the flora and fauna there, and the opulency and vibrance of the breathtaking gardens.” These products have the fragrance notes of our enchantingly blossoming gardens; one will reminisce the aroma of their favourite flowers when applying these products. It brings together traditional Sri Lankan art to capture the feeling of walking through the royal gardens. Balasuriya then talked about how Spa Ceylon prepped for the busy holiday season. “We have a wide range of gift boxes this year. Our main gift box was inspired by the Sri Lankan drums, so the boxes are round. We’ve got another gift box inspired by Vesak lanterns. We’ve also got our usual Christmas baubles adorned by the motifs we’ve developed.” He explained that the main idea behind these gift boxes was to make the safety of their customers their priority since many people are reluctant to go shopping during the pandemic and make gifting simple for everyone. “We’ve made it easy for people to access their packages. We’ve come up with innovative ways to shop this season. Everything is pre-packed; people can simply come and pick it up. We’ve also come up with the concept of a gift concierge where customers can specify their needs and allocate a budget, and our concierge will sort out all the gifting for you and have it delivered wherever you wish.” You can obtain a gift box in line with your budget. You also have the option of driving by, and they will deliver your package right to your vehicle. Drive through shopping is a novel concept Spa Ceylon seems to have mastered during this pandemic. Additionally, they’ve also removed the hassle of gift wrapping, as all their products can be packed in beautifully designed boxes, keeping in theme with the holiday spirit.  

‘A year of waiting’

When asked how Spa Ceylon coped during the pandemic and how they had to adapt to the current situation, Balasuriya said: “It was a tough time. Our business depends heavily on the tourism industry as well, and that’s gone to zero. We’ve focused a lot on our consumers and being as accessible as possible under the conditions. “We’ve made our website more accessible. We’ve created ways to bridge offline and online. You can even call or WhatsApp and order your products. We’ve understood that people are reluctant to go out and shop so we made it as easy as possible.” He opened up about his personal experience regarding this year, sharing that it has been a “year of waiting”. “We didn’t know how long this would last; our planning cycles were shorter, and it’s been a year of innovations and efficiency. We’re waiting for better times but continue to work strategically to build the business.”  

Expansion amidst a pandemic

On a lighter note, even during the pandemic, Spa Ceylon has managed to grow and open a new store in Portugal, and they’re currently planning on opening stores in the UK and South Africa within the week. They are also launching online on certain American and Chinese websites. Even through all the ups and downs, they said they have stayed strong and spread the Lankan culture. Balasuriya elaborated on the concept of their experience centres, noting: “We opened a new shopping experience centre in our showroom in Bambalapitiya, where people can come in and experience the magic of Spa Ceylon.” You are granted with the opportunity to sample all their products, take some lovely pictures with the tastefully decorated backgrounds, and get your shopping done, all in a very safe environment.  

First-ever live shopping event with Spa Ceylon

Balasuriya revealed some exciting news to all Spa Ceylon lovers out there. Spa Ceylon plans on hosting a live session on Facebook and Instagram on 18 December, which will be the first-ever live shopping event in Sri Lanka. He mentioned that it will be hosted by himself along with their beauty and wellness expert. “People can interact immediately; they can ask questions as well. There will be many competitions to participate in, so viewers can enjoy some amazing prizes.” The watchers will also be taken through a virtual walkthrough of the showroom and graced with an informative tour of all the products on display. “If our views want discounts, they are welcome to ask for them and they will receive it on the spot! We will DM them a discount code that they can redeem on any of our items.” Pop by their live session on Friday, 18 December from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and treat yourself to some of their heavenly goodies. Bid adieu to the year in luxury. Instagram: @spaceylonofficial Facebook: SpaCeylonAyurveda Website: lk.spaceylon.com