Hmmm....You are "Liking" us on Facebook, but are you "Following" us on Twitter?

The Wingate Salon & Spa Facebook page has been the place to be - with our "Likes" rising every day.  Hey, we like that!  We have offered some great deals on Facebook Fridays and also gave away some prizes to our loyal social media followers.  These included facials, pedicures, massages and more.  Who doesn't want a free spa service?  Right?  Right!  We have found that page is a great way to communicate with our clients on a daily basis.


Our Twitter page is a bit lonely.  I know there is something like 400 million more people on Facebook than on Twitter, so this makes sense.  But we would still love to see you there.  It is another great way to find out more about salon & spa specials - in 140 characters or less.  


Find us here Wingate Twitter Page and start following us today.  Thanks!

Wow...we are having an AMAZING year in the "honors" category!

You like us, you really like us!  It is nice to feel loved by our community and we absolutely appreciate the honors we have received this year.


The Wingate Salon & Spa has now been selected by the readers of New Hampshire Magazine's BRIDE as "Best of Bride 2010 for Bridal Party Spa AND Day of Wedding Hair Styling". This is the second year in a row that the Wingate has received both awards. The winners, who were selected in the online poll, were listed in the September, 2010 issue of BRIDE.


"It's the magazine's second annual poll," said Barbara Coles, editor of BRIDE. "We felt the poll was a way to recognize people in the New Hampshire's bridal industry who strive every day to provide great service for couples who are planning one of the most important days in their life. We also wanted to give those who benefit from the training, experience and expertise of wedding professionals a chance to express their satisfaction".

The poll, which was conducted from the beginning of February to the end of June 2010, had 45 categories. In addition, the members of the editorial staff were asked for their suggestions for an Editor's Pick and their choices of outstanding businesses were added to the winners list.

The Wingate Salon and Spa in Stratham has been a leader in the bridal industry for 10+ years. It has become the top destination on the seacoast for brides and their wedding parties.

BRIDE is a twice-yearly publication of New Hampshire Magazine, the state's largest lifestyle magazine. It is part of the McLean Communications of Manchester, a publishing company that also includes New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Home, Parenting New Hampshire and Destination.

Have you tried it? Revolutionary Skin Care Line at the Wingate

For years we searched for the perfect combination of products to meet the dynamic needs of our skin care clients.  It isn't easy to find products that can do it all - and in the end we offered three different skin care lines in an attempt to cover the diverse skin types of the Wingate clients.  After trying some of these different combinations, the esthetics staff found they were happy with "this" product from "this" line and then would recommend "that" product from "that" line.  It all seemed very disconnected and not the right approach for our community.


The Wingate management along with the Esthetics team decided to take on the daunting task of creating our own skin care products.  In comes the fabulous Dr. Loretta Ciraldo!  Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD is a nationally recognized expert in skin care and a Professor of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Her advice has been featured in many magazines including Allure, Shape, New Beauty and Oprah. Her skincare expertise has made her a recurring guest on Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show, the Today Show and on local Southern Florida stations. Dr. Loretta is the author of the book “6 Weeks to Sensational Skin” Our partnership with her was about to create an amazing line of products called Wingate Serious Skin Care.


In conjunction with Dr. Loretta, our skin care line was developed, clinically tested and formulated!  Dr. Ciraldo's dedication and knowledge is the culmination of 30 years of laboratory and clinical experience.

We distinguish our Wingate Serious Skin Care line by providing formulations that incorporate the ideal levels of the most advanced active and natural ingredients to produce clinically significant and often extraordinary results. Further, our formulations specifically avoid ingredients that can cause redness, flaking and other untoward reactions. Our products are non-prescription, medical grade, highly efficacious formulations. We excel at fine-tuning skincare regimens for every Wingate client.  These are now the top selling retail products within the spa after being introduced in late 2009.

Seacoast Kids Calendar Features Wingate for Mother's Day

Wingate Feature on www.seacoastkidscalendar.com - scroll down to find article.


seacoastkidscalendar.com

Award Winning Year - Featured In Exeter Newsletter!

By KATHLEEN D. BAILEY

newsletter@seacoastonline.com

March 30, 2010 2:00 AM

STRATHAM — Tom McDermott, co-owner of Wingate Salon and Spa, is a man with an eye for details, be it the scalloped edging on his cloth napkins, the lemons floating in a glass pitcher of water, or his skin care line. The "Wingate Serious Skin Care" line is only available at the spa, and it's the only skin care line he sells.

"I don't want to sell five brands of product," McDermott said. "I want to pick one that's best for our clients."

The Wingate Salon and Spa is celebrating its 10th year at the Stratham Circle and the eighth year under the ownership by Tom and Claire McDermott. The McDermotts are keeping the spa going in a tough economy by giving their clients that little bit of extra luxury, and by seeking the best staff and teaching them the newest techniques, they said.

Attention to detail has garnered the spa several awards. In 2010 Salon Today Magazine named the Wingate one of the Top 200 Salons/Spas in the country. In 2009, the salon was recognized by New Hampshire Magazine's "Best of New Hampshire" as the state's best day spa; New Hampshire Magazine's "Bride," named it "Best Bridal Party Spa" and "Best Day of Wedding Hairstyling;" and the national New Beauty Magazine, named Wingate a "Five-Star Beauty Destination."

The antique Colonial home that houses the spa was built in 1786 by John Wingate. The high ceilings, molded trim and wainscoting echo an earlier gracious era, as does the reproduction wallpaper and chandeliers. George Washington actually visited the home — not necessarily sleeping there — during his tour of his infant country in 1789.

As he relaxed in the cream-colored sofas of the "party room," Tom McDermott said he wasn't looking to open a spa. He originally checked out the Wingate when the first owners were seeking investment partners. He said he and Claire fell in love with the property and the concept, and ended up buying it outright.

"As a businessperson, I could see that people came in happy, they left happy and we'd be providing a service."

When the McDermotts acquired the Wingate, the clientele was smaller and the services basic, Tom McDermott said. "It was hair, skin, nails, a little massage." They modernized the business end, including accounting, bookkeeping and registration services. They started a Web site, run by marketing Director Jenn Woodside, that gives regular updates to "premier" clients.

The McDermotts determined from the start that their salon would be cutting-edge. "We wanted to take what's out there and have our people gain more knowledge," Tom said. The hair care staff, for example, attends seven to 10 trainings per year.

The McDermotts added a "hospitality" service. Clients can relax with a glass of wine, tea or water in a crystal goblet and nibble on fresh strawberries. The tea room has mint-green tablecloths, matching cloth napkins and relaxing, piped-in music. Guests can also drink or snack while having a pedicure, he said.

The McDermotts expanded the skin care offerings. Clients can get a waxing, an eyelash extension or relaxing facial. They offer chemical peels, microdermal abrasions and laser hair removal. A new technique, PhotoFacial, is done under a doctor's supervision and involves a heat-based laser reacting with chemicals in the skin. It's not as painful as a chemical peel, Tom said.

The spa has also beefed up the massage portion of the business, looking for trained massage professionals. "There are a lot of signs by the side of the road and you're never quite sure," he said, "but we stand behind our massages." Several rooms in the new part of the building are set up for "couples' massages," with two tables, he said.

The party room may be what makes Wingate a destination spa for people outside the Seacoast, the McDermotts and Woodside agreed. The room with deep sofas and coffee tables can accommodate up to 22 people, McDermott said, for wedding parties, bachelorette parties, family reunions, birthday parties. While the guests are waiting for their services, they can "sit around, hang out, enjoy a glass of wine," Tom said. Brides often come to the party room to get dressed and have a final hair check before setting out for their big day, he said.

A current goal, Tom said, is to expand the skin care offerings. There's room in the building, and he's hoping to add another esthetician to the five currently on staff.

But no matter where their business grows, the McDermotts are determined to stay in the Wingate House. "A strip mall down the road," he said, "would not have the same ambience." For more information, call 1-888-379-7979; 772-8400; or write info@wingatespa.com.

OH YEAH - Best of NH - AGAIN!

NH MAGAZINE NAMES LOCAL BUSINESS "BEST OF NH 2010" Celebration June 24 at Verizon Arena to Benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank

The Wingate Salon & Spa has been selected by the readers of New Hampshire Magazine as “Best of NH 2010” for Best Day Spa. This year they received the highest amount of online votes ever at www.bestofnh.com. The winners will be feted at a celebration that each year draws more than 1,500 people. 

It’s happening on Thursday, June 24, at Manchester’s Verizon Wireless Arena from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.  Partygoers can sample great food from dozens of restaurants, enjoy the entertainment and enter to win in a drawing for two tickets from Southwest Airlines — all celebrating the best New Hampshire has to offer.  “It adds up to one heck of a good time,” says Rick Broussard, editor of New Hampshire Magazine. “And, as a fund-raiser for the New Hampshire Food Bank, it’s for a good cause.”

One ticket buys you the whole evening of food, fun and music. To guarantee tickets, call (603) 868-7300, log on to www.ticketmaster.com or www.bestofnh.com. Proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. The Food Bank, the largest non-profit food distribution center in the state, obtains and distributes donated and purchased food to 412 registered agencies that in turn provide the food to hungry people in New Hampshire through soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, and elderly and children’s programs. 

Presenting sponsor Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of the Best of NH Party. Other 
sponsors include FairPoint Communications, AutoFair, Hannaford Supermarkets, Catholic Medical Center, CIGNA HealthCare of New Hampshire and Bud Light Golden Wheat. Media sponsors are WMUR-TV, 95.7fm WZID and WXRV The River 92.5. New Hampshire Magazine is the state’s largest lifestyle magazine. It is part of McLean Communications of Manchester, a publishing company that also includes New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Home, Parenting New Hampshire and NH.com. 

Now we have ties to Rachel Ray!

Just as we were getting excited last week about our previous hair trainer being on Bravo's Shear Genius, we find out that Dr. Loretta Ciraldo - Dermatologist and skin care consultant for the Wingate Spa and researcher/developer of the Wingate Serious Skin Care line is going to be on Rachel Ray Show again!  With all the television I watch, this is more excellent news.  


This is actually her third visit to the show where she regularly contributes to the "Human Lab" segments.  In these segments viewers sign-up to test out different beauty products that are on the market today.  This time on Rachael Ray, Dr. Loretta will be talking to the Human Lab participants about their use of various cellulite removal products.  Hey...who doesn't want to get rid of cellulite?  But the funny part is that one of the products is actually a pair of really strange underwear that claims to rid you of cellulite forever while shaping and firming your body.  Spanx with benefits?  We shall see!!


Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD is a nationally recognized expert in skin care and a Professor of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine.  Her advice has been featured in many magazines including Allure, Shape, New Beauty and Oprah.  Her skincare expertise has made her a recurring guest on Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show , the Today Show and on local Southern Florida stations.  Dr. Loretta is the author of the book “6 Weeks to Sensational Skin”.  In conjunction with the Wingate Management and Esthetics team Dr. Loretta helped to test and formulate our Wingate Serious Skin Care Line.  These are now our top selling retail products within the spa. 


Tune in to Rachael Ray everyday at 9am on local stations.