Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Spanburg.
Hi Danielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. To start, can you share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was working in the marketing industry when COVID hit, and I found myself extremely unhappy with my career. Around that time, I developed a new dream of going back to school and opening my own spa. I quit my marketing job not knowing what was to come during COVID, but I was excited to take the risk and start a new career.
I went back to school to become an esthetician and opened my spa straight out of school. I had never worked for a spa before, but I did have strong marketing and business skills, a genuine love for taking care of people (acts of service is my love language), and a deep passion for skincare. I bootstrapped my entire way up.
Seaside Spiritual Spa turns five in February 2026, and we were named #1 Spa in St. Augustine in 2025 and Top 3 in 2024. I started with just myself and gradually moved into larger locations while growing the team. I always knew I could compete with the “big dogs” in town if I truly wanted to, and I went for it because I had a dream, the skill set, and a strong hunger for knowledge, plus a ton of ambition.
We’ve accomplished a lot in just five years, especially opening at the peak of COVID. I truly feel like this is just the beginning of something both locals and tourists love spending their time at—getting pampered and forming genuine connections with everyone working at the spa. I think what helped us grow so rapidly was offering completely tailored services using the best products and being extremely detail-oriented in ways you can’t find just anywhere else. Being deeply rooted in the community has also played a huge role; building an authentic brand happened naturally over time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the beginning, the biggest struggle was working several jobs while trying to build a brand from the ground up. I don’t believe in credit card debt or any debt at all, so I focused on bootstrapping everything, which required serious time and money management. There were days when I only had zero to two clients, and that was normal in the early stages.
One of the hardest parts was how tough I was on myself. During consistent slow days, I often felt like I was failing. As the business grew, another major challenge was finding true A-team players. I didn’t want to hire just anyone looking for a job and risk the reputation of the treatments and experience we deliver. I wanted guests to have high expectations when they came in, so finding the right fit initially took time.
I wore and still wear many hats;giving facials, running marketing and social media campaigns, bookkeeping, and more—while also learning how to be a strong leader and boss. I had to grow into the responsibility of helping others make a living while creating a supportive, fun environment to work in.
We’ve been impressed with Seaside Spiritual Spa, but for those who may not be familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Seaside Spiritual Spa is located in the St. Augustine Beach area and offers facials, massage, and Japanese head spa treatments. While we’re known for all of these services, facials have always been our foundation, especially since the spa offered only facials for the first three years.
We provide Hydrafacials, custom facials, microneedling, dermaplaning, and more, using all-organic products from Eminence Skincare. Guests often tell us that the feel of our space and the warmth of our staff reflect what “old St. Augustine” used to feel like before overdevelopment, heavy franchising, and mass growth, while still delivering top-notch treatments and service.
As a team, we genuinely care deeply about every detail (which can be both a blessing and a curse). From the moment someone walks in to the moment they leave, we want every experience to feel truly special.
Is there something surprising that even people who know you well might not know about you?
Most people assume my work is all serenity and softness, but behind the scenes I am extremely disciplined and data driven. Every treatment, ritual, and product choice is grounded in results, science, and intention, not just aesthetics.
At the same time, the spa is not just where I work, it is where I healed. Many of the experiences we offer today are things I once needed myself, which gives the work a deeply personal meaning.
What many people do not realize is how much intuition guides my decisions. While the journey has certainly had its hurdles, things have often flowed with surprising ease because I trust my instincts, stay rooted in my faith in Jesus, and lean on the skill set I built long before this business existed. That balance between strategy, intuition, and faith has been my greatest asset.
Pricing:
- Facials $70-$300
- Massages $100-$170
- Headspa $90-$150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seasidespiritualspa.com
- Instagram: Seasidespiritualspa
- Facebook: Seaside Spiritual Spa
