In this episode of the Business of Aesthetics Podcast, host Don Adeesha is joined by Audrey Neff, Chief Marketing Officer at Aviva Aesthetics, to discuss a critical industry paradox: why, in a booming $25.3 billion market, do so few practices build sustainable, scalable value? Audrey lays out a blueprint for long-term success, arguing that the practices that win will be those who master generational behavior, patient experience, and recurring revenue. She identifies major industry shifts, including the intersection of wellness with functional medicine and the acceleration of private equity consolidation, which is forcing owners to think strategically about their exit from day one.

A major focus is on the rise of the millennial consumer, now the largest demographic in aesthetics. Audrey explains that this group values human interaction and experiences above all else, and studies show they will pay more for a provider they trust. This makes "experience-driven marketing" the new invisible engine for growth. She provides actionable strategies for building this trust online, where millennials conduct their research, emphasizing the need to dominate Google Reviews (aiming for "triple digits") and Instagram, a platform used by 83% of millennials to research aesthetic providers.

From a business perspective, Audrey advises owners to "begin with the end in mind" and operate "as if it were for sale" from the start. She warns against selling too early out of fear, noting that in a valuation, "culture is everything" because aesthetics is a human-to-human business, a nuance many investors miss. She also identifies a massive "profit leak" in most practices: retail. She urges owners to target 15-20% of gross revenue from retail, up from the common 2-5%, framing it not as being "pushy" but as a critical tool for delivering better clinical results, which in turn creates happier, more loyal patients.

Finally, Audrey looks to the future, predicting that as competition increases and treatments become commoditized, differentiation is paramount. She reminds listeners, "competition only exists if you're doing the same thing as everybody else." Her key takeaway for all practitioners is to "put the noise on mute" to ignore the social media drama and "shiny new toys" and instead focus with intensity on what is happening inside their own business, with their own patients, and with their own team.