Wahanda

Treatwell, formerly known as Wahanda, operates as a comprehensive digital marketplace for the health, beauty, and wellness industry in Europe. Founded in London in 2008 by Lopo Champalimaud and Salim Mitha, the company was established to address the founders' frustration with the lack of online resources for consumers to make informed decisions about beauty services. Champalimaud, influenced by his entrepreneurial mother, an interior designer, drew inspiration for the venture after experiencing the difficulty of booking a massage after a long workday. His background includes founding CRM startups and serving as Managing Director of Lifestyle at lastminute.com, while Mitha was the European director for Yahoo! Search.

The platform connects consumers with spas and salons, allowing them to discover, review, and book appointments for a wide range of treatments, from haircuts and massages to manicures and facials. For its business clients, Treatwell provides salon management software, Wahanda Connect, which assists with scheduling, appointment management, and marketing. The business model primarily generates revenue through commissions on bookings made via the platform. A key aspect of their model is a tiered commission structure, charging a higher percentage (around 35%) for new client bookings and a significantly lower or zero fee for repeat customers, incentivizing client retention for the salons. Additionally, the company offers premium subscription packages to salons seeking enhanced visibility and promotional tools on the marketplace.

The company's history is marked by significant growth through strategic acquisitions. Beginning in 2012, Wahanda embarked on an expansion across Europe, acquiring companies like Salonium in Lithuania, Salonmeister in Germany, and ZenSoon in France. A pivotal moment came in May 2015 when Japanese firm Recruit Holdings acquired a majority stake in the company, valuing it at approximately $222 million and providing substantial capital for further expansion. Shortly after, in June 2015, Wahanda acquired its Dutch competitor, Treatwell, for €34 million. In January 2016, to unify its growing portfolio of brands across ten European countries, Wahanda rebranded entirely to Treatwell. This move aimed to create a single, recognizable brand identity for its international operations, as the name "Wahanda" had pronunciation difficulties in some regions.

Keywords: online booking platform, beauty services, salon management software, wellness marketplace, spa booking, hair salon appointments, beauty tech, European marketplace, Lopo Champalimaud, commission-based model, subscription services, beauty treatment booking, digital marketplace, salon software, health and beauty, Treatwell, Wahanda, appointment scheduling, client management, online reviews