Spa navigates aftermath of vehicle collision

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This article was published 28/08/2024 (400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Relaxation is scarce for a Winnipeg spa owner whose business was recently rocked by a car crash.

Dave Gibeault walked past a shattered mirror and boarded windows Wednesday afternoon. Urban Retreat Derma Spa has been without its retail space and two of its private rooms since Aug. 19.

“We’re hoping we can get this operational within three months,” said Gibeault.

He’s owned the enterprise with his wife, Michelle, for the last 18 years. Customers book appointments for hair removal and skin care.

Early on Aug. 19, the Gibeaults received a call from police informing them a vehicle had crashed into their business at 444 St. Anne’s Rd.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service arrived on scene first, at 11:07 p.m. Aug. 18. First responders assessed one person, who wasn’t taken to hospital, spokeswoman Erin Madden wrote in a statement.

Police arrived at 11:36 p.m. Neither the Winnipeg Police Service nor the WFPS commented on the crash’s cause.

When the Gibeaults arrived, the white vehicle was being towed away — and a gaping hole was left in the building.

Now, the company is losing business daily, Gibeault said. Roughly a quarter of its space was damaged in the incident.

Urban Retreat’s biggest draw is a HydraFacial machine, which is marketed as cleaning and hydrating clients’ faces. The $40,000 piece of equipment was destroyed in the crash and it’ll take weeks for a replacement to come in, Gibeault said.

He estimates the company has lost $6,000 in retail products and another $8,000 worth of professional use products. Flooring, ventilation, windows and walls are on the list of “to be replaced.”

One staff member can’t work because their space is gone; another is using a temporary room. Four commission-earning employees are losing money, Gibeault said.

“There will be major losses, there will be daily losses, but closing is not an option for us,” he continued. “We can get through it, but we’re not going to get through with full power and that’s the problem.”

Appointments will continue at a reduced capacity. At the same time, customers are advised by a sign, upon entrance, the spa doesn’t keep cash.

Urban Retreat has been broken into three times in the past two years. The crime acts have resulted in, collectively, about $18,000 lost, Gibeault said.

“They’re small amounts, but when you’re a small business, it’s a kick every time it happens.”

Gibeault said he didn’t file insurance claims then. The car accident, however, has warranted such a filing — and he is nervous.

The business owner said he is disputing his coverage. Much of the product lost in the incident is medical grade and can’t be bought on Amazon and similar websites, despite what insurance companies say, Gibeault stated.

“(There’s) a big lack of understanding,” he said, adding he was told to take a “leap of faith” and buy everything the company needed. “A leap of faith is $100,000 for us right there. That’s not a leap that we have.”

Brio Insurance, who Gibeault said was his broker, referred a reporter to Manitoba Public Insurance. MPI said it doesn’t comment on individual claims.

Urban Retreat’s claims are being outsourced to Ontario-based company A.M. Fredericks, Gibeault said. The firm didn’t immediately respond to questions.

Meanwhile, Gibeault started a GoFundMe for business support with a $50,000 goal.

Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, called such vehicle collisions “rare.”

“It’s not something that any business can … prepare for, so it’s a significant inconvenience,” he added.

So far in 2024, MPI has received 248 claims where vehicles damaged non-residential buildings.

It’s a jump from claims over the past three years. In 2023, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 27, MPI clocked 222 reports (its second-highest count since 2021).

Claims of vehicles causing damage to buildings — both residential and non-residential — have been steadily climbing since 2021. Between January and Aug. 27 this year, MPI tallied 593 reports of vehicles damaging buildings.

“When you have to board up your window and get someone to come and fix that, it’s probably going to deter customers for a little while,” said Brianna Solberg, Canadian Federation of Independent Business director of legislative affairs for the Prairies and northern Canada.

Small firms are dealing with increased crime, higher operating costs and, sometimes, decreased customer spending. Vehicle accidents bring another bout of “major costs” and mental repercussions, Solberg said.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com