SKNRGY Aesthetics, a new beauty spa in Main Gate SquareOffers botox and lip filler injections and allows University of Arizona students to pay with CatCash.
CatCash it is one form of student payment that allows purchases to be made through a student’s CatCard. UA students can digitally deposit up to $1,000 CatCash to load onto their CatCardswhich can then can be used as a debit card on campus or at certain off-campus businesses.
Ms. Kazantzis, employee at SKNRGYsaid that this payment method is the most popular among students.
“The freshman girls definitely used it [the most]”, said Kazantzis. “I tell them and they say, ‘Do you get CatCash here? Oh my God!’ Many girls will use their CatCash to even get labia, which is probably our cheapest injection.”
ONE lip twist is a procedure that uses botox to relax the muscles in the upper lip, causing the lip to turn upwards, giving the appearance of a fuller upper lip. At SKNRGY, This service retails for $79.
Aubree AmorielloThe junior at UA found the option to use CatCash on SKNRGY handy.
“I usually go to Skinjectables“, he said, “but I heard that SKNRGY was using CatCash and I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll go there, it’s basically free — it’s CatCash.’
The owner of SKNRGY, Cami Quistit’s the previous owner of Fuku Sushi and current owner of Jimmy’s Pita and Pokeboth are popular spots University Avenue for the students. Like SKNRGY, Both businesses allow students to make purchases using their CatCash.
“It’s expensive, it’s at the University. Obviously the students will say, “I’m struggling, I can’t spend all this money,” but you also know, for many of them, their parents support them through their CatCash. It’s a really good marketing idea honestly.” Kazantzis he said.
While many students appear to be using their parents’ money for SKNRGY’s services, the fees remain transparent. According Lexi Czopek, the assistant director of the UA meal plan office, any purchases made on SKNRGY should appear under its name, as do other CatCash-eligible businesses. However, the exact service provided under the charge, such as a lip injection or botox, remains hidden.
“It shows the retail location, the charge and the date,” Czopek said.
According to Czopek, in order for a business to apply to use CatCash, it must fill out an application for I’m processingone third company which manages the University of Arizona meal plan software. I process It will also be actively recruiting for retailers located in the geographic area.
So far this year, no complaints have been made to the CatCash office about any vendor, including SKNRGY. While specific services billed to SKNRGY are not visible in CatCash accounts, the CatCash office is considering changing this arrangement in the future, according to Czopek.
Quist said the mission of her business centers is to make students feel beautiful inside and out by providing accessible skin care and other beauty services.
“I have very strong feelings about building self-esteem. I didn’t want it to be like, “Oh, if you look like that, then that’s beauty.” We wanted it to be what beauty means to you,” Quist said.
As for using CatCash, the Tucson business owner said it was more about convenience for students than anything else. While the charges appear on a student’s account as the name of the business, Quist says HIPAA laws prevent staff from legally releasing this information to parents if they wanted to ask.
“I would hope they would be honest with their parents about what they’re doing there,” Quist said. “CatCash is expensive for businesses. Financially, it’s not as good for me as a VISA or debit card would be. I did it for convenience more than anything, because I’m up University Avenue.”
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