Chair Massage in a shopping mall

[MnM]

This is my first time at this site and I could not resist posting on this subject.  A little over a year ago I was working for The Body Shop and we struck up a deal with a local massage therapist to come in and give FREE 15 minute chair massages, using some of the massage products that we sold.  That's right, I said free! She set up  place to leave a tip and also a drawing for a free hour of massage, along with brochures and business cards.  The first event  was right before Valentines Day and she was able to make herself known to many new clients and she also sold quite a few gift certificates. (Trust me, once you give a person a massage, its easy for them to see what a wonderful gift it can be! Sometimes for more than one person on their list! ) This worked well before most holidays, especially Christmas and Mother's Day.  We set the schedule for when ever her books were slow or when we expected large crowds.  She got addresses and phone numbers for future marketing and it didnt cost her anything but time.   There are companies out there who are willing to "work together" on demos like this.   Im proud to say her business is thriving and I now work for HER!  

 

[badkitty1969]

Chair Massage in a shopping mall

Whatever you do, please don't demean the profession by charging a $1/minute.

One of the reason mall chair massage attempts fail is under charging the for service.

You are going to them, often have unproductive time, and have to pay rent.

So why on earth would anyone charge less per hour than they do to have a client come to their home office?

Beats me, but I see MTs doing it all the time, then wonder why the average MT only makes $25K per year.

MTs are charging major corporations $1/minute to do convention chair massage, yet the company spent $5 million dollars on their booth!

Instead, capitalise massage and take the client for every penny they have. Sheesh R&R, I think you and I need to trade nicks.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Chair Massage in a shopping mall

I am hardly advocating fleecing the clients.I am advocating a pricing structure that makes sense and making sure you can make a living. Half the posts in this or any other industry forum are therapists trying to figure out how to make a living at this profession. Step 1 is to make sure you are not your own worst enemy.Charging $1/minute makes no sense to me. What other profession charges by the minute?Don't charge less to go somewhere, and have downtime than you charge to have someone come to you. That makes no sense.You can do fewer appts at a higher rate or more at a lower rate. Your income is the same, but I would rather have more time and energy for more appts than already be worn out.

 

[scatter_head]

Chair Massage in a shopping mall

So are you basically saying have rate like 10 minute massage 15.00 1/2 hour 40.00 for example instead of saying chair massage $1.00 per minute?Because if so I can see your point there. It does sound much more professional to me and I have always been put off by the minute prices. I guess how much you charge would depend on your area as massage prices across the US vary greatly.

 

[liya79]

Chair Massage in a shopping mall

well, I have to post once more on this whole pricing issue...although I must say we've gotten completely off the topic. I think a big part of it has to do with the metro area you're in. For example, I am in central Texas where there are a LOT of M.T.'s and a LOT of Massage schools spewing out more and more M.T.'s every semester. This, understandably, leads to more and more competition. Two ways to continue to not only stay in business but to improve business is a)provide unique and/or more modalities to choose from and b) provide a competitive rate to clientele who have quite a few massage therapists to choose from these days.Not only that, but if someone or some company were to want you regularly, you would understandably want to reduce the price for them a little in appreciation of their continued business. Thus, another reason to reduce your price some. Lastly, and this one is stretching it a little but nevertheless, when you are providing chair massage and you have back-to-back clients, it's quicker and more efficient to simply charge $1 instead of $1.25 or $1.50 because if they get a 10-minute massage at $1.25 a minute, then afterwards, they're having to get out of the chair, reach into their wallet AND their change purse and count out 12 dollars and two quarters or maybe they're trying to find 5 dimes because they can't find any quarters, etc. and they can't or simply won't tip you so they insist on giving the exact amount. This takes up time from the next client. So rounding it to $1 is just easier for everyone involved. Overall, I could see where the standard became $1/minute. I'm happy to charge this amount and there are no raised eyebrows when I quote this as my rate to clients.Be well,Jen