Fish bowls.....

[Book]

Calling all you MTs out there who have done the fish bowl thing! Tell me how you set up your displays, where you went to leave them, what you put on the display to attract potential clients. I have my sign holders, cards, bowls, and ideas on where to take them, but can't seem to get the sign written, what to say, how to say it, ect.. Did you include all the modalities you do? Did you mention GCs? What did you say to the business owners when you visited them about leaving the bowls? I really want to do this, but not quite sure how to go about it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Left-T]

Fish bowls.....

What exactly is the fish bowl thing? Because it sounds interesting.

 

[Came Twice]

Fish bowls.....

The fish bowl thing is where you take a fish bowl, your business cards, and some entry forms to a business that is willing to display them. The entry forms are filled out for a "free half hour massage" in the hopes of eventually getting some regular clients.

 

[Tsunami]

"register to win a free 1/2 hour massage at (your business, address, phone number) i would also put a disclaimer on there that the prize has NO cash value (youd be suprised at how many people will call and want the cash value of it, why? who knows  lol  AND put in that by registering, they agree to receive mailings from you for specials.) you may want to put in that you will not sell their info to anyone. I have done this at a local massageplanete. it has worked well. the owner lets me leave my info there, and i have his info at my shop. good luck!

 

[RatLuver]

Fish bowls.....

well the way I work it is I drop off a small fishbowl in different nail/hair salons with a little sign/note on it that simply says:"Drop your business card in for a chance to win a 1-hour Massage Session".I'm not quite sure if this is all that great though. When I collected the first handful of cards out of it, one who scheduled a massage with me pulled a "no-show" and the others were wanting me to send them my brochure to have on hand. Regardless, I have a growing mailing list which certainly can't hurt when I want to send out specials. Only thing I would maybe suggest is make it plastic and not glass as some businesses don't want to have breakables out in case someone accidentally knocks it to the floor and cuts themselves.Instead, use kleenex boxes wrapped in different patterns/colors of wrapping paper, applicable to the season.Be well,Jen

 

[Jessica J]

Fish bowls.....

Only thing I would maybe suggest is make it plastic and not glass as some businesses don't want to have breakables out in case someone accidentally knocks it to the floor and cuts themselves.

Instead, use kleenex boxes wrapped in different patterns/colors of wrapping paper, applicable to the season.

Be well,
Jen

Oh my, I didn't even think about this when I did it this past week. Maybe I should go back and use plastic or the tissue boxes instead of the glass vases. They're really pretty, but breakable.

 

[Dean]

Fish bowls.....

Seforum.xxxg,I'd say you're ok for now...but if one of the owners suggests that you trade out your fishbowl for a nonbreakeable container, then do it. I've only had to do it once myself. I then took my glass fishbowl to another place who gladly displayed it.Be well,Jen

 

[1+1=3]

Thanks for the input everyone! I will let you know what happens!  

 

[Elanshaw]

Another idea for an unbreakable is a gift bag.  They come in lots of colors and designs.  Curves uses them in different business to get new people to join.I had never heard of the fish bowl idea but it sounds great!

 

[RAFEEQ - DOHA]

May I ask how you are all getting these displayed?  Do you just call up the place and say "hey, I'm a massage therapist and would like to put out a box for people to win a free massage" and they do?  This is definetely something that I'm going to try!

 

[kehindeodulate]

Fish bowls.....

Do you just call up the place and say "hey, I'm a massage therapist and would like to put out a box for people to win a free massage" and they do?

Pretty much, yeah. Only I walked in and did that.

I just had the drawing yesterday, and was really excited about it. The chiro I work with was in my office when I pulled out the first ticket, and it was blank. We both had a good laugh. Then I reached in and pulled out the first winner, the winner of a 1-hr session, then drew 2 more for a free 1/2 hour session. I looked through the rest, and found out one of the 1/2 hour winners was a cheat, they entered 3 times (rules said one entry per person), so I had to fold them all up again and choose another. I called all the winners yesterday and left them all a message on their answering machine, but still haven't gotten a call back. If they don't call, I'm just going to mail them the certificate and see if they come in or not. I don't think I'm going to force free massage on them, heh.

 

[Breakupandlove]

Well I just called my brother who is the manager at a tire store that gets a LOT of business (some of the Red Wings take their cars in there!) and he said I could put something up there and good idea about "one entry per person"  Thanks!

 

[narsha84]

Seforum.xxxgnant,How often do you do a drawing?  Have you had much luck with this?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Fish bowls.....

Seforum.xxxgnant,

How often do you do a drawing?  Have you had much luck with this?

Well, I've only tried it once so far. I chose 3 winners... 1 won a full hour massage, the other two won a half-hour massage, with the option to upgrade to an hour for $20. I've only had one of the 1/2 hour winners call me back, and she upgraded. The other is out of town at the moment. The lady who won the hour couldn't have earned it more. She is a retired woman, and donates time helping out other retired folks in their homes. On Fridays, she visits the salon to help them fold towels and to get to visit. Well, she came into my office when I wasn't there and talked to the chiro I work with. She told him that I shouldn't give the massage to her, yet instead give it to someone who may become an on-going client, as she cannot afford massage. This sweet lady! She always thinks of others and not herself, she deserves this massage, and I'm determined to give her the massage. I was excited when she won and I found out it was her!

But anyway, now I have a list of about 20 people to go on my mailing list, and I was going to offer them the first hour massage for only $30. However, now that I'm moving to the school, I can't give away massage anymore (commission split, not rent) so I don't think I can do it, and now I have to start charging their prices (which in some cases are lower than I'm used to charging.)

I'd say if anything, it was fun to have the drawing, and it let people know where I'm at. Instead of just a business card, this was something they were interacting with (filling out the form and putting it into the bowl, asking about where I am at, etc.). Go for it, you never know how it will turn out!

 

[James Y]

Fish bowls.....

However, now that I'm moving to the school, I can't give away massage anymore (commission split, not rent) so I don't think I can do it, and now I have to start charging their prices (which in some cases are lower than I'm used to charging.)

Funny you mention going from rent to commission...I've been dealing with having to make a very similar decision.  If you don't mind what % are you working for?  I'm looking at going to a new place to work. The owner said I could either pay rent ($450 a month) or commission (50/50).  I would rather pay rent, but they have another person their on commission and I'm afraid they will book the commission person more since they already know they get my rent no matter how many clients I have.

Are you happy with you decision to switch from rent to commission?

Thanks!

 

[Veritas]

One more thing Seforum.xxxgnant...what type of wording did you put on the bowl for the drawings?  

 

[honeydipn]

Fish bowls.....

I'm getting a 60/40 split, where I keep 60%. I asked, and they will not let me go to rent. They make too much money off comission to do a rent situation again. The way I see it, they charge $40/hr, so I'd have to do at least 20 massages per month to equal (well, a little over) what my rent is now, which is 300. I could get that myself, but if not, then I'm paying more anyway. At the school, they cover all advertising, etc, so all I really have to do is show up and do a little marketing for myself. I'm mainly going there to get a clientele built up steady enough to move into my own office (again) and be able to afford all bills in the same month, hehehe.For the wording on the contest, I don't really remember the wording, and looking through the files on my computer, I seem to have either not saved it or deleted it. I'll have to see if I can scrounge around to find it for you.

 

[kurtiobst]

Fish bowls.....

While Seforum.xxxg is scrounging around for where he put his "wording", here's what I put on mine:"Drop your business card in for a chance to win a FREE 1-hour massage!!!"And in case you care, I hold drawings about once a month.Be well,Jen

 

[I love my mutts~]

Fish bowls.....

Found one of my cards. Seems I wasn't as creative as I thought I was with it...Jeff Seforum.xxxg's Massage TherapyRegister to WIN A FREE MASSAGEDetailsrawing will be held on (date). One Grand Prize winner will receive a gift certificate for 1 One-Hour Relaxation Massage. Two Second-Place winners will receive a gift certificate for 1 Half-Hour Relaxation Massage.Enter for your chance to win today!Jeff Seforum.xxxg's Massage Therapy(address)(phone)

 

[Pompal 09.]

Fish bowls.....

Yes, this is great. I am going to be getting some of these out there.