Free local holiday marketing opportunity

[Pompal 09.]

I got an email this morning from our "really-local" Chamber detailing a holiday luncheon & expo they're planning for December. They mentioned 12 free booth spaces for Chamber members to take advaneforum.xxxe of, to highlight their wares/information, etc.. I had heard about this event from someone-- last year was the first year doing it, and we didn't get to go. I head there was an MT there offering chair massages, who doesn't even LIVE in our "really-local" area.

So, I popped off a reply saying YES, put us down! I mean, how could we go wrong with FREE? Really? We have been working hard at increasing our exposure and reputation with our "really local" community through the Chamber events, and this looks like something that could really go far with that. It's beside the point that we personally don't celebrate Christmas; this is a "holiday" event, so that's broader.

We can sell stuff, give away free samples of stuff, and/or just give out information about our business/classes/projects/whatever. I thought... okay, if it's "the holiday season", and we're going to keep doing gift certificates after all... why not promote those at this event? We can set up our laptop and take the money right and create them right there in Spa-Booker, and then either print them out (if we bring a printer with us, which we could do), or email them right then to the purchaser or the recipient (if we have wi-fi available, which I think we will).

We could also have "other stuff" available for sale, but again, I don't know what. We haven't gotten very much "into products" yet. "Floofy" stuff doesn't appeal to me, so I have limited creativity with it.

I told our son about it (you know, the one who's still "brushing up for the test"). He said he won't have his license by then so wouldn't be able to help massage. I told him yes, he CAN help-- maybe not massaging, but he can help us talk to people about massage in general and our business in particular; help with the gift certificates and whatever other things we decide to do for it.

We will definitely have our new brochures ready by then, which we can then hand out. And cards. But what else? Will chair massages "go over" well? This is a 2-hour luncheon and expo. We have so far NOT had good luck with "expos", so I'm nervous about this-- but, at least it's FREE!

 

[dirtsa2828]

Free local holiday marketing opportunity

Hi -
I was searching for ideas on the expo that I am doing next month and your post came up.
I do quite a few free chair massage expos and I can tell you what works for me:

--Bring your appointment book - after giving a chair massage, your goal is to get this client in for a paying session. Try to book them right then and there, otherwise they will walk away and forget to call.

--Sell as many gift certificates as possible - I have found that an "expo-special" works very well. Buy 1 GC, and get 1 at half off on the day of the expo only. Some people come in, some don't. Either way you make out with cash.

--Make sure someone else is with you who is not massaging. You want someone to answer questions, sell GCs, book clients while you concentrate on massaging. Don't talk to anybody other than the person in your chair (I made this mistake and lost a few clients). I have one of my regular clients do this job and I give her a free massage in exchange. Existing clients are great sales people!

--Have a sign up sheet for massage. You may have people waiting around. This will ensure people dont cut in front of each other (yes, his has happened to me before too).

--Have a "Want more Information?" sheet. If someone doesnt want a chair massage but wants to find out more info about your practice, have them sign name, phone, address and email on a sheet so that you can call them after the expo.

--Try a raffle. Have people put names, email and phone in a fishbowl for a chance to win a free massage.

I find that that when I do chair massage gigs that are free, I talk to a lot more people and am more successful.
I hope this helps...and if I can think of anything else I do, I will re-post. Let me know if you have any ideas as well Good luck!

 

[Nitram]

Free local holiday marketing opportunity

Thanks for your reply, wanderingpearl.

I have another question (this is controversial at this forum, so be prepared if others "chime in"!):

Would you charge for these chair massages, go with "tips only", or do this event for free (using the chair massages as a "free demo" in hopes of selling those gift certificates)?