Hoping to move by January... a few ?'s

[mac A]

Right now everything is in planning seforum.xxxes, so any info is eligible for change...I am hoping to move to either Houston or San Antonio by the end of December, early January. To do so, I need to save pretty much every penny I make until then (ya, no fun, I know, lol). Thing is, I'm not wanting to spend all my money on marketing for next year, such as yellow pages ads, newspaper ads, and selling gift certificates. Christmas gift certificates really scare me this year, as it's a great way to stock up on cash for the winter for when it slows down in January/February.If I sell a lot of gift certificates, I may not be around to redeem them. If I don't sell a lot of gift certificates and DO end up staying here longer, I'll be screwed when it comes January. I've thought about having all GC sales go through the salon and just tell them to pay me when the client comes in, or pay the replacement therapist and let them do the work, but I really don't want to put a lot of effort and money into building someone else's business. Not sure what to do about this part.With yellow page ads and such, I've just decided not to do them, as I hope not to be here, and it will be more incentive to move (sort of like a forceful thing, lol). Same with a lot of marketing efforts, I just don't want to put the energy into it, then turn around and not be able to follow through on commitments.So I'm just kinda stuck and not sure what to do. Any suggestions, especially on the gift certificate part? Nobody at the salon knows I'm moving, I'm hoping to more or less just disappear from here, telling few people I'm leaving. :-/

 

[Pompal 09.]

you know seforum.xxxg, you're right, if you don't draw a line in the sand and say you're going to go... you may not get there.the GC thing~ let it go. it'll be good karma for you to help your salon to transition to the next therapist; or maybe you can talk your salon into giving you a $5 'finder's fee' for each GC that comes off your exisiting marketing materials.personally, i feel that you're soooooo ready for a change. change is good. it helps you grow.  ;D

 

[hotchick02]

Congrats Seforum.xxxg!  That is very exciting!I am planning (hoping) to move by Jan. as well so I know what you are talking about!  Its such a pain - It would be so easy if  I could just put my two weeks notice in somewhere and be gone - but thats not how it works with us huh!I agree with the karma thing, what is wrong with helping another MT build their practice.  You were there once too, with that said,  I wouldnt run up any marketing bills advertising my xmas GCs  though. Keep it simple.  DOnt invest too much time or energy.   You wont sell as many certificates  but you wont have as many out there to worry about either.   What you do sell will either come to you before you move and generate a little revenue or go through the salon to your replacement.The past few months I have moved from 12 month gift certificates (expiration dates) to six month gift certificates, next will be 3 month gift certificates - 4 months before I move I will stop selling them all together.   Is your salon getting a replacement immediatly following your move?  Are you telling good clients you are leaving at all? I dont want the fact that I am leaving to affect business now, so I have only let it out to choice people.   Ill have to start letting people know at some point....I just dont know when that will be?  I put in a spendy (SPENDY!!)  yellow pages add in Feb. - when I was confident the plan was Future hubby was going to move here and I would keep my business.....then two months later he goes and gets a job 1 1/2 hours away and I am moving six months after the add comes out. Nice.  $$ down the tube.  It is frustrating trying to keep advertising going when you know you wont be there for much longer!Good luck with the moving process!!  Hope everything goes smoothly untill then - and after!

 

[Brandon W.]

Hey Jeff!  Congrats on getting ready for the big move.  The best advice I can give you is to really work on ways to immediately improve your bottom line rather than worrying about December and long term marketing plans.Think about specials that bring people to you right now and within the next 5 months.  Lessee:Christmas in July!  Whatever special you run for Christmas you might want to do it now.Run a Monthly Special to get regular weekly clients!  Clients Prepay $100 at the beginning of the month and then $20/session when they come in once a week. (works out to $45/hour)I don't know if you or the salon would be up for this but what about providing scalp massage to the clients for $7.50 when they get their hair shampoo'd?  A 5-7 minute treatment is all that you would need to do when they are at the shampoo bowl (Four 5 minute treatments nets you $30).  It would be easy to advertise this in the salon through the stylists and signage.  You could even offer to give the stylists $1 for every two clients they refer to you.  This also gives you an opp to talk to people and get them to book a full appt with you.  "Oh if you think this scalp massage feels incredible -- you ought to come in for an hour!"If you don't mind walk-ins and there is a sign out front where you can advertise you could offer the next two walk-in massage appts receive a 75 minute session for the hour price.  Important to take the sign down once you've got the two appts.  People who drive by the salon often will see the sign and start paying attention to whether the offer is "up" or "down".  Be sure to put your phone number on the sign so people can call and book an appt.  "Oh, I'm sorry I've already had two walk-ins today -- it is such a great deal people snap those up fast -- but I have an appt available tomorrow at 6 or Thursday at 5 -- would that work for you?"Monday Massage Madness!  Anyone at the salon who books an appointment and KEEPS it receives an extra 15 minutes or a coupon for a foot massage for a friend or a chance at a grab bag or their feet tickled for free.Just trying to think of some ideas that might bring in some cash flow.Btw, Anything you do that has an expiration date should have November 30, 2005 written on it so you aren't worrying about December sales or redemptions.  Make sure everyone knows all offers expire at the end of November.  If anyone asks why -- you can tell them you are planning on taking a big trip and you need cash to secure your spot -- so you are offering these incredible specials for a very limited time.Anyhoo....hope this is helpful.

 

[Andrea in La la Land]

Alright seforum.xxxg - its you and me - GONE by Jan.!   We can do it!Intuitouch - GREAT ideas!  Love Monday Massage Madness!