Open House Ideas

[kaitlinbear]

Any of you want to offer some ideas I can use for an Open House? Let me first tell you why I have hesitated. I am a one-person operation and don't really know how to handle it first of all. I have a small lobby, an office and one room for massage/bodywork sessions. I wouldn't be able to offer massages because I am a one-person operation and would not be able to leave other guests that may have questions. ANY/ALL ideas are appreciated.

 

[babyface28]

What are your goals for the open house? Introduce yourself to the community, show off a new location, or just breathe some life into the practice?

I would suggest finding a couple of close friends or relatives to help you with the greeting part. You can't be in all places at all times. Offer your friends a free massage if they help you run your open house! That would get some help real fast.

Is there enough room to have your massage chair set up for display? Or were you thinking of offering samplers from the treatment room and table?

Perhaps consider bringing in a local practitioner that would complement your practice for this open house, like a nutritionist or herbalist or something.

 

[Illese]

Open House Ideas

ANY/ALL ideas are appreciated.

You are brave.

:

Anyway, what I did, I got some cookies/candy from a baker also in the Chamber, she donated the stuff. I should have gotten smoothies from the joint down the street. I had coffee too. I had cards, brochures, etc around, invited lots of people.

I don't think there will be opportunity for you to be giving out samples. If there was a school that wanted to donate a slave or two for the event, I'd use them.

Have everyone register (collect biz cards) to win something, like a free brastrapsnap, and follow up with everyone. EVERYONE....Send a handwritten note. You may have to do some work to find addresses...it will be worth it, maybe not right away, but eventually. Consider giving everyone a coupon for free service, like a free 3hour massage. Not everyone will come in for it, but "givers gain".

Dragonflies has great ideas too. Follow those and mine and yours and a few others and you'll have a great event. Are we invited?

 

[jaipeep]

Thanks for your advice! Let me offer a little more info.

I opened my practice after graduating from Montgomery School of Bodywork & Massage in Montgomery, AL in June 2003. My practice is in the small community of Selma, AL and I am the ONLY FULL-time MT in town!

I have not done a lot of advertising but have a very good client base from 1) word of mouth 2)referrals 3) my leased building was last leased by an MT that retired and I ended up with a lot of her clients. Although I have invested in an outside lighted sign (too costly) outside my building there are still people that come in here saying they were just riding by and saw the sign, they didn't even know we (Selma) had a massage place! Even though they ride right by the office every day!!

I only hesitated to do an open house in the past because 1) I wasn't sure what to do 2) I AM only one person (but could get outside help friends/MTs) 3) Wasn't sure how many NEW clients I could actually handle as my client base is pretty strong (but there is always room for more...right?).

I was thinking of doing something this year (with the help of Bodywork members...who of course, are invited!!) next month. I was thinking I could incorporate the International Massage Week (12th Annual) July 16-22 along with my 3 year anniversary! I was thinking of putting something together for the local paper about Massage Therapy awareness and the fact of Int'l Massage Week, blah, blah just to get a FREE stab of advertising and mention my open house.

I do not have a chair to offer on-site massages. There are 3 local MTs that work PART time as MTs b/c they keep their full-time jobs for health insurance. Although I refer some of my clients to them when I am not available I don't know that they do the same or that they would be willing to ask. I could ask my old instructor if she would be willing to send some students to help as part of their clinic hours.

Additional thoughts/ideas!? Thanks so much! I just love this board!!!

 

[KEELEY]

Thanks for your advice! Let me offer a little more info.

I opened my practice after graduating from Montgomery Wards School of Bodywork & Massage in Montgomery, AL in June 2003. My practice is in the small community of Selma, AL and I am the ONLY FULL-time MT in town!

You know, I try to learn something every day, and I just learned that Montgomery Wards had a massage school. You are lucky to be the only FT MT in town, you are on the right track with Nat'l Massage week.

I bet Jill/sage will have something to add to this, she's really smart.

Keep us posted!