Promotion Idea

[Ugly]

For the month of November I was thinking of running a promotion called "Friend in Need". The client can buy three sessions and receive a fourth session free to give to a "friend" to show their "Thanks" (Thanksgiving).

The only problem is how can I word/say this to obtain NEW clients. Just let the client know that the FREE session must be for a NEW client and not an existing one?

Any suggestions?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Yes, I have a suggestion. Good luck on getting it to work. People dont give away things to friends that have a value that high. They might give it to a family member though. Would you have an expiration date on the free one?? What happens if they dont use it?

If you have a lot of openings you want to fill up and you want to give away free certificates, give out coupons for a free massage, say a half hour. Limit these to new clients only. Give them the option to upgrade to an hour or a 90 minute session for X amount of $$$.

Mail them out to businesses and/or pass them out to your current clients. Put a short expiration date on them, say 5 or 6 weeks. Tell your clients you will give them $X credit if their friends just come in and use the free half hour and $XX if they upgrade.

 

[joy_gone_wild]

Good luck on getting it to work. People dont give away things to friends that have a value that high. They might give it to a family member though.

This seems to be a pretty strong generalization. Some people I know actually value their friends over family. Just depends on the person. For me, I value both friends & family, and I've given high-value gifts to both. I've also sold a lot of gift certificates over the years, and they've often been purchased by clients for their friends. I can't see why someone wouldn't be just as willing to give something free to a friend.

Mende, I'd keep it simple. Just put a little note on the bottom of your advertising that the gift certificate only applies to 1st-time clients. Put the same note on the gift certificate itself. Maybe put it in bold or color font, so people are sure to see it.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how it works out! I think it's a creative idea.

 

[Ryu]

Just my 2cents. Don't give anything away. People do not value it. I have found people don't even value purchased gc's given to them by family or friends.

 

[60 Million Voted Me]

Good luck on getting it to work. People dont give away things to friends that have a value that high. They might give it to a family member though.

This seems to be a pretty strong generalization. Some people I know actually value their friends over family. Just depends on the person. For me, I value both friends & family, and I've given high-value gifts to both. I've also sold a lot of gift certificates over the years, and they've often been purchased by clients for their friends. I can't see why someone wouldn't be just as willing to give something free to a friend.

Mende, I'd keep it simple. Just put a little note on the bottom of your advertising that the gift certificate only applies to 1st-time clients. Put the same note on the gift certificate itself. Maybe put it in bold or color font, so people are sure to see it.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how it works out! I think it's a creative idea.

Blisss,

Yeah, maybe I did generalize a bit. But, from my experience, friends dont generally buy friends a massage. Family yes, but not friends. I suppose it could happen. I live in a rather thrifty area.

Last year for Christmas I sold gift certificates for new clients only. It went over okay. I did have one woman who bought 5 of themand then used 4 of them on herself!! I just took them in and didnt say anything. And yes, it did say right on the certificate, NEW CLIENTS ONLY.

 

[Miss Ryder]

Last year for Christmas I sold gift certificates for new clients only. It went over okay. I did have one woman who bought 5 of themand then used 4 of them on herself!! I just took them in and didnt say anything. And yes, it did say right on the certificate, NEW CLIENTS ONLY.

Was she a new client when she bought the 5 certificates? Did you state FIRST VISIT ONLY? She may have thought she was following your "new clients only" request, and that is why she bought 5, because she "knew" she'd only get the "new client" deal that one time. :?:

Just thinking...

 

[Tang]

Yeah Breathe, that is probably what happen. I dont say much when that kind of thing happens. I just accept it.

Same thing when someone brings in an expired gift certificate that I DONATED. One lady even scratched through the expiration date!! Like that matters! Anyway, she did refer a few people, and one of them comes in every two weeks for a 15 minute chair massage, and that referal refered someone else already. Plus, the woman who used the expired cert came in for a 15 minute chair session and booked an hour to use her referal credits. It worked out, but still!! It irks me! :x why bother with an expiry date on a donated certificate when clients still bring it in after it has expired!! t013

 

[Rylee]

Greatttlakes,

Here is a suggestion that may help you out with the GC's (from: Christmas Gift Certificates.

I have always honored gift certificates, regardless of when they expired, as a common courtesy. They were paid for, they should be honored in my mind. I have a one year expiration on paid certs, and 6 month for promos.

I just put into effect a $15 re-activation fee for any certificate that has expired, $25 reactivation fee if it has expired more than a year.

I have a clear conscience, increases cash flow, encourages the client to use the certificate. Win-win!

 

[gavilan_rood]

i think it's a great promotion mende. as others have said, keep it simple and just state on it, new/first time only clients please. you could also simply state it to the client when they make their purchase that you'd like for them to pass it on to a friend that isn't a current client. surely they should understand.

i love that you are offering it to your current clients as a way for them to say thank you to a friend. that's awesome! i have lots of clients that buy gift cards for their friends. i think it's so great that people give the gift of massage to their friends.