Receipt advertising

[tndv]

Had a client a few days ago who owns a large vet clinic in a neighboring large city. The only advertising she does is in the phone book (full page ad) and on the back of about 6 register receipts. I asked her about the register receipts and she said it is a fantastic way to advertise for new clients. She is offering $20 off a first visit.

She said she is bringing in $9000 a month with these coupons and they cost her about $1200 a month to advertise on. At the end of the month she has stacks of coupons. She said she would give up her phone book ad before she stopped advertising on the back of register receipts.

How do you think this would work for the massage business? What type of offer would work best?

Has anyone ever done this before?

 

[a wolf at the door (42)]

Receipt advertising

peacenut- I dunno what sort of "deal" might work the best on the back of a register receipt. I think I'd offer something very specific, not a "blanket %" but a specific offer, like a particular deal on a specific service you offer. OTOH, would it be *very* much different than, say, this deal we're fixing to do with the Sonic next door (giving them a stack of coupons to put in with the customers' orders)? I still haven't figured out what we'll do for that... maybe a chair massage special, since that seemed to go over *really* well with our grand opening special last month (and it wouldn't be demanding a large time or dollar commitment from the public).

I know the kind you're talking about- they tend to be very colorful. I never, ever actually considered advertising that way. I'd be *very* careful how I worded my ad- make sure to mention stuff like "pain management" or "therapeutic" and "licensed" (if you are/have to be in your state), just to weed out those who might have "those kinds of thoughts". But my first, gut reaction is that noone would really be LOOKING at the back of a register receipt for ... um ... "that" sort of "massage", anyway. You might try it- it could end up being the best advertising move you'll ever make! But if you do go for it, you *gotta* let us know how it goes, k? :grin:

It sounds, at first glance, like a unique, potentially fantastic opportunity. But- do you have the funds to float the bill for it, if it turns out to "bust"?

 

[Peter & Paulo]

Receipt advertising

Consider the type of business the vet owns. Then consider your own business. Do you have a large mult-therapist practice, or is it just a few MTs or you alone? What do you bill per visit compared to what the vet bills? How many people are likely to use a local veterinarian vs a massage therapist they just learned about on their grocery receipt? At $1200 per month, how many massages would you have to do to break even? Is that a reasonable number of clients you can expect to be attracted to your business every month via receipt coupons?

In our area, we studied the matter and have determined that this type of advertising is not a good fit for us at this time. Don't commit to a contract for receipt advertising unless you feel very confident that it will fit your budget and your needs during the duration of the agreement (usually 6-12 months).

 

[Mommy to Max ~*6-11-09*~]

Receipt advertising

Well, first off, she is advertising on 6 tapes and her clinic is not in the same city I am in. There are only two stores in my area that have advertising on the back of receipts, so my cost would be no where near $1200, more like $150 per month.

There are two of us here, and I don't have much for openings. My associate currently sees about 5 to 7 clients per week and has lots of room for more clients.

 

[pickin5strings]

Receipt advertising

The guy I rented from considered doing that once for his business. I told him I never even look at the back of my receipts, but that he knows I'm weird so maybe most ppl do. lol He didn't do it though. I am leaning more into having labels put on Pizza Inn boxes with coupons for specific services. It's more of an 'in your face' kind of advertisement...smells good too. lol