Trends in Massage 2012

[ZombieCakes]

Alright then

Massage therapists abandon their keeping prices at 2008 levels and put them up by 20% because they need the money and didn't do all that training just to earn the same as a shop worker/cleaner etc.

More Massage Couch For Sale, condition : Hardly Used adverts appear in the small adds, Gumtree etc.

More and more male massage therapists advertise especially on Gumtree for surprisingly low prices (I think that's how much they pay YOU what's going on!?

Thai massage places continue to spring up all over the UK as demand for their friendly smiling attentive professional services increases; at prices at the low end of high ( better than high end of high).

Cornish Fish Massage finds it's own niche market pioneered by a Cornish Pisci.

Previously content massage clients walk around the supermarket, do their weekly shop and when it comes to pay think, blimey that costs less then I paid for that one hour massage and I've still got change to go out to the pub for a drink! And the room was freezing
They resolve to not go anymore. More massage couches for sale adverts appear.

The number of students enrolling at their local college to learn massage dramatically falls off as prospective students become aware although the moneys good it's no good if you haven't got any work. They think hmmmm I wouldn't pay that much for a massage; just think of all the groceries you could buy for what I would charge!

£55 for a 75 minute Swedish Massage, 15 minutes of which is getting changed
vs
Eat well for a Week

Random musings, make of it what you will, if anything.

By the way I LOVE a good massage but times is hard for moi

 

[nuagindiday]

sorry dont agree with the above ramblings, I have never been busier, 23 full paying new clients since 1st December, no advertising, no chasing clients with discounts for Jan/feb as I see advertised, dont do gumtree,kgb,groupon, just provide a good service and get results.

Perhaps I was trained well to be occupationally competent and prepared well for the business side of things, I dont think Im special, I think my clients are special and treat them as so. Currently deciding whether to employ someone to help out or add another day to my working week to cope with demand, neither appeal so might put my couch on gumtree and go and have a go at something else.

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given, ...... The main variable in your busienss is you.....I have posted previously about the industry and marketing strategy
regards
BGFL

 

[mrwperae]

I totally agree with you BG. I never worked so hard and the stream of clients is constant. I think it's to do with competence and interpersonal skills. The idea of % off this and that is a complete devaluing of a service. My mechanic doesn't offer 20% off in January, or have your alternator replaced and get a free windscreen wiper He does what he does and gets the car on the road!! As for therapists on Gumtree, that is an act of desperation

I do feel compassion for anyone suffering by the effects of the recession. But it does sort out the wheat from the chavs (and yes that is a pun ). Rightly or wrongly, that is the nature of business.

 

[Jason Bernasconi]

I dont want to generalise here, but when you can do a 'Thai' or 'Practitioner' level massage course for £99 in one day, then theres no wonder there is a mass of people advertising their services on gumtree for as little as a fiver. Theres also no wonder theres a huge amount of beds sold by these people when they dont make a living from their 'investment'.

Massage certainly isnt on the decline for those therapists who are able to offer a decent service, in fact during recessions, gym memberships and therapy bookings usually increase, because people want to spend what money they have on looking after themselves, and the feel-good factor.

I think the fringe therapies will suffer because they just arent popular enough to make a good living from them. Massage has been around forever and is more poplular than ever.

 

[nonyaaa]

^^
Points taken although most of the Thai as in born in Thailand masseuses advertising Thai massage on Gumtree (sniff) claim training certificates from Wat Po which is one of the oldest reputable massage schools in the world so I think their credentials are good.

Three replies to this thread from practitioners, all male!

I'm sure the best practitioners will survive but I do think the underbelly of overcharging amateurish ones will disappear/give up.

If Totnes gets flooded there will be a lot of massage couches floating down the road with all the brick a brack

 

[A Yahoo! user]

I totally agree with BGFL, RP and ST, i have never been busier, this week alone i have had 7 new full fee paying clients.

 

[Abiamijoumbelo]

Best wishes

RP

 

[Akshay]

Totally agree.

And to add that I have came to the same conclusion. Massage in time-honoured therapy. There has always been a need for good effective massage therapists and bodyworkers, and there always will be. Massage and bodywork will always be in vogue and other fringe therapies will simply come and go with the whimsical winds of fashion.