Upcoming fair - share your advice

[Im back for my TC title]

Hi, Thanks to the Bodyworkbiz courses, I have decided to rent a table at a school fair this week (Thurs) to promote my new massage business. The school parent population includes a large number of my target market. My plan: - to offer 10 min chair massages for a small fee. I'm an aromatherapist so I'll mist everyone with an aromatic mist at the beginning and end of the massage (with their permission) to incorporate some essential oils. I will offer them the cost of their chair massage off their next table massage if they book on the evening.- have business cards with my Buy 1/2 hr Get 1/2 hr free offer printed. Offer includes gift certificates, too.- have a private raffle at my table. Enter by completing a form with name, address, phone, email, bday. After the fair, I will offer some people a free half an hr and try to get them to upgrade to an hr. I will contact them with a bday offer around their birthdate.- I have donated two 1/2 hr massages to the general raffleQuestions:1. My husband suggested a Walkman with relaxing music. I think it's a great idea but then I won't be able to talk to them during the massage and the point is to chat and get them to come to my clinic. 2. My gift certificates are available at the special offer rate (effectively half price). Should I offer a bulk discount, too, eg buy 3 get 1 free. It is just before gift buying season here (Passover).My only concern is that I'm underselling myself.Any other suggestions or thoughts? I haven't paid much for the table so my hope is to make enough in chair massage to cover the cost of the table, get at least 200 people who are interested in massage added to my mailing list and MAKE SOME MORE APPOINTMENTS!Rgds, Annette

 

[Ante]

Sounds great.  I'm with you on the walkman, besides won't some people be goofy about sharing headphones?  How would you clean them?  Would they need cleaned?  I think that if you are starting to ask yourself if you are underselling, than you are.  I don't think I'd add anything else, people will be confused enough.  Curious about the misting of EO's, can you elaborate?  thanks and good luck!  mick

 

[life-lover]

Annette,I think that you're already being very generous by giving the clients a special price which is effectively half off.If they wanted to buy multiples (to give as gifts to friends) I could understand that... but don't feel that it's necessary for you to give any more discount than the one already stated (50% off!).Mick, I sometimes mist clients with essential oil by purchasing a small (2 oz) aerosol container from wal-mart (near the sample or travel size containers). I then fill it with distilled or purified water and  a few drops of my favorite essential oils.Because oil and water tend to separate, I like to give it a tiny little shake before spritzing a little into the air.I have done it a little bit for chair massage clients... but tend to use it for table massage clients more. I like to match it to my massage blends and start the massage that way, or perk myself up between massages with a little spritz on me! LOLI find a little lemon/lime invigorating on a hot and busy summer afternoon.   ;D

 

[Kookie]

If you want to include music, you could set up a walkman with small computer speakers.  I use them all the time for my chair massage jobs.  You could have it as a little background music and also for the potential client during the massage.  If you haven't already, you might want to consider an upright display (pictures, general info, ect.) so they have something to look at while waiting in line to get their massage.  Also, make your table stand out!  Balloons, nice tablecloth, things that will make them look in your direction.  (within reason of course  )  Personally, I wouldn't want someone trying to sell themselves to me while giving me a massage. I would wait till after the massage to give them your information.  To wait would come off as more professional to me.

. I will offer them the cost of their chair massage off their next table massage if they book on the evening.

I think this is a good idea!I also agree with Maestra about the discounts.  You are already offering a great deal on gift certificates.Best wishes

 

[Your Gorgeousness]

Upcoming fair - share your advice

my hope is to make enough in chair massage to cover the cost of the table, get at least 200 people who are interested in massage added to my mailing list and MAKE SOME MORE APPOINTMENTS!

Rgds, Annette

In one day? {original post (Thurs)} That seems like a lot. Does anyone else have input on this; maybe it's just my area?

 

[Karamore(:]

Upcoming fair - share your advice

I agree, jdcan, that is a lot of chair massage, and a lot to expect out of one day's event. If you get to massage 200 people, giving each a 5 minute chair massage would already take 16 2/3 hours, and that's not giving yourself any breaks, and assuming no downtime. Most people that come to your table are going to want a chair massage before signing up to your mailing list, and not everyone that DOES get a massage is going to agree to being ON your mailing list. Not trying to burst any bubbles or anything, just trying not to get your hopes up either.Now, as far as the discounting goes, you are discounting a LOT. I think you are underselling yourself by far. I did the 'give to get' strategy when I was fresh out of massage school, and I only wish I had the massageplanet course at the time before I did it. MAKE SURE they know that in order to get a half hour free, they will need to purchase 1/2 hour. I offered either a free 30-minute massage, with the option to upgrade to an hour for 1/2 off. I didn't like giving 1/2 off either though, as it was quite a jump to make from the first massage to the second. Instead, maybe charge a little more than 1/2 off. Say you charge $60/hr. "Buy one half-hour massage at the low cost of $40, get one half hour free! Offer only good for first-time clients." Maybe something to that effect.For the Walkman idea, I agree that it would be better to have mini computer speakers rather than headphones. You're going to want to talk to them, ask if pressure is okay, answer questions they may have, etc. If they've never met you, they're not there to sit and relax, escaping the hassle of the fair. They're there to try you out and see if they're interested in your services. Show em what you're made of!Since it's a gift season for where you're at, setting your rates at 1/2 off may not benefit you. The Buy 3 Get 1 Free deal may work out better, as that's only 25% off, but it would conflict prices if you did it with other promotional offers. Maybe for this event only offer the Buy 3 Get 1 Free deal, and save the Buy 1/2, Get 1/2 off deal for later, after the GC's have expired? (check legalities on exp dates on GCs).If you offer the 10-minute chair massage for a small fee, and you take that fee off their first massage, are you taking that fee off the already-half-priced massage? That's going to be a lot of work for not a lot of money.Personally, if I were in your position, I'd offer the "buy 1/2 hr get 1/2 hour" deal and simply stick with that. It's easy to remember, and it will get people booking with you. I only do this now if I'm in need of making a quick buck, but it sure does help business, as long as you don't mind working for a lower price.

 

[Sonnny.L]

Hi, Thanks for all the replies. maestro explained about the oil mists so I won't repeat it. My method is similar but I use an essential oil solubilizer (available at ess. oil suppliers) which solves the oil in water problem. jdcan and seforum.xxxgnant: I think you misread my post. I will have a raffle on my table and through the raffle I hope to get 200 names and contact details. I will only have time to massage a maximum of 24 people and that's only if I'm working all the time (unlikely!). Thanks for the comments re: music. I think I will have to make do without, esp. since it won't be nice to be sharing the earphones (not the ones that go into the ear, but still!.) Discounts: your feedback has been great and has made me realise that my offer of 1/2 free for the first appt is already generous enough and I don't need to discount more. So I'm scrapping the gift cert buy 3 get 1 free idea and the cost of the chair massage going towards the first appt idea. It is clear from all my promotional materials that they need to buy 1/2 hr to get 1/2 free. I will let you all  know how it goes. Rgds, Annette

 

[Whips&Chains]

Upcoming fair - share your advice

Well, I learned a lot from my first experience of having a table at a fair. I only did a few chair massages but sold several gift certificates and spoke to several people who are interested in massage/reflexology. It was an interesting experience because it showed me how many people just aren't interested in massage (didn't even want to enter a free raffle to win a treatment) and that it's important to focus on those who do want bodywork. It was a great learning experience and the next day someone called to invite me to a alternative health fair where loads of therapists will be giving small trial treatments. So, I will be prepared and experienced by the time this next event rolls around!!