a community of practitioners

Has the economy affected your massage practice?

If you have seen a decrease in clients or work for a spa or other entity that has seen a drop off in clients, please share. I am just wondering what others are experiencing right now. I do understand that effective marketing will help in just about any situation, but I think it would be good to know what others are going through.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on January 26, 2010 at 9:12pm

I work at a Spa and Business for me is up. I began in May working 2 days a week. I am now working 4 days a week doing on average 12 massages a week which I am perfectly satisfied doing. I also have a private practice and that is consistantly steady. I have picked up on clients for that business as well.

Permalink Reply by Debra Rilea on January 26, 2010 at 9:55pm

I own and operate a massage-only center in Reno, NV where myself and 15 to 17 independent contractors provide massage therapy. We have been open since 1999. We held fairly steady through 2008 on first time clients. Our total massages were down. Just finished our 2008 to 2009 comparisons and first time clients are down 20% and total massages provided are down 35%. This percentage is reflective of what many non-massage related companies are experiencing in our area.

In anticipation of continued tough times in 2009, I took steps to make our Center as lean as possible and I believe we will make it through. Actions taken, I have reduced expenses by renegotiating our linen service, reducing front desk personnel hours, eliminating manager's pay, changing our yellow page advertisement, cancelling magazine subscriptions, renegotiating our credit card percentage rate and purchasing credit card processing equipment instead of extending lease on equipment, increased commission split for incoming new contractors, locking up postage stamps, terminated contracts for non-producing therapists and more...

Marketing was reviewed and we implemented a $10 off "next" visit coupon to encourage return clients, a new google ad, a yellowpages.com ad, a MerchantCircle coupon, reestablished birthday card mailings, reminded independent contractors about their need to market, market, market!