Not Much Business

[Allison M]

I have been working for a Salon/Spa since Sept. 2004. Some weeks are good some weeks are bad, I'm sure this is the case in most massage practices. However, I am feeling quite frustrated with this. I do not know how to get business going. It just seems something is missing from this place of business, some key point that is holding the place back. I am not sure how I am feeling about the place right now, I guess I am feeling like I am in a rut and not going to get anywhere by staying there. I keep in mind that I am just getting started and it takes a while to build a clientele, but I just feel like it is not getting any better. Any advice would be great. Thank you!

 

[disk0009]

HAVE PATIENCE! You cant expect it to just fall into your lap. 6 months feels like a long time - but business speaking you are still just a baby at this.  I have been at it for 3 years and I am still learning!  Thanks to this site I am learning a little bit faster!Take some time and read through the site, the whole site - you will find a WEALTH of information and ideas for getting started!Sit yourself down in a library and look at every small business manual and marketing book available.Keep a small notebook by your side to keep track of tips and ideas for you to use later.Focus your positive energy into your business - what you give in you get back.  If you are really unhappy due to other circumstances there, then think about setting up somewhere else - but there is security at the salon if you have been there for 6 months - wait untill you build up your marketing muscles then see where you can go!Good luck!   ;D

 

[DesertDog]

Not Much Business

It's difficult to tell without more details if you are in a bad situation or if you just have been taught unrealistic expectations. Can you tell us how much business is Not Much?

 

[Captain Claudius]

Not Much Business

Your practice only grows at the extent you do.

 

[TheRightInfo]

Not Much Business

I must add that it takes a lot of time/effort (work basically) to get that clientele coming in the door ON A REGULAR BASIS. Whenever you are NOT working on a client, you should be utilizing that time with marketing your business/services. If that includes weekends, then so-be-it. Right now, I'm having to sacrifice my Saturdays in order to try and drum up new clientele for my first and second offices. Whether that means spending all day at a hair salon providing chair massage or spending half the day at a sporting event providing sports massage, then that's what it takes. Down the road, once you get established and feel like you can slow down a bit, then you can enjoy your free day(s). Be well,Jen

 

[Pompal 09.]

Yes it's true I do not put forth as much effort as I need and do feel that to some extent it is the owners business to advertise and such. Not at all do I think it is their full responsibilty. I am thinking I just do not fit in at this particular place, they are targeting the older crowd alone, where I feel they are needed a wider range of prospects. As for the not that much business I had a total of 2 one hour massages and one 1/2 hour massage this past week, I don't think my expectations for something more are unrealistic!!! I was taught in school that the first few years are tough so I expected that, but I do expect a little more. Of course this week was a very slow week, some weeks are a bit better. I guess I need advice on how to get out there. I do work another job and have Monday as my free day. Plus, I am a single parent so finding time is difficult, making the excuses are much easier, however!  So, if anyone has some tips on how to get out there, please send them to me! Thank you all for you advice thus far.

 

[Lady in Waiting]

Just curious Moonsage where you are located.I have had an Incredibly slow week this week and the only thing I can figure is the weather just turned nice and/or possibly tax day being so close. Even my regulars aren't around this week.Anyway...speaking only from my personal experiences...if your not sure about where you are working now look around to see what else is available. As a single mom myself I can understand not wanting to waste time on a situation that may not be worthwhile.When I worked for someone else's business I sort of felt like it was their job to get people in the door and my job to keep them happy and coming back.( also just my opinion) Is the salon busy other than massage?  Are you their only therapist?  Have they ever been busy as far as massage goes?Talk to the owners and find out their perspective on how business is going and if there are any things you could do together to improve.Trust your instincts. I had to quit my first massage job even though they offered to increase my perceneforum.xxxe to 80%. Like I told my boss 80% of nothing is still nothing! Good Luck!  Kirsten

 

["Music is a Religion"]

It's tax time and that means it's going to be slow.  This is the time of year when gift certicate sales at Christmas really pay off.  As for the "older clientele", I wouldn't steer away too quickly.  Are they older with expendable income or retirement age?  There's a big difference.  Clients with the money to spend on regular massage are one of your best assets.  Remember, the best time to market is when you're busy.  That push is what gets you through the slow times.  One last note, don't rely on the owners to necesarily get people through the doors.  Market yourself, use down time and consider creating specialty treatments that could generate ancillary business.  Good luck, Joe E.

 

[michael p]

Not Much Business

I THINK it took me a little over a year to get 5-6 clients/wk. I had 9 clients this week. I have always been a sole proprietor though. 2 1/2 seems a little low for working for someone else. I suppose your options are either market yourself or find another place.

 

[Elliott N]

To answer babybears question I am located in East Tennessee. To answer the question of the salon being busy otherwise, the busiest aspects of the salon are tanning and nails, with nails being the biggest. There is one other therapist but she as does nails with that being her main focus. It just seems to me that that is where the focus is aimed maybe it's just because they are busier then me, I don't know.I wanted to take this time to thank you all for your help. I have just found this site and love it already, everyone is very helpful, thank you!  

 

[Pompal 09.]

I am of the feeling that if you are working for someone else then it is primarily their job to get the clients.  After all, that is why they are keeping so much of the money.  To cover expenses and part of those expenses is the advertising.  I'm not saying that is entirely their job.  During your down time, you could give some shoulder massage to the ladies getting a manicure or possibly set up and do chair massage somewhere that you can be seen so people can see you and know that massage is offered there.  I feel it is the owner's job to get them in the door and then your job to keep them there. It doesn't sound like this is the type of environment you are most comfortable in.  If the older clientele is not your cup of tea, perhaps you might consider looking around for another job.  Good luck.

 

[JDB]

Not Much Business

Just for kicks and grins... we had an extraordinarily slow week this past week too.  Tax time here means things get slow.  Actually, much of the time between Dec. 25 until about mid-May can be considered as a slower time in many places, I think -- from what I have heard from other therapists.  Joe's right ... it is a good time to get those certificates back in.Do you rent your space at the salon or do they give you a perceneforum.xxxe?Though I do think the salon should be doing a lot of the marketing, if you want to make "your practice" work there, then sometimes you have to take it upon yourself to make things happen.  And, keep good records of the people you bring in from your outside marketing (personal opinion here, but if you are spending your own money to market when you are working as an IC, then you should be able to let those people you brought in, know where you go when you leave).  I would suggest discussing that with the salon owner first though.... just to make sure ya'll are on the same page.  There is a link to "fishbowls" here in the forum somewhere.  Search it and consider doing it AT your salon.  You have a captive audience there!!!!  Good luck... expect "years" not months to get to where you want to be... and when it happens sooner, it will be like a huge bonus!   ;D

 

[PROTEA]

The fishbowl link is a great idea as is Eric Brown's "give to get" strategy.  You'll be giving it away but it's a long term business building plan and new clients can always be in the mix with the freebies.  Joe E.

 

[Sporty]

Not Much Business

I agree with Joe and Texas about the fishbowl idea.  I did something similar and it had a profound effect in creating my business.Offering freebies is largely a numbers game.  You will offer a lot of it to get a return.  However, if done correctly -- with well thought out specials to entice people back onto your table -- it can really help your biz take off.Even though the salon is advertising for you, ultimately it is up to you to get people on your table or on your chair.  This is vital to your success as an MT down the road regardless if you stay in this salon or move on to other greener pastures.There is a thread in this section pertaining to package deals that is worth reading.  If the clients have the $$ to get their nails done and their hides browned/goldened then they have the $$ to get massage.  The key is figuring out how to make it important to them.  Just a thought but what about offering a salt or sugar scrub to exfoliate the dead skin cells before they start tanning?  You get the best and longest lasting tan if your skin is exfoliated prior to the tanning.  So it will lengthen the amount of time their tan stays/holds which saves them $$.Or, offering a moisturizing session to counteract (((soften))) the effects of the tanning beds.  These could be offered together as a set:  1 exfoliating session prior to tanning and a series of once a week moisturizing sessions.  Have you put brochures or signs in the tanning rooms that list your current specials or prices?Have you worked on the nail techs so they know what great work you do and they can recommend you to their regular clients?Have you worked on the front desk staff so they know how great you are so they can give honest and enthusiastic referrals?Best of luck to you.

 

[Healing]

Don't forget spring break!  Several of my clients are out of town.  There are 2 districts and 2 private schools in my area that all have different breaks - 2 the week before last, one last week, and one this week.I have a CPA client that I see once or twice a week during tax season.  He starts coming in at the beginning of March, and I see him until April 16th.  He's done this for the past three years now.  We should market to the tax guys!It takes a while to build steady clientele.  It took me about a year to see ten regulars per week.  This week is very slow - I only worked two hours today.Talk to your clients about regular massage and its benefits.  Let them know about your specials.  The most important thing you can do is hang in there and be assertive.  You alone are responsible for your success.Katykangaroo

 

[BarbieGirl]

moonsage73,Where are you in East Tennesse?  I am also from East Tennessee.  Intuitouch had some great ideas.  I think for this part of the country letting people know the health benefits of massage is helpful.  Maybe your local paper could do a story for you where you really focus on massage as a health benefit.  Discuss it as a useful part of a CAM therapy, maybe even talk to a physician in your area and work out a referral type situation.  All the ideas posted on this site are very useful and good ideas.  LeContefairy