Economy - Bookings

Continued pretty much as normal - have a bread and butter base of regulars. Probably not had so many newbies.
Have had comments from a few of my regulars saying that their massage would be the last thing they'd give up. 😀
Can't worry about the future 'til it gets here, then perhaps I'll panic! 😮

Hi LuckyG,
I have definitely had less bookings in Jan, am using the time to do lots of leafletting, also waiting for all the xmas vouchers I sold to be taken up......fingers crossed business will pick up,
all the best L of the V :021:

We have had the best 6 months in our history, and this is increasing week on week. We have had to build two additional treatment rooms and take on extra staff.

People are obviously going to cut back on luxuries, however, we offer solutions to problems, and not pampering....although to contradict myself here, we have also seen a huge increase in relaxation massage bookings....

We are the same as sportstherapy, work is increasing all the time and we have also increased our prices a few weeks ago 🙂

Hi Paul,
its so good to hear success stories at this gloomy time. I think if we remain positive about what we do, we will get through the economic problems.

I was massaging (aromatherapy style) in the 90's and it was very popular - there were a lot of people feeling really stressed out by their situation and found that regular aromatherapy helped them through the hard times.
Other therapists I have spoken to recently have experienced difficult times with lots of cancellations and bookings down a bit.

Binah

I was also around during the 90s recession, having a health food store and offering aromatherapy etc, and found the same thing, business didnt suffer. People do seem to take more care of themselves throughout hard times.

I had avery busy period over Christmas. But it has certainly quietened down although averaging 2 clients a week at the moment. I have been ill, one of my regulars is ill and I'm also waiting for people that bought Gift Vouchers to come and see me. I am sure it will get better as it gets warmer. January is a very depressing month. I certainly am feeling the effects of this gloomy weather but loving the lightness in the evenings. Just keep positive. p.s. I am also taking the opportunity during the quiet times to go and get my Reiki Master which is exciting.

Bookings

Hi there

My business has boomed recently. I gave up my full time admin job at end of October and I have been really busy since - nature hates a vacuum and tends to fill it (hopefully with clients) and it appears to have been this way in my case.

I had very busy week before Christmas, then again 2 days between Xmas and New Year (the days I chose I would work), bit quiet between 2nd jan and 5th, then business as normal, including many regulars and also some new clients (2 newbies in past week who googled their treatment and our home town and found me).

I believe in a positive mental attitude and I love this work so much that I'm sending out hugely positive vibes.

Good luck, and love the journey.

Lesley

Hi Lesley

Yes it is quite astounding how much work comes from people finding you the internet 😉

I'm about to stop being mobile and have taken a room at a local gym. Although very excited about it, I have been slightly concerned that I'd only get enough bookings to cover my expenses and not much more. However, with a bit over two weeks till I launch, I've already filled more than half of the first weeks appointments.

All sounding very postive!:)

I have only started my business last year and recently joined a new centre that has only opened in November.

Things have been very quiet for most practitioners there I think, one practitioner has given up and left already!

I was doing a bit better than expected in Dec and the first two weeks of January, probably mostly due to the special offer I'm running at the moment. This week was completely dead though.

It's looking quite good for the second half of next week so far (payday?), but I'm a bit concerned about what will happen when my offer expires in three weeks time.

It's not the best time to be starting up I suppose... I think the therapies that are seen as a luxury product (like my massage), are dropped first by struggling clients. Things like sports injury therapy and physio will probably still do quite well as people with serious problems will still want to spend that money.

The main thing to focus on is getting regulars - whether its once a week once a fortnight or once a month - focus on the benefits of regular treatments and give them incentives to book ahead.

Binah

How many clients a week does the average therapist see?

Binah - what incentives do you offer, that work for you?

How many clients a week does the average therapist see?

Difficult to answer, as some therapists are part time, others full time, some offer only a couple of therapies, others are talented multi-taskers!! As for me, at the moment, I work full-time 'averaging' 4 clients a day - some days it can be 5, and others only 2. I try to keep it at 4. I also do home visits.

Yesterday (Saturday) I had 2 clients, and tomorrow (Monday) I had 3 booked but one rang today to tell me he has succumbed to the Man Flu! So far I have been lucky in that I have not lost any 'regulars'.

I practice at different places, most weeks I've got a therapy room for 21 hours per week in total.

At the moment I'm getting anything between 0 and about 10 clients a week. Closer to 0 than 10 though on most weeks! I really hope my business will pick up a bit more soon.

That's a point Binah: most clients I'm getting seem to be one-offs. I don't think it's because they're not happy with the service or anything, on the contrary I often get really good feedback.

I think it's often just a matter of clients not getting around to booking again, and probably also the financial climate is part of it. I usually ask people at the end of the session if they want to book another session, but most people don't and say they'll be in touch.

Also there is an element of people coming in to get a quick fix to their problem. They feel better at the end of the session and don't see the need to book again, or at least not straight away.

So I'd be very interested in tips from Binah and others on how to get regulars. How to get people to book ahead, or book a fixed slot or something. How to get clients from the past to come back.

Thanks!

I never ask 'if' they want to book another session. I always say 'I would recommend that in order to feel the benefit of this treatment, that you come back in about ...... (however long you want - mine are generally fortnightly for the first 6 treatments, then every 6 weeks) ..... weeks - I have an appointment free at such-and-such a time on such-and-such a day'. For many years I have made a point of not letting them see my diary, especially if it has been a lean week and there are very few booked in!! Thankfully that is a rarity since I changed my booking methods. I used to offer incentives, such as book 6 treatments, get the 6th treatment free, but no longer do this, as I keep my fees at a lower level than most.

Just wanted to touch base on this topic again.

I think there are a lot of people taking on therapies as a second income, doing night classes etc so that they can supplement there income or take it up as they have been made redundant.

So there may be an over saturated market with a lot more therapists.

Is everyones bookings still the same these days?

Mine are down a little on new bookings.

February and March were surprisingly good. It's been quiet again since early April now though.

Just wanted to touch base on this topic again.

I think there are a lot of people taking on therapies as a second income, doing night classes etc so that they can supplement there income or take it up as they have been made redundant.

So there may be an over saturated market with a lot more therapists.

Is everyones bookings still the same these days?

Mine are down a little on new bookings.

I'm finding that it is real swings and roundabouts every month. Last week I had two people pay for a course of 6 treatments - one of whom I had wrongly assumed could not afford it. I have clients who are pensioners or have been made redundant but they feel and appreciated the benefits of massage so still come regularly for treatments.

I don't believe in a saturated market. There are enough clients out there for everyone. Even though there may be more people studying therapies I don't think many take it further than treating friends and family rather than making it a career. What percentage of students you studied with work as therapists today.

What I do need to do when I'm quiet and in general is do more marketing and networking in order to get new clients.

It seems to have gone completely dead in the last two or three weeks - or is that just me?!

hi Supersub, ive heard this from a few people, not just massage therapists, but others too. I think its holiday period coming up, and I really dont think this hot weather helps either, I usually have one or two massages a week at work, but havent wanted any because its just too hot and sticky!

hot weather in Manchester???????????????????? as the old joke goes...
the weather in Manchester is like the Muslims in Iraq.....either sunny or shi'ite.

no offence meant to any Muslim Hpers, I am just repeating what I heard.
BGFL

Yep I'm very quiet at the moment too: April and May were quiet, but June was very, very bad, only marginally better than January.

Sorry been too busy to reply ;).
No but seriously, not been too bad. Moved to new house 2 months ago (which is also my practise place) and once I'd got straight, started getting calls! It's probably helped that I sent postcards informing my clients and contacts, old and new that I'd moved with new contact details - reminded them to arrange that much needed massage perhaps?!:021: Or I've got nosy clients who wanted to suss the place out :rolleyes:.
+ I believe the feng shui will have changed - I've had a good clear out with the move (cleanse) and feel very positive!
So :food-smiley-004: here's to having time to promote my practise a bit more!

It seems to have gone completely dead in the last two or three weeks - or is that just me?!

I was thinking that myself! I think people are enjoying the hot weather more and as a result are choosing not to have massage and perhaps do other things.

I have been steady and am lucky that my regulars have remained that way, the few new clients i have picked up have chosen to have regular treatments. I am gettin by but it does seem quiet and less people, other than my usuals, being in touch.

After having been quieter than expected in April and May, and clients dropping down to ~2 a week in June, now suddenly things seem to be picking up. The school holidays have started, a period I was expecting to be quiet, much like June, but now I've suddenly got 5 people booked in for today. What's going on?!?! 😀