Black Friday 2012

The election ad campaigns are finally over, which means the holiday season is officially upon us. Clients of mine from years past may be wondering if I'll be offering a Black Friday special as I have for the past two years. In the past couple years, my Black Friday special offer was limited to only my Facebook "fans." This year, EVERYONE is hearing about it, but those who HAVE "liked" my Facebook business page will have an added perk that I'll be sharing next week. "Like" my page so you too can enjoy the special treatment!

Here are this year's Black Friday offers:

**Buy 2 gift certificates, get 1 free

OR

**Buy a 60-minute massage gift certificate and get 30-minutes added on to it for free

In the first option, the 2 paid-for gift certificates will not expire, but the free gift certificate will expire May 31, 2013. In the second option, the full 90-minutes will expire May 31, 2013, but the paid-for 60-minute portion will not expire. For either option, this offer is limited to 3 gift certificates per purchasing person, meaning you can 'buy 2, get 1 free' OR buy 3 60-minute + 30-minute gift certificates only. 

Remember, you can "like" my Facebook page for extra special treatment not only for this Black Friday deal, but that's also where I post any same-day appointments that I'm trying to book and discount those appointments by $15!  

WHEN: 8am-12pm Friday, November 23, 2012

HOW: Call 503-318-9626 or email me at rachelsheardlmt AT gmail DOT com. I can take your card information over the phone, and either mail your gift certificates to you, or arrange a time for you to pick them up. If you choose to email me, I will need your card number, expiration date, zipcode and the 3 digit code on the back of your card. 

WHO: This offer is open to all current and past clients (and anyone you may forward this to).

By the way, do you know who my ideal clients are? I would MOST love for you to share the gift of massage with these people. Thanks! 

Relaxation vs Therapeutic Massage

After much thought and consideration, I have decided it is time to change my rates. If you're curious as to what lead me to this, I encourage you to read my Self Performance Evaluation here. Effective January 1, 2013, I will be raising my rates by $5 raise across the board for all massage sessions, and will then be distinguishing between relaxation massage and therapeutic massage. Therapeutic massages will then be an additional $5 or $10. Now, I know you want to know...what is a therapeutic massage versus a relaxation massage?

Relaxation massage is best described as massages that are:

• gentle on the body (both yours and mine),
• usually not exceeding medium pressure,
• that do not require special focused attention or extra time working on known aches, pains, tensions, etc, and
• can have the full body treated within one hour. There are some exceptions to this, depending on the size or build of a person's body, but for the most part, without giving extra time to "troubled" areas, a full body relaxation massage can be done in 60 minutes, and may certainly go on longer if the client chooses to have even more down time.

Therapeutic massage is best described as any session that specifically and skillfully addresses any of these 11 points:

1. Aches, pains, spasms, tensions, or sore spots and/or use of pain scale assessments for session-to-session progress evaluation;
2. Working primarily on a specific area of the body, though this will likely include surrounding areas that may be affected by or contributing to the "problem;"
3. Use of very firm/deep pressure whether throughout the majority of the session or on specific points of the body that require time to allow them to release;
4. Coaching before, during and/or after your massage for:
   (a) stress management techniques,
   (b) referrals to other healthcare modalities (chiropractic, physical therapy, yoga, etc),
   (c) stretching,
   (d) strengthening, and/or
   (e) other suggestions to modify the way you use your body throughout your life;
5. Monitoring frequency/severity of your ailments, such as:
   (f) headaches/migraines,
   (g) numbness/tingling,
   (h) pain medications.
   These sessions may be limited to certain areas of the body for focused work done on a time/financial budget or may be worked in a full body massage within a longer session, and may be done with any range of light-firm pressure. The cost of your session will be $5 more than relaxation massage rates if 1-5 of the above points have been provided, and will be $10 more if 5-11 of the above points have been provided.

Included in EVERY session will be a discussion prior to your massage to see how you are feeling that day and how you want to spend your time. I realize most new clients who come to see me are not accustomed to this question and that it is something that sets me apart from most other massage therapists. I also firmly believe that it helps us reach the goals you have for the time and money you invest into receiving massages. This discussion will largely determine whether your session will be a relaxation or a therapeutic massage.

What happens if...
--If you expected one type of session and it turns into the other, the pricing will be based on what is actually provided to you.
--If, during our intake conversation, we decide you'll be having a relaxation massage, but then as you're on the table, I find things that could use more time spent working on, I will check in with you to see if you want to convert your session to therapeutic and address those areas more thoroughly, or if you want to continue on with a relaxation massage and not spend any extra time on those areas. If you decide to convert to therapeutic massage, your session will be an additional $5-10. 
--If, conversely, we expect your massage to be a therapeutic massage, but there isn't any coaching involved and your body doesn't have much going on to "work with" in terms of tight muscles, I will have the pleasure of telling you your massage that day would be $5-10 less than we expected! 
--If you are somewhat concerned about the financial implication of the new rates, remember that I have always considered gratuities as "never expected, always appreciated." If the new rates mean you aren't able to be as generous with gratuities as you have in the past, it's okay to leave less or none at all. While tips have made up 9% of my income so far this year, the bottom line is, I'd rather see you and not have a tip than have you stop coming altogether because you don't have money for a tip. Additionally, you can "like" my Facebook page and keep your eye out for when I post same-day appointments I'm looking to book at a $15 discount. 
--If you are really concerned about the financial implication of the new rates, I encourage you to take advantage of my upcoming Black Friday special offers and/or purchase a package of 5, 10, or 15 massages before the end of the year that can be used up to a year from date of purchase. That's a great way to lock in my current rates, and the packages are even offered at 5%, 10%, and 15% discounts. 

Raising my rates means I can continue to offer a Client Loyalty Program. A couple months ago, I was beginning to feel really sore about the Client Loyalty Program, because I really make it easy for clients to save money and was worried about MY bottom line. I almost felt like I needed to wipe out the Client Loyalty Program altogether. 

Right around that time, I had 3 clients come in within a short time span--one had just referred a new client to me and I had sent him a referral reward, another was in a delicate emotional state that I gave coping suggestions to, and another was using her benefits through her HealthNet insurance to receive massage with only a $25 copay. The man with the referral reward didn't even bring in his coupon, but paid my full rate plus a $15 tip. The one who received coping strategies then tipped me $25. The woman using her HealthNet benefits also tipped me $30. 

Not only did the generosity of all three touch my heart beyond words, it helped me understand that I AM worth it and that both my Client Loyalty Program and my rates needed to evolve with my business, skills, and experience (the Client Loyalty Program hadn't been changed since I first put it in place at least 3yrs ago, and I have never raised my rates in my 6yrs as a licensed massage therapist). So I chose to modify it a little, and to also raise my rates. In doing so, I can continue to extend my thanks to you in all the many ways still in place for your continued patronage and trusting me enough to refer your friends and loved ones to me. The clients I have already mentioned these changes to over the past few weeks have been very supportive, and I appreciate all the feedback that has been shared with me as you've helped me reach this decision.

Name Your Price

I'm curious. I know there are some businesses out there that function solely on letting their customers/clients decide for themselves how much they will pay for services received. 


So if money wasn't the object that prevented you from getting massages, and you could comfortably afford them, how much value would it hold for you?


Or, if money is an object for you, but you still go for massages, what would you feel comfortable paying? 


I'm hoping for some feedback here. Very curious to know how my clients truly value their massages. And don't worry, I'm pretty tough. You won't hurt my feelings one way or another. :)