pwhittle

Bit of a long shot, and about as far OT as you can get, but if you don't ask...
My wife and I both run businesses, I also work full time, and we have a daughter. We're in a position now where my wife really needs to raise her income, but we'd rather she didn't get a 'propper' job, with the associated child care problems.

Anyway, my wife does massage and Reiki, and has done for a few years. She gets a trickle of customers, but of course it's a competitve field, and people aren't really spending at the moment (especially in Yorkshire!).

So ideally we want to expand that business (as well as my own), which would fit in well, and generate far more than most part time jobs per hour.
She's done a fair bit of marketing, contacting previous clients, offering referal incentives etc, and tried various forms of advertising, most of which don't generate anything.

She's also contacted local nursing homes, but most have someone already.
So, and ideas for marketing, or possible sectors to contact would be much appreciated.

DCI Gene Hunt

Any pics?

boxst

That market is very overcrowded unfortunately. Any advertising in a broader sense (internet / local papers) will attract the usual 'Massage with what extras?' type calls.

You can try in local health shops etc... as they have a clientele that lends itself to Reiki/Massage. You may find that they already have a few on the books already though.

Steve

pwhittle

One day I'll start a thread with some of the calls we receive (not just from men...)

pwhittle

that was quick!

a couple in here... www.bestside.co.uk - Galleries - Commercial

Matteeboy

Do something unusual, or get a "sleb" customer in, write a press release about it, get it in the local papers. Free to do (unless you need an expert to help a bit) and it has third party endorsement (the journo) so more believable.

The general rule of thumb is that editorial has 3 x the impact of advertising and is MUCH cheaper.

As you can guess, I run a PR company...!

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

My girlfriend does nails and feet stuff in her spare time.
She joined a few baby and wedding forums and now she cant move for work, Its almost at the point where she can give up her day job.

I think the bigs forums are baby and bump and the wedding one is confetti

stilover

Some very nice photo's on there Paul.

Any one of those models your lass? The Brunette at the start of the model photo's is quite nice.

pwhittle

cheers


no

pwhittle

never thought of the wedding aspect. I'm registered with loads of wedding sites (I'm a photographer, not a bigamist!)

pwhittle

how did she get work from the forums - advertising, or networking?

j4ckos mate

give us the forum mate my missus dous hair.

pwhittle

I like the 'sleb idea - trouble is, in york that leave either the big bloke from the Dinner Ladies, or one of the original Gladiators! Or Dame Judy Dench at a push....

Is there a reasonable chance of getting press releases published?

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

It was all networking. Didnt take too long at all, After about 3 weeks she had a full client base.
As the forums are national it didnt seem to make sense to advertise as she only travels within a 10 mile radius.

She was going to take an advert out in the local paper but the forums worked so well, and the word of mouth generated from that mean that she would struggle to find the time to fit anymore people in.

finalzero

Online marketing in the form of a well presented website and/or a well designed brand pack consisting of a poster design, flyer, business cards and other stationary such as letterheads etc.

Tie all of the above together with a consistent theme and logo to help boost any/all promotions.

Get the flyers and posters to your local and wider health clubs and gyms and try to arrange leaflet drops (individual and bundled with a local paper).

That lot should help polish up the image and speak volumes when promoting the business and services offered.

Btw I offer web design and graphic design services with competitive rates and a quick turn around (designed a brand pack for an SNet member, Ruislip Tyre Services Ltd)

Good luck!

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Have you tried any local web based networking websites? Might be worth googling.

Matteeboy

If the story is good enough then yes. And those people would be fine - try and think of an angle like "1000th customer is Wolf from the Gladiators" (or whoever it is). Celebs really help but other angles can work. Just need to think of a news "hook" - that's where PR people come in handy!

David Lock

1) Are there services that your lady can add to the massage and Reiki such as Aromatherapy?

2) Local paper stuff is certainly worth a try. Why not try the Reiki angle? Write 100 words with header such as "Credit Crunch getting you down?" Reiki could be the answer...... etc. To me it's Japanese mumbo jumbo but you never know

3) Has she tried getting a retainer with local sports clubs as a masseur? Soccer/Rugby and similar

4) Would she be qualified enough to approach the local PCT and ask if they need help in hospital rehabilitation clinics for stroke and trauma patients?

5) If you join the FSB they will hold network meetings where you have chance to "spread the word"

6) Do you know any trendy hairdressers who may let you hire some space for say 1/2 day a week and can book you some customers?

7) Make sure you have some quality business cards and literature.

atb, dl

jods

If she is good at the massaging thing - how about taking a step towards qualification as a sports therapist / physio and attach to a local sports centre?

my local sports centre has a few of these people (rates are iro £30 -£35 / hr)

scarey

try approaching large local companies. When I worked for a major IT company we had a lady come in a couple of days a week to do Japanese massages. I used her once when I'd slept badly and cricked my neck and she was almost fully booked all day.

had to sign a disclaimer against "pleasurable pain"

pwhittle

thanks for the tips guys, some food for thought there
then there's just my business to give a kick...

The Zohan

Matteeboy is on the money
You may well be doing all or some of this already, based on your post - here are a few things
Raise your profile using the media.
If not a celeb then get a local paper interested, get your wife to speak to the editor and try to set something up for one of the writers to get the works from your wife - free with a write up in the paper.
Pick a good well read/circulated local paper, same goes for local radio. you would be surprised just how well some things come across, even on radio.

Chances are she will need to place an ad as well so negotiate hard, papers are having a hard time of it with advertising.

Look at a good slant on it as well. perhaps with the hard times and credit crunch how Reiki can relieve XYZ and for a low/good price (whatever that is/happens to be) bit of background on Reiki, its origins, mysiticism and all the training -that sorta bollox, some facts to back up its benefits and play on the "she comes to you" in the privacy of your own home (if that is the case) or our specialist treatment room if that is the case or both.

Weddings - good one - stressfull time for all
Health clubs - advertise there or see if there is some sort of arrangement
Local leisure centres - same
Health spas - same

It's a start

stilover

What about the cast of Emmerdale?

Not too far from York, and "Celebs" will travel for something free. Some pretty good looking girls in that show to.

Just the type of pics you need in the local rag. 2 or 3 good looking female actors plugging your wifes business.

pwhittle

a pretty good start - cheers Paul

pwhittle

good idea - I grew up just down 'road from there, though it was still Emmerdale Farm when I last watched it - pretty sure there was no totty in back then!
We do have a small connection - my uncle did the the flying for the titles and played the part of a helicopter pilot (what with being a helicopter pilot) on there. He also collected the Hamster from Elvington, but that's where our celeb connections end sadly!

I could really do with shooting a celeb wedding to promote my business (photography, not a hit man)

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

another suggestion for the 'PR stunt' offer to give massage etc to the local team for free - especially if they have a big game coming up be it rugby or footie etc. Good pic and a good opp for building some brand.

I take it photography is your business but not your job? I'm also in PR and we regularly get snappers calling up offering services. Depends what you take pics of and how flexible you are but i would suggest offering to do a deal with a PR/marketing firm for their photography. Undercut the competition is probably the best thing there.

5t.

Matteeboy

pwhittle - if you struggle to find the right contacts, let me know where you live and your best local papers - I have a whizzy database that has every journo contact in the UK. Can do area searches if needed. Best use of £4k a year that we've spent so far!

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Gorkana or Waymaker/Media Disk?

We have Gorkana but have used various others. Jury still out on the best one!

5t.

Matteeboy

Gorkana - used to be Mediadisk but Gorkana kicks it's ****. Had a few glitches but nothing too awful.