Business & Marketing Ideas for Massage and Spa Professionals
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5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Existing Clients


Lots of massage therapists and other spa professionals I know talk about the need for getting new clients into their business. They feel that they just aren't seeing enough new faces in their doors or bodies on their tables. Perhaps the advertising and marketing vehicles they are using to attract new business aren't very effective. Or maybe the business' current clients aren't sending enough referrals their way. But while both of these situations are quite likely and deserve some exploration, I think it is really vital to look at ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/30/2009 8:49 AM | Add Comment

My Letter to the Senate and House Finance Committees

Today I sent a letter via email to ALL of the members of the NC Senate and House Finance Committees that I hadn't previously contacted. I encourage all of you to do the same ASAP. We only have about 2 weeks (if that) to stop sales tax being imposed on massage therapists, spas, salons and other service providing professionals and businesses. See below for a complete list of contact info for all members of both committees. Thanks for your help! FB

Dear Senator (or Representative) -
 
In keeping up with the ongoing debate and negotiations for meeting budget shortfalls in NC, including potential tax increases, I have been made aware that part of these proposed increases could include imposing sales tax on services including therapeutic massage and other "pleasure services" such as spa treatments. I am not in support of this change and believe that as a consultant and educator who works statewide and nationally in the massage and spa industry, I am well informed to speak on behalf of massage therapists, bodyworkers and other spa or personal service professionals.
 
The proposed sales tax on services would affect licensed massage therapists and bodyworkers who are classified as "licensed health care professionals" as stated in NC General Statutes 90. This group of professionals should not be singled out from other health care providers such as chiropractors, MDs or physical therapists just because the therapeutic massage they provide is usually enjoyable. This is especially true since most massage therapy services - even those prescribed by a physician - are not often covered by insurance but are rather an out of pocket expense paid for entirely by the consumer. The addition of a sales tax to the services provided by massage therapists would create an even greater strain on their customers and the businesses that employ therapists in an already difficult economic time.
 
Similarly, spa and salon treatments and other personal services are subject to the tax. Many of these professionals and their businesses are already suffering a great deal as a result of the high unemployment and layoffs in many parts of the state. These services are the first thing to drop out of most people's budgets, especially if they see it as a bit of a splurge. Even some of most wealthy clients that get massage, bodywork or other personal services for stress management, pain relief or general self care have cut back or given up these treatments to save money. As a result, many massage or spa/salon businesses have had a huge loss in revenue and it has become a huge hurdle just to stay in business.  I closed my own spa, Inspire Skin & Body, in March due to the economic conditions as have other similar businesses in my area (the popular Yoga Cafe closed in June and Passions Salon will be closing in July) to name just two in Greensboro. Spa Sublime in Burlington also fell victim to the economy as have others in that area and around North Carolina. 
 
Others personal service businesses in Greensboro have been forced to downsize or cut staff and/or pay due to the strain of local financial woes suffered by their clients. I have heard similar stories from spa owners and the related service providers in our state, particularly those in areas that have high unemployment such as Guilford County where I live.
 
Adding a tax to personal services such as the ones offered by these businesses and professionals will hurt them even more and force more to close. Six and three quarters percent of a price increase on a seventy dollar massage may not seem like much to some, but I can guarantee that in some cases, the cost will not just be "passed on" to the consumer. Many massage therapists, bodyworkers and spas of all kinds that are already struggling to keep their doors open will cut or discount their service prices by an equal amount to keep prices the same and clients coming in.
 
For people who are already struggling, this could mean a pay cut of an equal amount or more if clients decide the sales tax on services means they will have to again eliminate these extras from their budget. As this happens, I foresee more spas and salons and individual practices closing. As many of these owners operate one-man shops or do not have unemployment insurance on themselves, they may not even qualify for unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs.
 
I have posted details about this issue as well as comments by others on my blog at the links below http://blog.spalutions.com/. I encourage you to read them and consider the full impact and fairness of your decision before you vote on the tax increase. Here are two specific links about the issue:

 
 
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I appreciate your willingness to consider my professional opinion and request to vote against a sales tax increase on therapeutic massage and other personal services.
 
Sincerely -
 
Felicia Brown, LMBT
Owner & Spa Consultant ~ Spalutions!
Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach
336.508.0790 ~ Direct
 
Follow me on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/FeliciaBrown

 

Senate Finance Committee

Senator

District Telephone

District Email

Counties

CHAIRS:

David Hoyle

919-733-5734

avid.Hoyle@ncleg.net">David.Hoyle@ncleg.net

Gaston

Daniel Clodfelter

919-715-8331

aniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net">Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Clark Jenkins

919-715-3040

Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net

Edgecombe, Martin, Pitt

VICE CHAIRS:

Larry Shaw

919-733-9349

Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net

Cumberland

Fletcher Hartsell

919-733-7223

Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net

Cabarrus, Iredell

MEMBERS:

Charlie Albertson

919-733-5705

charlie.albertson@ncleg.net

Duplin, Lenoir, Sampson

Austin Allran

919-733-5876

austin.allran@ncleg.net

Catawba, Iredell

Tom Apodaca

919-733-5745

tom.apodaca@ncleg.net

Buncombe, Henderson, Polk

Bob Atwater

919-715-3036

bob.atwater@ncleg.net

Chatham, Durham, Lee

Phil Berger

919-733-5708

phil.berger@ncleg.net

Guilford, Rockingham

Dan Blue

919-733-5752

dan.blue@ncleg.net

Wake

Charlie Dannelly

919-733-5955

charlie.dannelly@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Tony Foriest

919-301-1446

tony.foriest@ncleg.net

Alamance, Caswell

Ellie Kinnaird

919-733-5804

ellie.kinnaird@ncleg.net

Orange, Person

Floyd McKissick

919-733-4599

floyd.mckissick@ncleg.net

Durham

Joe Sam Queen

919-733-3460

joesam.queen@ncleg.net

Avery, Haywood, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey

David Rouzer

919-733-5748

david.rouser@ncleg.net

Johnston, Wayne

R.C. Soles

919-733-5963

RC.Soles@ncleg.net

Bruswick, Columbus, Pender

Harris Blake

919-733-4809

Harris.Blake@ncleg.net

Harnett, Moore

Julia Boseman

919-715-2525

julia.boseman@ncleg.net

New Hanover

Andrew Brock

919-715-0690

andrew.brock@ncleg.net

Davie, Rowan

Harry Brown

919-715-3034

Harry.Brown@ncleg.net

Jones, Onslow

Don East

919-733-5743

don.east@ncleg.net

Alleghany, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin

Linda Garrou

919-733-5620

linda.garrou@ncleg.net

Forsyth

Eddie Goodall

919-733-7659

eddie.goodall@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg, Union

Steve Goss

919-733-5742

steve.goss@ncleg.net

Alexander, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes

Neal Hunt

919-733-5850

neal.hunt@ncleg.net

Wake

Martin Nesbitt

919-715-3001

martin.nesbitt@ncleg.net

Buncombe

Jean Preston

919-733-5706

jean.preston@ncleg.net

Carteret, Craven, Pamlico

William Purcell

919-733-5953

william.purcell@ncleg.net

Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly

Tony Rand

919-733-9892

tony.rand@ncleg.net

Bladen, Cumberland

Bob Rucho

919-733-5655

bob.rucho@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Josh Stein

919-715-6400

josh.stein@ncleg.net

Wake

Richard Stevens

919-733-5653

richard.stevens@ncleg.net

Wake

A.B. Swindell

919-715-3030

AB.swindell@ncleg.net

Nash, Wilson

Jerry Tillman

919-733-5870

Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net

Montgomery, Randolph

David Weinstein

919-733-5651

david.weinstein@ncleg.net

Hoke, Robeson



 

House Finance Committee

SENIOR CHAIR:

Paul Luebke

919-733-7663

aul.Luebke@ncleg.net">Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net

Durham

CHAIRS:

Pryor Gibson

919-715-3007

pryor.gibson@ncleg.net

Anson, Union

William Wainwright

919-733-5995

william.wainwright@ncleg.net

Craven, Lenoir

Jennifer Weiss

919-715-3010

jennifer.weiss@ncleg.net

Wake

VICE CHAIRS

Dewey Hill

919-733-5830

dewey.hill@ncleg.net

Brunswick, Columbus

Hugh Holliman

919-715-0873

hugh.holliman@ncleg.net

Davidson

Julia Howard

919-733-5904

julia.howard@ncleg.net

Davie, Iredell

Daniel McComas

919-733-5786

danny.mccomas@ncleg.net

New Hanover

Larry Womble

919-733-5777

larry.womble@ncleg.net

Forsyth

MEMBERS:

Kelly Alexander, Jr.

919-733-5778

kelly.alexander@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Curtis Blackwood

919-733-2406

curtis.blackwood@ncleg.net

Union

John Blust

919-733-5781

john.blust@ncleg.net

Guilford

Van Braxton

919-715-3017

van.braxton@ncleg.net

Greene, Lenoir, Wayne

Becky Carney

919-733-5827

becky.carney@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Tricia Cotham

919-715-0706

tricia.cotham@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

Bill Faison

919-715-3019

bill.faison@ncleg.net

Caswell, Orange

Dale Folwell

919-733-5787

dale.folwell@ncleg.net

Forsyth

Larry Hall

919-733-5872

Larry.hall@ncleg.net

Durham

Sandra Hughes

919-733-5754

sandra.hughes@ncleg.net

New Hanover, Pender

Darrell McCormick

919-733-5654

darrell.mccormick@ncleg.net

Iredell, Surry, Yadkin

William McGee

919-733-5747

william.mcgee@ncleg.net

Forsyth

Bill Owens

919-733-0010

bill.owens@ncleg.net

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank, Tyrell

Jonathan Rhyne

919-733-5782

jonathan.rhyne@ncleg.net

Lincoln

Earl Jones

919-733-5825

earl.jones@ncleg.net

Guilford

Deborah Ross

919-733-5773

deborah.ross@ncleg.net

Wake

Mitchell Setzer

919-733-4948

mitchell.setzer@ncleg.net

Catawba, Iredell

Paul Stam

919-733-2962

paul.stam@ncleg.net

Wake

Edgar Starnes

919-733-5931

edgar.starnes@ncleg.net

Caldwell

Thom Tillis

919-733-5828

thom.tillis@ncleg.net

Mecklenburg

 

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/29/2009 9:45 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

Letter to the Editor of Greensboro News & Record re: Sales Tax on Services

There was an article in our local paper today about the debate on how best to handle our budget shortfall, including the possibility of raising various taxes. However, no mention was made of the proposed tax on services such as massage therapy or spa/salon treatments so I felt I had to write them. Who knows if it will be published.

Here is the link for the original article in case you are interested as well as a copy of my letter to the editor which I just sent out. If it gets printed, I will post a link to it ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/28/2009 1:52 PM | Add Comment

My Letter Against Sales Tax for Massage Therapy and Spa/Salon Services in NC

I have spend the better part of my day getting the word out about the proposed sales tax for massage therapy and other spa/salon or "pleasure" services. To encourage others to write to their own representatives, I am posting the letter I sent to Don Vaughn who is a senator for Guilford County.  Note that I have previously dealt with him when he was a Greensboro City Council Member and have referenced that in the last paragraph of my letter. If you have a positive tie to any of your representatives or senators, ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/25/2009 5:41 PM | Add Comment

URGENT! News for NC Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers and the businesses that employ them - please share

                    

From the NC President of the AMTA, Ed Sansbury:



  • ALL licensed massage therapists in NC are in section 90 and are referred to as” licensed healthcare providers”. The places they work do not determine that status. Apparently many in the legislature think there is a distinction.

  • It would not be fair to tax us unless they chose to do the same to all NC providers in section 90.
    In NC individuals seeking physical therapy do not have to have a doctor recommendation and therefore individuals seeking massage should not be bound by that either.

  • Because there ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/25/2009 10:28 AM | View Comments (13) | Add Comment

Are You Getting Clients to Rebook?

For quite a while now, I've been offering a FREE e-course on my website on Getting Clients to Rebook. If you haven't already taken it, click here to sign up now and learn a few of my secrets for filling your appointment book with new and existing clients.

Here's what one student of the course recently wrote to me about the course and how her staff focuses on rebooking:

Hi Felicia -

I enjoyed reading your ideas. It is very important to rebook! We really concentrate on that already. We think it is so important for our long time client to have ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/25/2009 9:20 AM | Add Comment

Twitter - Customizing Your Look

As per the most recent comment I posted, I wanted to show a few of the custom buttons I found for encouraging "followers" on Twitter. These and many others are available at http://mytweetspace.com/followmebuttons.php. The site also has custom background design available for your Twitter account.

and sign up! ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/22/2009 11:23 AM | Add Comment

Too Young For This - An Amazing Story about Healing from and with Breast Cancer

I originally wrote about my friend, Alice Crisci, and her foundation for breast cancer after I met her last fall on a cruise. At only 31, she was diagosed with breast cancer and decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery - all before she had ever gotten married or had children. As a part of her unique demographic (single and childless) as a cancer patient, she started My Vision Foundation (www.myvision.org ) to help make a difference in younger women's lives who have been diagnosed with this disease.

Beyond starting this foundation,  Alice is truly one of ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/21/2009 8:14 AM | Add Comment

Five Steps to Going Green in Your Spa or Massage Practice

The term “green” has become quite the buzz word recently. You see it in all kinds of places from grocery stores and shopping malls to spas and salons. And although many massage therapists, bodyworkers and other spa professionals have been ecologically conscious in some ways for a long time, a little review of how to work smarter and better is never a bad idea. Here are a few thoughts on how you can make your business  greener for the earth… and your bank account.


<< MORE >>

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/14/2009 12:01 PM | Add Comment

Check out MassageSonics - Great Music for Massage Therapists, Spas and Pure Relaxation

As many of you know I am a fan of social media and the Internet in general when it comes to promoting myself and/or my clients. As a result of my ongoing endeavors to spread the word about Spalutions and learn more about what others are doing, I stumbled across this awesome music for massage therapists at Massage Sonics.com. Not only do I love their music (take a listen to the samples on their site) but I am also now one of their guest bloggers. How cool is that?!


That comment really struck ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 6/10/2009 7:49 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment
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