Massage-O-Grams

[The Stupid! It burns!]

Hi. I saw this article in Massage Magazine, and thought it was a very creative way to expand & promote a massage therapy business:

Massage-O-Grams Boost MT's Business

When Theresa Busse shows up a doorstep, no one is unhappy. With a massage chair in tow, and bearing flowers or balloons and reciting a customized poem, she might just be the most popular one-woman delivery service around.

Busse’s Massage-O-Gram service has taken off since its introduction to Greenbay, Wisconsin, almost two years ago. It started when she was asked to do a surprise chair massage for the owner of a Curves franchise next to her massage practice, A Touch of Theresa. “We both said, ‘That’s a good idea,’” Busse recalls.

Today the service makes up more than half her practice, with orders piling up on special occasions, such as Valentine’s and Bosses’ days. A radio interview on a local station generated even more business, and now she travels beyond the greater Greenbay vicinity for deliveries. She charges $40 for a 15-minute chair massage (more for out-of-the-area deliveries), and includes a choice of flowers or balloons and a customized poem she writes for the recipient, based on information provided by the gift-giver.

Busse says it’s a good feeling when people realize she is there to see them. “I’ve had quite a few people get tears in their eyes or cry,” she says. One memorable delivery came from a woman whose son, who was serving in the military in Afghanistan, asked his mom to arrange something special for his wife on their first anniversary. Busse got the same roses the young woman had in her wedding bouquet, and wrote a poem from the husband to his wife.

The most unusual delivery? A Massage-O-Gram request for a woman celebrating her 50th birthday, and who loved the color pink. Busse dressed in pink and brought a bouquet of pink flowers. But she denied the last request—to bring decorative pink flamingos into the massage session.

 

[free_angel]

Thanks for the posting Blisss, nothing like seeing a little ingenuity in the 'hood...
I think it's a cute idea and definitely something Greatttlakes and I will keep an eye out for, since the MT mentioned in the article is only about an hour away from each of us. I was in Green Bay yesterday as a matter of fact. :

 

[idk]

I've been thinking about this since I read it earlier today. It is a great idea! With suddenly having a 2 year old, the logistics are a bit interesting, but I really think it could be fun and very well received! I'm going to keep toying with this idea. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Scarlette Starr]

I thought about this years ago, but never jumped on it. I think I will reconsider. I don't believe I have seen anyone in AZ advertise for something of this nature. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!

 

[Teo]

Sandy,

How are the massage-o-grams coming along? Has there been a lot of interest?

I was thinking the perfect sense paraffin treatment would go along wonderfully with an on site chair massage.

 

[Retro95]

okay, so let's brainstorm a little about how this would work. if you showed up at somebody's place of employment, how would you know they had the time to get a 15 minute massage? Or would it be something you would call ahead and schedule? "Hello, this is Healthy Massage calling. I'm thrilled to let you know that in honor of your birthday, your husband has arranged a "massage-ogram" for you. I am calling to schedule your 15 minute chair massage."

Somehow, that seems like it would take some of the surprise out of it. Yet, if you don't schedule it ahead of time, you could show up at the wrong time when they are tied up in a meeting or something.

I do like the idea of going to people's workplace over their home. Safety reasons for one thing. But also, it would be great exposure. Everyone in the office gets to see that something special is happening and they might ask the receiver about the experience and of course, you would leave yoru brochures and cards for them to hand out.

I could see this would be a great marketing tool, as well as a very nice service to offer. I'm just a little stuck with the scheduling part of it. Any suggestions?

 

[Lucie [we can be heroes]]

KneadedMassage, I would expect the purchaser of the Massage-O-Gram to make the arrangements with the place of employment of the recipient, if that is where they were sending me. It would take a couple of phone calls back and forth between the purchaser and MT -getting available time slots, talking to the employer to find what works there, and then the confirmation of the time call back to me.

 

[LAgirl]

I have done several Massage O Grams since I added them to my website. They are awesome and I wish I had a way to advertise them more. Right now, I advertise only when an ocassion comes up, but are available all year. I think these could be BIG, if I could get the word out more without spending $$$$. Anyway, people love them and I make sure to bring plenty of business cards and brochures, because everyone wants to know what you are doing and when you tell them they say, "What a great Idea". WHen people call to order one, I take all the info, personal message and CC #. I also tell the purchaser that they themselves need to arrange with the recipients office and staff to make sure I can be there and make sure the recipient is going to be around. I also tell them that if they haven't arranged ahead of time, and I can't deliver the massage O gram there are no refunds or rescheduling.
So far all that I have done have been successful and very fun.


Please check out the link on my site:

http://www.integrity.iwantamassage.com/Massage%20O%20Grams.html

 

[Tim J]

That is so cool. Now if I only had a chair. :

 

[Lucas (2nd account)]

I hate to come across as the Grammar Nazi, but you have a bit of a typo on that page of your site, Sandy

"A truely unique and original gift idea ....." The word "truely" should be spelled "truly."

It was driving me crazy! lol Hope I didn't offend you. Just wanted to lend a helping hand!

 

[Autumn.]

FYI, massage-o-gram has been trademarked. http://www.massage-o-gram.com . If you are using this name, you might want to consider changing the name of your service just incase the trademark holder sends you a cease and desist email.

 

[DAVIDB]

I was considered offering these for a while and I was going to call them "relax-o-grams". I don't have it trademarked and feel free to use it if you want! :
I think they would be fun, I just haven't had the time to really market them and add them in to my business.

 

[dyingatheist]

LOL! I was thinking that "Relax-o-grams" sounded good too! Had no intention of trademarking it. I think it actually sounds better than "massage-o-grams".

 

[Liz S]

Thanks for the Heads up on the misspelling. Doesn't offend me at all.