Targeted Clientele

[DaMan]

I'd love to hear from people who have a specific target market; is there someone who just works on women or men or certain professions etc.?    I'm thinking of my own business down the road and am curious if specificity is a positive aspect to one's biz or a detriment.Thanks for your input!

 

[Vishal]

I didn't intend for it to start out this way, but most of my clients have been men... perhaps 95%!  I attribute much of this to the over-abundance of day spas in New Orleans, and it would seem than many women here prefer to go to a day spa for a massage, whereas men want a private, nearby place to go that is open after work hours or during the lunchtime hours.  My friend, in another part of town, has about 40% women, and her business setup is much like mine.  It's a curious thing...When I got my own office and began to contemplate the decor, I tried to think of what would be pleasing from a man's perspective, since that was the majority of my clientele:  I came up with a good plan that gets compliments from both sexes equally, but is very masculine.  I also got a BOSE system, and put out some golf magazines, since 4 out of every 5 of my clients play golf.  There is a golf shop downstairs, and I put some brochures in there that let them know how massage will improve their game.  

 

[Sean L]

Targeted Clientele

mimi, I think those statements are ridiculous. Did you ask your man if any of that is true? I have had lots of interaction with blacks and have not ever heard that blacks don't want non-blacks to touch them. I also know several who love to be pampered.

 

[Heidelzbth]

Targeted Clientele

You know what, I've been TRYING to get more African-American clients.  I noticed we have:

white 60%
hispanic/latino 20%
arab 10%
asian 9%
black 1%

I don't know for sure if it's true but I saw a survey done by AMTA one time that said African-Americans tend to prefer outcalls.  Maybe that's an issue?

Ben

 

[flames]

Targeted Clientele

i have black, white, male, female clients. not one of them minds spending the money, OR minding me touching them. never sat down and did perceneforum.xxxes of my clientell. never think about their race, to be perfectly honest. all i know is "so and so has an appointment", not "white so and so..." lol

 

[GetSkinnyDiet.com]

Targeted Clientele

I have mixed thoughts on the blacks interested in massage (excuse my typing; I have bad carpal tunnel in both wrists).I had only two black colleagues in the massage therarpy program I took (still keep in touch with one of them).Just the other day I had a black woman as a massage client who claimed that over the years, she has tried to get massages fairly regularly. I must admit that I haven't had hardly any blacks as clientele in the past few years.They are out there...but it seems that the numbers are low in both becoming a therarpist or being serviced by one...I think it's all about how you're raised as to how comfortable you will be with touch...I'm not saying that black people are raised to not be comfortable with touch. However, if they are raised up in a majorly black neighborhood and not used to seeing or being around white people, they might just not be in the habit of seeking that much of an intimate environment with someone who is not of their race (I believe that a massage therapy session does have some degree of intimacy about it, because it being based on touch, relaxation, soothing and private environment). Now, I didn't type any of this to instigate anything. I certainly do NOT mean to offend anyone. I'm just trying to figure this out somewhat like the rest on this thread. just my 2 cents...sorry for the lengthinessBe well,Jen

 

[gws35]

Mimi:  In response to your message posted on August 17th re: Trying to Get More African American Clients As a consumer, I have expended many dollars over several years for massage services and I didn't care if the therapist was white, black, purple or green.......as long as he/she was good.I am a firm believer in "What you put out is what you get back".  The laws of Attraction apply to everyone, whether you believe it or not.  If you are not attracting those specific clients you are targeting, perhaps your own energy and the energy of the facility where you work, is not in harmony with the clients you seek.If your intentions are to simply extract dollars, your energy will show.  If your intentions are to provide a service where any and all people are welcome,  that energy will show.Perhaps you may want to examine your own beliefs and judgements about the people you are attempting to attract to your business.  You have quoted several Generalizations and Misconceptions about African American people.Are you giving this much attention to other ethnic groups?Perhaps you may want to relax! and be grateful for the clients you do have.In case you are wondering........I am African-American,  I do not own a Coach bag....nor do I wear Braids or a Weave.From one Therapist to another.

 

[XoXSweetieBabeeXoX]

Targeted Clientele

BRAVO - and well said vibeorange.

 

[DrDan]

Targeted Clientele

You have quoted several Generalizations and Misconceptions about African American people.

Are you giving this much attention to other ethnic groups?

Yep, she wanted to get "THE ARABS"
{We have black people in our city, probably moreso than I found the entire posting offensive.

Marcus

 

[oppatika]

This is a business and marketing forum.  What Mimi posted was the things she'd been told from other people in response to questions about the make-up of her current clientele.  Obviously she's done the market research, and she's noticed an untapped market in her area.Every major company does this.  It's smart business.  I worked a brief marketing gig at the mall, and in the Mountain Dew "Code Red" promotion our paperwork stated that our target population was "ethnic and minority groups" and we had to use stores frequented by said groups in our display cabinets during that promotion.  What do you think McDonalds is doing with their "I'm Lovin' It" campaign?I live across the street from a shopping center with a large Chinese business population.  If I were to set up a business there and see a larger number of say...Canadians than Chinese people, I would definately start working on making my business more appealing to that much larger population walking by my storefront every day.Race shouldn't be such a sensitive issue.  I realize with the whole terrorism frenzy we're currently caught up in that racial tensions are be a bit strained.  You've got to give Mimi some credit for wanting to make her business more comfortable for everyone and make her business population perceneforum.xxxes closer to the true ethnic population of her community.Maybe we can turn this thread back to its original intent and talk about some real suggestions (not based on stereotype) about how to pull in a portion of our own target clientele - whatever that may be? Katykangaroo

 

[D Aravah - JBC]

Wow.  This thread went in a totally unplanned direction from my intent!   I never even thought about race as a "target market".   I was originally wondering about populations such as women/men/specific occupations etc.   I am leaning towards establishing a women-only practice and was curious if anyone else does this and what advaneforum.xxxes/disadvaneforum.xxxes this poses.    

 

[God eats babies]

Targeted Clientele

I have a Women only practice, not planned in the begining, but it just kind of worked out that way.Many of my clients would ask how I could help them with issues that were going on with their body, so with a little homework/education I was able to help them. Then they told their friends and things just snowballed.

 

[Arthur Always]

Thanks for your input, Mimi.   I currently live in a mostly Caucasian/Hispanic area of SW Colorado (small tourist-driven town).   I guess I've only considered how to get people, any person regardless of race etc.,  in our door       I hope you will obtain helpful feedback in your quest to reach whomever you want to draw into your business.    You're right; often critical judgment happens without having all the information.  Seems especially prevalent in this type of forum as its difficult to "hear" intent.Thanks everyone!Gayle

 

[hummerhead2002]

In response to Mimi and Katykangaroo8.The headline of this website reads "massageplanet.com Help and advice from and for Bodyworkers everywhere"The original intent of this thread Posted by: mtnmassage Posted on: Aug 17th, 2004, 2:56pm I'd love to hear from people who have a specific target market; is there someone who just works on women or men or certain professions etc.?    I'm thinking of my own business down the road and am curious if specificity is a positive aspect to one's biz or a detriment. No where in MTNmassage's post was there any mention of race.  Race became a factor from your original post Mimi.  Although your intentions may not have been to offend,  your statements came across as somewhat offensive.  You have provided in later posts quotes that you received as feedback from a few people and the basic premise is,  people want to feel comfortable. Katykangaroo8,As a woman who has worked in the corporate world for many years, I fully understand the mechanics of marketing to sell products and services to an "untapped market" which can generate profits to your business.  However, we are not selling McDonalds or Mountain Dew.We are talking about an intimate part of a human being which is their body.  As massage therapists we are healers!  Would you market the benefits of massage therapy and the effects that is has, any differently to a person of African-American decent  than a person of a non-ethnic background?You stated in your post, "race shouldn't be such a sensitive issue"  when you are dealing with a person's body, everything is a sensitive issue.....from the way you refer to them, to the way you respond to them, to the way you drape them.So Mimi.......From a Marketing standpoint,When you approach new clients in your area who are of African-American decent, or anyone from any other ethnic background for that matter, and you educate them on the benefits of massage and how it can enhance their well-being, and you tell them how wonderful your Spa is and how comfortable they will be, and you demonstrate the products and services you have to offer,Please do not refer to them as "The Blacks" or "The so and so.This is a sure way to keep them from coming into your establishment.Vibeorange

 

[Foggy Idea]

I might market the benefits of massage differently to a population of ethnic decent if the statistics showed that as a population the ethnic group had a higher incidence of an ailment massage could alleviate.  I might highlight that ailment on my marketing materials and include a picture of someone of that ethnicity receiving a massage.  I might advertise in a publication written in their language or distribute promotional materials at the stores they frequent.  I would do that because I care about them receiving treatment and being educated in the care of their own bodies.McDonalds and Mountain Dew are examples that everyone would recognize, but their methods are smart business examples for anyone.  As therapists we're here to facilitate healing, but we also have to get word out about what we can help with.  We don't have to be unethical or misleading, but we do have to market our services in a way that our target audience will take notice if we want to survive.  As much as we'd like to be just "healers" we have businesses to run.I meant that race shouldn't be such a sensitive issue in this forum.  Maybe I should've said that more clearly before.  We're all pretty accepting in here, but when someone doesn't say things with exact political correctness, why do we attack them without considering the original intent of their message?  Of course we're extra aware of our clients sensitivity at work, but isn't this forum a place for us to make ourselves vulnerable and learn together?  Katykangaroo

 

[Edwin]

Katykangaroo8,You have offered very good suggestions to Mimi on how you would market to a population of a particular ethnicity.  Especially, including a picture a person of that ethnicity receiving a massage in your advertisement, which gives the feeling of inclusion.  As long as in your marketing strategies, you are not using sterotypes or tactics that are "unethical or misleading".I am in agreement with you, this forum is a place where we can learn and contribute valuable information.This website and forum is also viewed by people of diverse ethnicities.  I am not the only person who found Mimi's original posting to have sterotypical overtones.  Her intent was not clear.  Her true intentions were  expressed in later posts.   Mimi.......this is not an attack."Political correctness" may not be important in this forum, but from a business perspective, if your goal is to generate new clients from other ethnicities, political correctness is very important.  As I mentioned before, people want to feel comfortable.  They want to trust that as a therapist you do care about their well-being.Vibeorange

 

[Angela]

Targeted Clientele

We have black people in our city, probably moreso than the Arabs

You know better?

You wrote it here.

"the Arabs"

 

[Merlyn]

Targeted Clientele

You know better?

You wrote it here.

"the Arabs"

If you are offended, fine, but you seem intent on offending as well. Read through mimi's various posts. They're all over here. I don't think you'll find she's what you are imagining. She is frank, honest, comical, sometimes blunt, but not prejudiced. She is open hearted in my opinion. Why are you not showing *your* original face?

If you are still offended, fine too.

I think you missed the point here. You are making one of your own, and that's perfect. I just get the impression that you are not getting a clear picture.

 

[Betrayed and Insane]

If you want your oppinion to count, sign in as a real person.  Or better yet register.  People who flame anonymously are offensive.Katykangaroo