Is Massage Envy on the way out?

[kAt Go RaWr!!!]

According to Simply Hired dot com Massage Envy's hirings are down 99%. This poll was taken from March 2007 up to October 2008.

I can't post a link here but if you go to Simply Hired dot com and click on Employment Trends on the top of the page, type in Massage Envy and click search you'll get the latest polls about how M.E. is doing in regards to "revolving door" employees.

 

[JessicaM]

The ME in my area recently advertised for a therapist.

They don't seem to be "on the way out" at all.
But like everyone else I am sure that their business has been affected.

I personally am not doing well at all.
This is the first week EVER that I have had no bookings on the books Tues-Sat. I have only two for Sun.

BTW - I am so pissed at Suze Orman who suggested on the Oprah show that people should stop getting massages. This is when my bookings took a nose dive.

 

[IrredeIncarve]

BTW - I am so pissed at Suze Orman who suggested on the Oprah show that people should stop getting massages. This is when my bookings took a nose dive.

Mind elaborating as to why she did this? I don't have any info on that... never watch Oprah.

 

[Emanuel E]

Yes, please elaborate! Probably some crazy idea about massage being an extravagance or something!

 

[Scocasso !]

Yes, please elaborate! Probably some crazy idea about massage being an extravagance or something!

I found the following quote at this website article: Easy Ways to Save $5,000 a Year

4. Stretch the Calendar.


If you have a recurring expense -- say, a haircut, massage, or pedicure -- add one or two weeks to your schedule. Get a haircut every eight weeks, instead of six. At an average of $50 per cut, that can save you $150 a year. Skip a massage, and you could save another $50 to $100 or so.


Painless savings: About $250 a year, or more annually.

Maybe she thinks that skipping your massage is "painless" but I have a few clients who would disagree.

Angie

 

[# 43 Cristian]

There will always be rumors about Massage Envy. Some will be true of some locations but not of others.

Regarding Suze Orman, I haven't noticed much of a change, but I should check the timing of that Oprah appearance. When was it?

For that matter, I'm surprised that people actually care what she says. She's just another financial talking head with opinions that may or may not be correct. It's better to get a wider variety of perspectives and some personalized guidance from someone that actually understands your personal financial situation. Taking random advice from a book/television personality isn't the key to solvency nor the doormat to prosperity.

 

[this kitty needs a hug]

For that matter, I'm surprised that people actually care what she says.

I don't know this lady, but I have to agree... I am always surprised that people seem to care so deeply about what these talking heads yap about on the TV.

I'm not relating that to you, squash_blsm -- but to the general public.

Thanks for informing us. It always helps to know whats going on out there, and I am one for not paying too much attention - so the heads up is nice.

 

[Wiz]

I don't know much about ME personally. I know a local MT who works for them part time, and she's been disappointed with her schedule there lately. I have no clue whether that "means" anything or not- and don't care to speculate.

As far as Suze Orman's appearance on Oprah- I am on a financial board, and every time someone mentions cutting back on massages as a way of cutting costs, I have to bite my tongue. I know that most folks have no clue what massage can do for them. It's not their fault they're so ignorant! OTOH, if I were looking for ways to "cut down", it wouldn't matter whether it was by cutting my own hair or stopping shopping at the local farmer's market- somebody's going to feel the loss of my business. *I*, personally, believe that regular massage is enough of a benefit to my health and general well-being to pay for it. Then again, I don't have to pay for it since I am one of a family of massage therapists. I might feel differently if my husband and son couldn't help me when I needed it!

 

[sam j]

BTW - I am so pissed at Suze Orman who suggested on the Oprah show that people should stop getting massages. This is when my bookings took a nose dive.

Mind elaborating as to why she did this? I don't have any info on that... never watch Oprah.

Yup! She was on last week - I really don't remember the exact date.

She places massage directly in the "do not need" category.

LOL - I was just kidding about being "pissed" at her. But honestly, don't they think these things through before they say them? I read that massage actually REDUCES overall visits to the doctor especially for headache and musculo-skeletal pain. Hey not to mention the money savings in anti-depressants for those who choose NOT to deprive themselves of a massage now and then. And massage therapists, hairstylists, and nail techs take a HUGE hit when people start cancelling those appoinments.

Oh - and I don't usually watch Oprah either but Oprah was touting her as THE financial GURU to listen to. And when Oprah talks....

 

[Sam Fisher]

The majority of massage services in the country today are defintely in the "disposable income" segment of the market.

People who need massage for medical reasons won't cut it out anymore than a diabetic will stop taking insulin.

These may be 100% of your clients, but they are far from 100% of the massage receiving population.

If you are having trouble meeting your bills and get a massage for non-therapeutic -- and I mean really necessary, not like my shoulder aches from being at the keyboard all day, I can stop that if I choose -- then you have no business spending money on massage, pay per view entertainment, dinners out etc.

That is the message of Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey and the like and it is a damn good message for 90% of the country to listen to. Debt driven by careless spending and living beyond one's means is what got us into the mess. Live within your means, not in your dreams.

 

[PapeR TigeR]

Is Massage Envy on the way out?

According to Simply Hired dot com Massage Envy's hirings are down 99%. This poll was taken from March 2007 up to October 2008. .

Massage Envy is not going anywhere anytime soon.

And the statistic cited does not make much sense.

Hirings are down 99%. That is my goal. I don't want to hire anyone new, I want the people I have to stick around.

 

[Onica]

Debt driven by careless spending and living beyond one's means is what got us into the mess. Live within your means, not in your dreams.

Amen!!

I want all of my clients to continue to come and see me but I would hate to think that any of them are neglecting their obligations to do so. I don't buy anything or do anything that I can't afford to do. That said, I would skimp on something else before missing my massages.

Angie

 

[over 9000]

Debt driven by careless spending and living beyond one's means is what got us into the mess.

LOL really? And I thought it was those big evil banks and politicians... guess I was wrong, eh? Oh, but we digress...

 

[Jo Momma]

For that matter, I'm surprised that people actually care what she says. She's just another financial talking head with opinions that may or may not be correct.

Ah, clearly you have not (YET!) been dazzled by her trifecta of upper-midwest accent, dazzling white teeth, and awesome JACKETS! :
We have our own local financial adviser, but I have to admit I love to watch me some Suze Orman. She's mesmerizing!

 

[Jtvviewer]

LOL really? And I thought it was those big evil banks and politicians... guess I was wrong, eh? Oh, but we digress...

Banks can only make bad loans if they have a bad risk willing to sign the loan papers. Just say NO! But no one did.

 

[blue eyed blondie]

Two things ....

First, I agree with R&R. If I were a business owner, I would want hiring to be 'down' it means that I have found the best people and the right number of people to be successful.

Second, could the hiring being down also be from ME opening less locations? Perhaps slowing down for a bit?

 

[alekssebasstrs]

Second, could the hiring being down also be from ME opening less locations? Perhaps slowing down for a bit?

Which is why there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Is the drop in existing locations or new locations or all locations? %s are only meaningful if you have the absolute values involved to sort through the BS. 60% commission is often better than 75% depending on the rate. Doubling your business is great, but not if you only had one client to begin with.

If ME hired 5,000 people nationwide last year, but this year is only hiring 500, that is a 90% drop, but that is still a growing concept in a year where GDP is going to shrink.

They are competing on price in an environment when people are pinching pennies. I would be on ME doing just fine.

 

[Karmaman]

"I'd bet on ME doing fine", I believe, is what was intended?

I'd take that wager.

More MT's, I'll bet, will work out of their homes to cut out the middleman.

 

[betteryawn]

Holy heck, I just hope EVERYBODY does well. Easy for me to say, I've taken a 100% turn to doing almost exclusively injury tx in the last few months, but not everybody likes working for themselves and I hope the MTs who do well as employees find good stable work just as much as I wish independent MTs well.

It's hard to imagine ME going completely out of business and I hope they don't. That would mean, among other things, lots of out-of-work MTs. And a lot of invested money down the tubes and empty storefronts. Who wants that in their town?

 

[Izzy r]

huh

I wonder how to project, from perusing past economic downturns, what can be expected? I believe movie attendance went up.....