Upcoming Fall Promo - any thoughts?

[mommy2b 7 days left :)]

This is the first time I am doing a promo like this. My goal is to get paying customers in the door and have them come back at least 1 more time.

Spectacular Fall Goody Bag Giveaway/Halloween Spooky Special-2008

Book a 1 hour massage - receive a goody bag filled with coupons, samples and promo items donated by local businesses. All bags will include a coupon for your next massage appointment (mini hot stone treatment - to be used within 60 days). 3 bags will include a certificate for a 15 min chair massage. One grand prize will be a certificate for a 30 min massage. NO PEEKING!
Support local economy!
While supplies last.
GC redemptions or purchases not eligible.

We would have goody bags in a basket and people would pick one.
Open to new clients and returning clients who haven't had a massage for 30 days or longer. 1 per client.

Businesses will include hair salons, gym, coffee shop, Irish pub, restaurants, chiros etc. I will list all of them on the web site.

E-Sharper has some cute Halloween bags. We are ordering 250.

http://www.e-sharper.com/shop/browse.php?mc=C&c=M&shop_by=market&f_formatCatId=T&f_functionId=all&start=15

I will tweak the verbiage as well.

What do you think?

 

[Sarah M]

great idea!

Sounds like a fabulous plan!

Is this in conjunction with a business/community fall festival?

 

[motherofgradn04]

Love it! I like doing a seasonal special ...once a month is too close together for me but four times a year is perfect to make it "special" without tempting my regulars to put off coming in to see me because they are waiting for the special.

Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts about their fall specials.

Anastasia - Maybe something like "No tricks here - only treats from local businesses" or something equally cheesy playing off Halloween? I have done my fall specials around Thanksgiving in the past.

And the only thing I wonder about is limiting the special to non-regular clients. Are you almost punishing the clients who come more often? Perhaps have a gift bag for them with samples, etc - just not a coupon for free 30 min massage or something.

 

[Silent Arty!]

"No tricks here - only treats from local businesses"

LOVE IT! You mind if I steal this? I usually do SPOOKY SPECIALS for Halloween.

You are right, Angela. I was thinking myself that I will still give the bags to good repeat clients. I have people who come in every week. As a customer, I always get ticked when they promote something for new customers or members. I just need to think of a good wording so that people don't abuse this promo.

How I thought about it. I was digging in the basement and found some bags left over from last year - I had them made for a business expo. I am a member of a networking group and it would be a good way for other members to get their name out. It does seem like a low cost idea. I ordered 250 bags today for $65.97. I have some samples of Badger Balm and Biofreeze and I will make coupons.

 

[eRiK]

Steal away my dear!

I'm eager to hear what others are planning for Fall.

Anyone doing a fall themed treatment? Fall special? Thanksgiving promo for clients who have graced your business this year?

Last year I sent a hand written thank you note to everyone who'd been in to see me and offered a GC special if they bought their GC's before December 10th. I had a lot of people NOT wait until the last minute! :-D

Angela

 

[teresathegreat]

Thanksgiving promo for clients who have graced your business this year?

ooh ooh!!! may i have that one?

that's W O N D E R F U L!!!

 

[Judy B]

Thanksgiving promo for clients who have graced your business this year?

ooh ooh!!! may i have that one?

that's W O N D E R F U L!!!

Yes of course! That's why I featured this thread...I want to hear people's plans or help them think of something new to try.

What will you do?

 

[guitarist_147]

Thanksgiving promo for clients who have graced your business this year?

ooh ooh!!! may i have that one?

that's W O N D E R F U L!!!

Yes of course! That's why I featured this thread...I want to hear people's plans or help them think of something new to try.

What will you do?

well i'm going to think on it tonight, and then i'll post it once i come up with something. i love that idea!

thanks, ang!

 

[coldplay24]

That is fabulous! I had thought of a similar idea for a winter holiday promotion but couldn't figure out the right execution. I think you've got it! So you are working with local businesses and all sharing your mailing lists right? That was my goal: access to a wider customer base, but through a connection (whatever retailer they have a relationship with) rather than randomly.

I suppose if one's conversion goal was also to build one's mailing list, the coupons could direct them to a website to redeem their gift certificate by putting in their email address

 

[Pompal 09.]

No, it's not a joint promo with other businesses per se. I was going to ask local small businesses to give me some promo items, samples and coupons. Then we will put them in goodie bags and give the bags to clients when they book a massage.
I was going to advertise the event on our web site (including the donors' names), send out an email and also make flyers. We will leave flyers at places like gyms and natural food storesand will give them out when we do chair massages.
I have never given out "stuff" as a promo to book a massage so I will let everybody know how it goes. We will start after Labor Day.
September/October have been very slow for me (people get their credit card bills from back to school shopping???) so hopefully it will get people in...

 

[?RadSkully?]

Last year I did a "back to school" special for the teachers in my area. Well Saturday the lady I work with (the hair stylist) asked "Are you going to do a back to school special this fall?"

All I could do was stare at her as though she had three heads. I swear I couldn't formulate the words. My schedule is full every Saturday between now and two weeks past my due date! *laughing* The last thing I need is a new client coming in with me 2-3 weeks away from having a baby.

I finally said "I'll probably do a 'I'm back in business' something after my maternity leave". *grin*

Anyone have a brilliant "I'm back from babyhood-world" promo?

Angela

 

[Yeehawfreesex]

Keep us posted on how your promo turns out and what the response is from your community.

Angela

 

[iloveuchriscolfer]

I am planning on a Back To School Special. Just haven't figured out what to offer yet. I usually offer a spa service at a discount, so that ppl can try something new... Ill think on it. Last fall I believe I did an Indian Head Massage Special. It was fairly well received.

 

[Drum Dude]

I am planning on a Back To School Special. Just haven't figured out what to offer yet. I usually offer a spa service at a discount, so that ppl can try something new... Ill think on it. Last fall I believe I did an Indian Head Massage Special. It was fairly well received.

Ha ha ha! A head massage to get the brain circulation going for school, eh? I like it. The "make your head work better" massage. :

 

[newroom]

We had a client that sent out a Thanksgiving card thanking her clients for trusting them with their health. Instead of offering a special, she said she wanted to give back. For all sessions booked between Oct 15th and Dec 15th, she would give 20% of the profits to Habitat for Humanity.

This was right after Katrina so it was a great way for her clients to feel like they were helping.

In January, she sent out a New Year's card telling her clients how much they had raised.

She chose not to do a Christmas mailing that year because she felt like her cards were lost in the mass of mailings that go out that time of year.

She says she did pretty well on her bookings and also pretty well on GC sales that year. She thinks it's because many people came in when they wouldn't have otherwise and when they were thinking about buying gifts.