Adding massage therapy to a tanning salon could be beneficial to the client and the salon owner; the client receives a massage with the feel of a spa experience, and the owner can profit from the increased business. Start-up costs to add massage therapy can vary from salon to salon; however, utilizing good marketing techniques and servicing clients’ needs may stretch far beyond the initial investment.
Getting Started
A tanning salon owner must first designate an area for massage therapy. The area needs to be large enough to hold a massage table and give therapists space to move around.
Facility layout can play a key role in keeping clients from going elsewhere to have a massage. You don’t want to have a room so cramped that it feels claustrophobic. And, if possible, the massage area should be placed away from heavy foot traffic, and where the lighting, temperature and noise can be controlled.
There are several different types of tables to consider. Purchasing different types of equipment also needs to be considered, including heating pads, bolsters, hot stones, certain pillows and wedges used for pregnancy massages.
Going online may be a good place to begin looking for massage equipment. Another good resource for equipment is spa or massage industry publications, such as the American Massage Therapy Association’s (AMTA) quarterly Massage Therapy Journal.
The initial cost for equipment will depend on many factors; experts suggests a $4,000 investment is needed to start. This figure also includes other administrative materials the massage therapists will need for record keeping.
To do it the right way, you have to have charts and printed materials. It’s very important to make sure it’s all done very professionally, and that files are kept on everyone. For instance, good records of client interviews and follow-up calls can be important for all parties involved. Printed musculoskeletal charts can be a helpful tool for the therapist because the client can better communicate his or her needs.
Hiring Therapists
Including the right massage therapist also is essential to the success of the venture. One of the best sources for licensed massage therapists is the AMTA locator service. AMTA member therapists have the option to be listed. The locator service is available to the public and can be accessed via the Internet at www.amtamassage.org.
Not all states require licensed massage therapists, however. But those states that don’t require a license often have locality ordinances. Tanning salon owners should check with their cities or counties to find out what kinds of ordinances are in existence.
It is suggested to hire licensed practitioners, perform background checks, and investigate how many hours they have completed, what their techniques are and if they carry insurance.
The number of massage therapists available at a tanning salon depends on several factors, such as traffic within the salon and the size of the business. When starting out, it’s advisable to looking at having several part-time therapists. The idea here is no therapist can afford to cover a huge block of time in a week not knowing if there is going to be income.
Tanning salon owners also need to decide whether to hire massage therapists as salon employees or keep them as independent contractors.
There are many facets a tanning salon owner must take into account when deciding to add massage therapy to his or her business. Providing well-trained therapists who can help market tanning packages may be a good place to start. Marketing massage therapy to existing clientele also may extend their loyalty, in addition to increasing the tanning salon’s bottom line.
Marketing Massage Services
There are several places a tanning salon owner can put the word out about his or her new massage-therapy business, including television, local papers, travel guides and various Web sites, as well as cross-promoting with bed-and-breakfasts, hotels and motels, festivals, conferences and conventions, and at local convention centers.
To cater to existing tanning customers, try beginning with chair massages and table massages. The best way to bridge the gap from tanning to massage is to offer both in one package.
Suggestive and consultative selling educates the client on the salon’s services and allows him or her to make a decision. It’s very important to ask the tanning clients when they call for an appointment if they also want a massage. If employees suggest to the person that he or she tan first, then they’re going to be able to incorporate both.
Customer survey cards can also provide additional information about the clients’ wants and needs.
