Planning Your Money Making Massage Holiday Specials

Planning Money Making Massage Specials

It’s time to start planning your massage promotions for a successful holiday season!

This series is specifically for people in the massage or spa industry, but these ideas could work for almost any kind of business. The goal is to put together some creative packages and offers for the holidays. While I’ll use examples from massage and spa services, if that’s not your line of work, think about how you can apply these concepts to your own offerings.

Many massage therapists resist doing holiday promotions and specials because they feel they have to give big discounts or worry they’ll attract non-ideal clients. However, I haven’t found that to be the case. With some planning and strategy, you can create profitable promotions that seem like a great deal to your buyers and attract the right customers.

In this article, you’ll learn how to create money-making massage promotions instead of discounting your services!

Step 1: Build Special Massage Services

The key to successful holiday massage and spa promotions is creating truly special services. These should be unique offerings that aren’t on your regular menu and may only be available during the holidays. This makes them “special” not because of discounted pricing but because of their exclusivity.

Step 2: Strategic Pricing

Another important aspect is offering services at different price points. We’ll discuss why this is important in a moment.

Step 3: Standout Gift Presentation

Finally, we’ll discuss how to make your gifts—whether gift certificates or packages—really stand out for buyers who are shopping for others.

Building Specials for Your Massage Promotions

To start, make a list of everything you offer. Break it down by treatment length—30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and so on. Then, list out all the spa services and enhancements you provide. Get creative here. For example, if you offer full-body hot stone massages, you could create a special foot-focused hot stone treatment.

Once you have your list, experiment with combinations to create unique specials. The idea is to build value into these offers. For example, you could create a 75-minute treatment, even if it’s not something you typically offer. A 75-minute treatment is perceived as better than 60 minutes but doesn’t require as much time as a 90-minute session. If your 60-minute session costs $80, you could value the 75-minute session at $105.

Next, you can add massage enhancements.

For instance:
- Aromatherapy: Add $15.
- Hot Stones (used sparingly): Add $20.
- A Back Mask Treatment with options like Arnica, CBD, or aromatherapy blends: Add $20.

This creates a service valued at $160, but you can price it as a holiday special for $125 or $129. The buyer feels like they’re getting a luxurious spa day at a discounted price, and you’re making more than you would on a standard 60-minute massage.

Pricing and Psychology

When building your holiday promotions menu, include a range of price points:

Budget-Friendly Option: Something under $75 - $99 for those on a tight budget or kids buying for their parents.
Mid-Range Options: Two to three options in the $125-$199 range. Most buyers gravitate toward the middle, so make these your sweet spot regarding perceived value and profitability.
Premium Option: A high-end package, like a 2-hour treatment or a “12 Months of Spa” offer priced at $1,500, sets a luxurious tone, even if you only sell one or two.

If you sell 50 gift certificates at an average price of $199, that’s $10,000 in holiday revenue. That’s what I call a great way to book new clients for a massage!

Making Gift Massage and Spa Certificates and Gift Cards Extra Special

Now, let’s talk about packaging. When you buy a gift card at a store, it often comes in a plain envelope, which isn’t very exciting to give. Instead, create a special presentation for your gift certificates.

Use elegant gift boxes or bags, and include small touches like:
- Product samples
- Individually wrapped chocolates
- Small bags of tea or a mini candle

You can also offer small retail items as add-ons, like a $10 scrub, lotion, and body wash set. Add these items to the bag with the gift certificate, your service menu, and a greeting card (let them pick one from a box of assorted cards). This creates a ready-to-gift package, saving your clients the hassle of buying wrapping materials or cards elsewhere. They’ll love the convenience and thoughtfulness.

In the next post, we’ll explore further promoting and advertising your holiday specials.

In the meantime, brainstorm and crunch the numbers for yourself! Get creative with your massage promotions advertising and set a BIG GOAL for your holiday sales.

Learn more about massage advertising and promotions on my YouTube Channel Massage and Spa Success Playlist

And, check out this featured article on Massage Magazine Effective Ways To Market Your Massage Business During the Holidays