Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

[Super Hot Brazilian Girl!]

Hi. I have found a few comments so far, in my reading here on these boards, about small MT stores and how people like to "touch and feel" before buying.So, I would like to ask a few questions.:

• What sort of things would you like to find in a small massage store near you?
• What sort of hours would you be willing to accept if the store was attached to someones personal massage office (meaning, part time, until the idea took off)?
• How do you feel about a small MT store providing quality items that may be a bit more expensive, but were things you couldn't find or order easily? (ie. Would you probably purchase higer end lotions, if you were able to test and find you liked them, or would you stay with something less expensive, just because it was less expensive?)  
• What specific items would you like to see carried?

 

[pokemon master]

Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

Taken from another thread, not so we get off onto another tangent, but because it is good information regarding this topic.  

I'd love to know answers to the original questions if possible -- and maybe everyone would consider answering them in sequence?

Re: Starting a Supply shop« Reply #1 on: May 28th, 2004, 7:36am »  Quote  Modify  

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Hi,

There was a guy in our medium sized town who started a massage supply business but folded after about a year.  Not having done it myself I am giving you my opinions from the therapist's (customer's) point of view, looking in from the outside.  He had a storefront which was small with difficult parking.  It was a nicely done space, but inventory was limited.  I did get a massage table from him and delivery and service was excellent.  Here are the factors that I think contributed to his lack of success....

1)  I was never quite clear if the massage therapist or the general population was his primary market, as he carried a little stuff for each segment, but not enough of the types of inventory to cater to one or the other.

2)  It seemed that he was short on working capital, which will sink any business in the first year

3)  Due to the possibility of not enough working capital, I think a storefront was too much overhead, especially since....

4)  His location was one where you had to seek him out rather than it being conveniently and centrally located...

5)  Because he had to do other work to keep himself afloat, he was not always open when you needed something.

So here is how I would have done differently.

1)  I would have gathered a data base (through personal relationships) of all the massage therapists and holistic practitioners in town.

2)  I would have assessed their individual needs to find out what they use and how often they need it

3)  From there I would have compiled a schedule to call each therapist on a regular basis to see if they needed something

4) Then I would have put them on account and personally delivered their products to them....kind of like a cross between a door to door salesman and a personal buyer

I think if he had called me monthly, for instance, to find out if I needed more of my brand of oil or to let me know what was on special Iwould have bought from him on a regular basis...and thought of more things to purchase through him, saving me the effort of researching, ordering and waiting for delivery.

The physical storefront would have been the last thing I would have implemented, opting to put my resources into an ecommerce website and expanding my market outside of the town.  To minimize risk, I would have sold overstock on Ebay to at least recoup investment money and keep cash flowing.

My $.02.  Hope it helps.
Cassandra

 

[Amp40]

Hmmmm so many things to think about.  Hours:  Send me a flyer with your hours.  If you are doing it part time, keep your retail hours consistent whether its day or evening hours and what days you would be open.  In my view, if you are open just between clients and I have to "catch" you to buy, then I am ordering online.Inventory:  A few bolsters, small assortment of lotions/creams/oils, books, Essential Oils, table heating pads, hot rock supplies, parafin related items, spa treatment supplies, fleece pads.  If there are schools nearby then have a display model table and take orders.  Just a few ideas to kick around.  Touch and feel over Online or catalog:  Touch and feel even if I have to pay more.  I am someone who prefers to buy locally and keep my money local.  As long as I get good service I would definately keep coming back, even if I have to pay more.I would meet with a few other therapists and MT schools in your area and get their input.  Then open select your inventory and definately find a good location.  Send flyers to all the MTs, spas etc... in your area and to thoughs who live in a reasonable driving distance.  Include a generalized list of your inventory and your set hours.

 

[Ellis Bontellis]

Forgot to mention the delivery of supplies as mentioned in the copied post.  I would not deliver unless it was to a salon/spa or a school with larger orders.  You will spend your days running around delivering 8ounces of lotion to one MT 15 miles and a 16ounce jar of sea salt to a spa 30 miles away.  Offer shipping of course but you really want them to come in and see your shop and the other items you sell.  I do like Cassandra's ideas, especially the proactive approach of calling previous buyers to see if they need supplies or equipment.

 

[toto]

Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

Since I'm a student, I would definitely like to touch, feel and most of all smell some of the things that I would be working with before I bought them. I really do wish that there was a store in my area for that instead of me having to order online or out of a catalog.We have a school store but you have to ask someone in the office to open it up for you which I really don't want to do. I'd rather be able to just walk in and walk out if I don't see something I want.

 

[vickky :)]

Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

I currently run a small supply store out of our clinic. We have regular hours of monday through friday 10:00 to 2:00 and offer appointment shopping between clients. If you need any ideas or contacts for supplies please feel free to E-Mail me.Kim

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well said, Gator!  I'd add that I would love to try new/more lotions.  Someone willing to buy a gallon of quite a few lotions and sell me samples so I can try them.  In school we had to buy a gallon of lotion (lucky for me they ran out right before I got there, so I shared with another student.)    Selling locally made items, like soap or honey or candles, the options are many.  Sorry, I didn't answer in the order. mick

 

[--s2--s2--]

There is a small MT supply store here in town, and I will share with you what I feel works/doesn't work with me.  I am a procrastinator and tend to wait until I have 3 oz of lotion and 6 appointments on the book for the day before I freak out and realize I need lotion, like yesterday!  That is when I try to get to the supply store (before my business hours) and to my self-inflicted disappointment, they are either closed or out of the lotion I use.  The more MT's I talked to, the more I realized that I am not the only procrastinating MT...our profession is full of them!  So, the point of my massageplanetfinated rambling is this...I have learned my lesson and now order from a catalogue so that I don't run out of lotion...however, if the store had early and/or late hours to accomodate our schedules, and kept a healthy stock of supplies, I would by far prefer the instant gratification of buying from the store over catalogue shopping.  Did that help?  As far as lotion...we love Bon Vital!  I was a Biotone therapist for years, and stumbled across this creme last year and I love it!  

 

[Tsquared]

I am a faithful user of Biotone gel.  I see that Bon Vital makes one also.  Can anyone compare/contrast the two products?  Thanks in advance for your time!   ;DKay

 

[Pompal 09.]

Best all round store I've seen was two rooms in a converted house.  One room for lifestyle items like chakkra jewlrey, incense, salt lamps...  And the other with professional items like lubricants, aromatherapy, books and a it had a chair.  They also had a table therapy room on the side which customers could see when they were not in use althouth the door was usually closed.  The owner engaged her daughter in the store when she had a client in the therapy room.  While I was there the owner got a mix of customers who came in for one reason and were walking out with additional items.  And the free standing massage chair was like a magnet and really got the interaction going. It seems that when the customer engages the owner, their is probably more chance of a sale.

 

[The Manimal]

Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

Thanks to everyone who is replying!  I am getting ideas and I am sure others of you are too! Links to (plus) Specific Products Mentioned In This Thread

http://www.bonvital.com/products/massage/ ````````````` -Locally made items: soap, honey or candles. -Bolsters, small assortment of lotions/creams/oils, books, Essential Oils, table heating pads, hot rock supplies, parafin related items, spa treatment supplies, fleece pads. Display model table. -Lifestyle items like chakkra jewlrey, incense, salt lamps. -Free standing massage chair.

Doesn't anyone else have any specific items they'd like to see in a store, and do you have a link to the company that provides it for you right now? :-/ More ideas on specific items?  

 

[~luvs 4ever!~]

We have a massage supply store in our clinic. We sell to other therapists and also to our clients. The store is open the same hours as the clinic which is 10am-9pm M-F, 10-4 on Saturdays and 10-2 on Sundays. We have a receptionist for the clinic and she doubles as the store clerk.

We are Biotone distributors and that is definitely our biggest selling item. We also sell a few other brands of lotion/oils. We also carry books, magazines, CDs, DVDs & VHS tapes, essential oils and other aromatherapy products, candles, massage tools, hot/cold packs, charts, incense, bath products and small gift items.

We've had the store for over 12 yrs and it does ok.

Angie

 

[nick h h]

Ideas for a small MT store - Do you have any?

What sort of things would you like to find in a small massage store near you?

Anything but specific "business" related items like gift certificates, sales slips, and marketing tools, etc.

What sort of hours would you be willing to accept if the store was attached to someones personal massage office (meaning, part time, until the idea took off)?

Maybe a split shift where it was open a couple of hours in the am and then again in the pm, and/or weekends.

How do you feel about a small MT store providing quality items that may be a bit more expensive, but were things you couldn't find or order easily? (ie. Would you probably purchase higer end lotions, if you were able to test and find you liked them, or would you stay with something less expensive, just because it was less expensive?)

I would prefer to purchase items that are harder to find, unique, high quality and sometimes as such are more expensive.

What specific items would you like to see carried?

Lesser known, high quality lotions and oils...maybe some that are more natural.
Variety of icey-hot ointments.
Essential oils and aromatherapy products.
Other items:
Quality flannel sheets and perfect-fit face rest covers.
Inexpensive boxes of nurses caps for face rest covers, too.
Lush blankets.
Bolsters.
Music, books, and charts.
Maybe some catalogs that offer tables/chairs and other items can be special ordered.
A resource board.

***Edit: And, if it were my store, I'd (of course) have a section regarding animal therapes: books, videos, charts, remedies, and professional certification program info.