My Mission
My mission is to help serve the people with compassion and understanding. I am committed to bringing balance, wellness, and less pain through the wonderful growing field of Therapeutic Massage.
My name is Darby Lee Schlomer. I graduated Sister Rosalind Gefre’s School of Professional Massage in March of 2001. During my time there, I accumulated 650 hours towards massage therapy. I wanted to get more hands-on experience before opening my own business: Therefore I started working in a Chiropractor’s office part time.
This has helped me out with my skills and reputation as a competent and well educated therapist.
I plan to further my education in massage thru my career, and strive to teach others the benefits of massage and just how this alternative health treatment can work so well with other treatments and on its own. Once it got out by word-of- mouth that I knew what I was doing and cared about helping others, I felt that it was time to open my own business of this wonderful medical field.
Business/Owners Information
Advantage Massage
2000 Oxfor Ave. Building 1, Suite 1BR> Eau Claire, Wi. 54703Sole proprietor
715-456-4900Email: happydarb@msn.com
Website: www.angelfire.com/folk/therapy
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
I am in the business of Therapeutic Massage. I will be applying manual work on muscle tissues, striving to help relieve people’s pain due to acute or chronic illness, injuries, and stress.
My focus is on the medical side of massage. Including working with injuries and helping clients of Chiropractic and the medical community thru referrals.
I intend to help the elderly community as well with their health.
BUSINESS GOALS
YEAR ONE
Within one year of my business up and running, I plan on having a clientele consisting of five to ten people. By this time I will be somewhat known by the public. I will be working in a chiropractor’s office and helping to teach the community the great benefits of therapeutic massage. This way I will be having a steady income. I will be putting 50% of my income from what I earn from the Chiropractors office and from my teachings into a separate savings account that will build interest. This money saved will be put towards my business for improvements, advertising, and repairs.
YEAR THREE
In my third year of my business running, I plan to have 15 clients a week.
Sometimes some people can't make it to my office, so I will be commuting to clients as well. I plan on charging 10 dollars extra for travel. I will have expanded my office space by adding on an extra room and a laundry room.
Since education is so important, I will be continuing my education in medical massage by attending classes. This will help me better work with my clients with chronic and acute illnesses.
YEAR FIVE
By my fifth year of my business, I will be well known and respected by the medical community. I plan to have 25 clients per week. I won’t have to work for a chiropractor because my business will be successful. I will have continuing education throughout my career. This is the place that I want to maintain for my work.
I want to have quality time with my family, have my business on a steady pace, and be pleased with my accomplishments in helping others. My husband will be taking care of our family financially. This way I can put most of the profit from my business into a savings for my children’s education and our retirement.
LOCATION
My business is located inside my home. My home is in the beautiful surroundings of the country, very close to a small town.
MAJOR SERVICES OFFERED
My services fall under therapeutic massage consisting of Swedish, which is used for stress reduction and relaxation; Deep tissue and Trigger Point Therapy, that reduce pain in response to tight muscles; Reflexology, which is working with the feet, which in effect helps other areas of the body; Onsite Chair massage for just about anyone that is looking for a 15 minute massage.
I also giving enjoy Sports massage a lot. This type of massage helps active people that would like help with their warm-ups and injuries. Geriatrics is massaging elders with special care and attention. And last but not least I will be offering pregnancy massage which helps pregnant women with the discomfort and stress that accompanies pregnancy.
PRODUCTS USED
My business will be using Massage oils, music, creams, and aroma candles for the comfort of my clients
EQUIPMENT USED
I will be using a massage table and a massage chair. Also There will be a mini-stereo with CD and cassette player with relaxing CD music disks. For the table I will be using flannel sheets, heating pad, and blankets.
UNIQUE FEATURES
I feel that I am a very good and caring listener. I put my client’s feelings and needs first. In this profession I feel this is very important and necessary.
I offer a quiet, relaxing atmosphere with a therapeutic approach. Since I am interested in medical massage, I will be continuing my education with therapy in mind. This will give me the special training and understanding of what the people expect from a medical massage therapist. If I feel that I am unable to help a person, I will refer them to another therapist or other healthcare professional that I feel can help them.
OVERVIEW
The most important marketing method is word of mouth. If you do a good job, care about your clients needs and let yourself be known, word of mouth is one powerful way to get your clientele built up. My purpose for marketing is to get my business name out to the public. My major goal for marketing is initially to get the public to recognize my business. I will only market a small amount, but thru a longer period of time.
CLIENT MARKET
Since my practice will be aimed towards therapeutic massage, My client market will be directed towards the medical field like Chiropractors, Doctors, nurses and councilors. I will also direct my marketing to the athletes clubs, because I enjoy sports massage and feel it is therapeutic. I will also direct my marketing to the elders of our community.
TARGET
The clientele that I will be aiming towards will have a variety of income. When I talk about the medical field, I am mainly talking about people that go to the medical profession for help. Some of the patients that go to the doctor don’t make a lot of money, but they have insurance. If they are referred to me from a Doctor, then the therapy can be put on their insurance.
As far as the athletic clubs, I believe most of the people going there make a decent income. Athletic clubs are not cheap.
The elders from the community as well make a variety of income. They want to be cared for and pampered so they will pay what they can afford to and get what they want.
INCOME PROFILE
The area that my practice is located near is a big medical community. There are 2 hospitals within 20 miles from my practice. There is more than 10 athletic clubs as well. There are 4 or more home health care companies and a few homes for the elderly.
ATTRACTING CLIENTS
MARKETING PLAN
Upon starting my business, I plan on marketing by yellow pages, flyers, business cards, public speeches, newspaper, direct mail, brochures, introductory prices, referral rewards, and new client/senior discounts. I will continuously keep this type of marketing up until my business is off the ground and have a steady clientele. Word of mouth will be another way that my business will flourish.
MARKETING METHOD
I will distribute flyers door to door. I will be handing out business cards to all professionals and patients. I will give public speeches at Athletic clubs, colleges, and health fairs. I will do talk radio.
Along with my speeches, interviews and talks, I will have literature on therapeutic massage with 15 minute on-site chair massages available. I will contact Welcome Wagon and provide them with free tongue depressors labeled with the name and contact of my business. I will open a webpage and include the URL in all advertising, listing the site with all search engines under alternative health and lifestyle listings. The phone book is where I will be listed in case the client is looking thru the yellow pages for a therapist.
I may also take out ads in medical journals and newspapers. Advertisements will run for a short time periodically and will include discount coupons. My brochures will be set up in chiropractors offices, free to the public. I will offer discounts; 10%off for newcomers, senior 10% off each visit.
RATES
My rates for therapeutic massage will be:
Referral Discount available
½ hour massage -
$30.00
45 minute massage -
$40.00
1 hour massage -
$55.00
Commuting fee -
$10.00 extra
Senior discount -
10% off each visit
COMPETITION
While I was researching the area for other Massage Therapists, I noticed the majority of them offer mainly Swedish massage. Almost every place I contacted that had a receptionist did not know what kind of massage the therapist had to offer. I will make sure if I have someone else answering the phone, they will know what type of therapy I offer! I will offer a variety of massage techniques to the public, and be very professional. This research was very helpful, and interesting.
Here is a list of a few therapists I connected with, and what they have to offer.
Head to Toe Studio:
1237-A Menomonie
Eau Claire, WI715-835-6633
-
½ hr $30
1hr
$45
Doreen Anderson Doreen’s office is in a beauty Salon
1722 N Clairmont Ave
Eau Claire, WI715-832-1777
Not a lot of variety. TD>She only offers Swedish massage/FONT>
1/2hr $25
1hr
$40Aiken’s Massage in Aiken’s Massage Center
Golf Rd Plaza Eau Claire WI715-831-8998
Offers "Amma" therapy... When I asked what that is, the receptionist didn’t know. She said I would have to make an appointment for the therapist to explain everything to me. 1/2hr $30 1hr $45
Optimum Darrin Schober
Darrin offered therapeutic massage
1498 Hastings Way
715-855-0408
He has lots of training and is very good with his hands. He is a PS, PT, and RMT. I asked how much schooling for massage he had had, "none," he said. He picked up from friends. 1/2hr $30 45 min $40
1hr
$50River Looks LCC 311 Graham
Eau Claire, WI715-833-1610
1/2hr $18
1hr $35 1 1/2
hrs $45Year estimate ending January of 2002, 2003, 2004.
-PROJECTED NUMBER OF CLIENTS-
Years Clients One
Two
Three520
675
780
-PROJECTED INCOME-
Sessions:
One yrs -$8840 Two yrs -$23,645 Three yrs -$27,300 This is calculated by half sessions being 1 hour, and the other half being ½ hours.
-PROJECTED MONTHLY/YEARLY EXPENSES-
Expenses: Monthly $700.00 (X’s 12) Yearly $8400.00
OPEN CHECKING ACCOUNT $ 100 TELEPHONE INSTALLATION $ 100 FIRST & LAST MONTH’S RENT, DEPOSIT $ 0 EQUIPMENT $1290 SUPPLIES $ 155 BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONERY, ETC $ 200 ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONS $ 500 DECORATING & REMODELING $ 300 FURNITURE & FIXTURES $1670 LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL FEES $ 200 INSURANCE $ 300 UTILITY DEPOSITS $ 0 BEGINNING INVENTORY $ 0 INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT, ETC $ 0 LICENSES AND PERMITS $ 500 OTHER $ 300
TOTAL START-UP COSTS FOR HOME BASED BUSINESS : $5615
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