Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Invite media to get involved with your spa, and call them for the free review of the spa treatment. What all you can offer with in low budget.

Advice them to write articles, and reviews for your spa and make them publish. For your parties, call people who are into lifestyle and related to spa management and use it for the lifestyle section of media.

Also put on some contest and activities fot this purpose to attract customers into your spa.

You just got some very sound advice. Can I just ask you to clarify what you mean by parties and who your initial audience is? Are you asking for advice on how to market to your local community right now? If you can clarify the parties and audience, we'll be able to give you some more ideas.

Thanks.

One of the roles I've had is in synergy marketing - partnering with other companies, where it makes sense, to promote the company offerings I was in charge of. For you, that would be a good place to start.

Introduce yourself to your local salons and ladies (even men's) clothing and accessories stores (talking smaller stores here, not department or box stores). Talk about your product and see if they are willing to hand out literature (flyer, brochure, whatever) to their clients. If you have the time, invite these owners to your spa for a tour and even a sample treatment. Get them on your publicity bandwagon and see if they are willing to partner with you on marketing efforts. In these troubled times, it might behoove you and them to work together to grow your respective businesses and you would certainly win because you would have the benefit of their established reputations.

If there are any small hotels in the area, I would certainly try to partner with them. Smaller hotels usually don't have spa services and this could be a welcome addition to their amenities.

Another venue, one that I can attest too, is any kind of mom's club you can find. Mom's definitely need and want a day at a spa and every mom I know has heard of the local spas through presentations at their "clubs". These could be official Moms of Preschools clubs (they have a web site), school PTAs/PTLs, church groups and even Ob/GYN offices. Also, don't underestimate the power of partnering with the maternity wing at the local hospital. When I had my second son, I received a basket of goodies, not the least of which were a gift certificate for a discounted hair waxing service at a local salon and a post-partem massage at our local day spa! Talk about marketing!

Hoped this helped a little. Good luck on your business. I'd visit if I were in your area!