Comments on: Massage Envy opens 600th location: What does this mean for independent massage businesses?

By: Manny

Manny — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:05:52 +0000

I am an employee of Massage Envy and I have to tell you I am happy! I am requested and average of 60 times a month which 99% is repeat clients. Many of my clients and clients who come to our facility are impressed with our therapist. A majority of our clients were not happy with their individual therapist and or think we give the best massages they have ever experienced. We have therapist with experience, empathy, compassion,and a love for the profession. Not every therapist is the same and neither is the facility.

By: deborah

deborah — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:20:57 +0000

I applaud the Massage Envys,Elites, spas, etc. the more people that are exposed to our profession at these locations, usually with just out of school “new” professionals, the more clientele I will have being prepped and prepared to join my practice in the near future. I am already reaping the results, I just had my third “massage envy” client come to my practice because they needed a “real” therapeutic massage that could help heal their pain due to chronic muscle injury. Welcome to my practice!

By: geoff

geoff — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:16:15 +0000

I have to whole heartily disagree with John G. although the “demystification” of the whole massage experience may be brought about by stuff ME into the malls – more time then not, at least in both my personal and client experiences, they’ve been turned off by the cafeteria style presentation of services. I and my long standing clients were very upset and put off by the trickery that ME applies in their methods. They get you in the door for some low cost 30 minutes session, and the nickel-and-dime you with various add-ons since basically you’re stuck there and end up paying for ONCE (since you’re so put off by the experience – you vow never to return). Additionally, I “checked out” three different locations within proximity to my spa, and the tech’s (its a stretch to call them masseuses) were obviously well coached in up-selling and had very very little practical skills and any level of empathy for someone with physical issues. Long-term I don’t think folks will repeat into ME’s, but I for one can capitalize on their lack of empathy and turn the quick buck mentality into a campaign for our personalized and dedicated skills offered by our local spa (to use John’s analogy, you can have a cheap hamburger, and question what it is you’re really eating for $2 @ macD’s, or enjoy a high quality prime USDA hamburger with us for a few dollars more). Plus I won’t even get into the horror stories from the massage professionals I’ve interviewed that were former ME workers.

By: David J Otto, LMT NCTMB

David J Otto, LMT NCTMB — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:40:42 +0000

from an Independent Massage Therapist: WELL SAID, JOHN! (just sorry I can’t get the font any bigger here…)

Addendum: I really like the McDonald’s analogy – IMTs need only to realize that Massage Envy just creates a demystified vision (er, uh, ‘version’) of what massage is – each professional massage practitioner, employed or independent, has the obligation and ability to retain their own clientele. No matter the circumstance.

By: Mary Rettig

Mary Rettig — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:10:15 +0000

Interesting article and comment, If reiki could now be seen as a legit treatment. That would be progess.