We think Valentine’s Day is all about love and good feelings, but there are a number of things about this special day. Here are just some of the interesting facts about Valentine’s Day that might surprise you.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."
- The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red roses are considered the flower of love because the color red stands for strong romantic feelings.
- In Victorian Times, it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
- Physicians in the 1800s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love. In the late 1800s, Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for this holiday.
- Every Valentine's Day, the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.
There’s another important fact about Valentine’s Day and that’s how much it positively impacts your spa or massage practice revenue. The desire for experience gifts is on the rise. Over the past two years, the National Retail Federation has tracked consumer interest in “gifts of experience.” Last year, nearly one fourth of consumers said that they planned to give a gift of experience. The figure is higher among both older and younger millennials.
The trend signals even more opportunities to generate revenue during this day of “showing the love.” It’s the perfect time to promote special skin care or massage treatments as gifts for someone special. And consider that gift certificates sold for Valentine’s Day are a good way to introduce new clients to your services and get current ones to try something new. You also can show how much you care about your clients, by offering a special reward – a free product or extra service – by booking an appoint in February for their special person.
Don’t just think “single” in marketing your services, think couples. Offer rejuvenating body wraps or facials for two or side-by-side massages complete with champagne and chocolates.
Whatever your treatment menu, make sure you have retail products for at home use. Clients can purchase the products as gifts to give to others or to continue enjoying the benefits of the treatment at home.
Promote your Valentine’s Day offers
To make sure clients incorporate your spa or massage practice into their Valentine’s Day gift giving, here are some ways to promote your services and retail items:
Try a text: When it comes to reaching out and touching someone, more and more Americans are doing so by text. A report by Infomate Mobile Intelligence found that the average American makes or answers six phone calls per day and by comparison sends and receives 32 texts. Text is an expedient way to alert your clients to your Valentine’s Day offering, as well as other specials and promotions throughout the year. Just keep in mind that regulations require you must get permission from someone before you can send them a text message.
Plan a series of social media posts: Build up to the day with a series of specially crafted Valentine’s Day themed posts on your social channels talking about your special holiday treatments and gift items. If your website enables ecommerce and online booking direct followers to your site to purchase retail items or book an appointment. Use imagery to draw attention to the posts. Also engage your followers with questions, such as “what’s your favorite Valentine’s Day gift” or “what is your most memorable Valentine’s Day.”
Send a card: Whether you do it online or in the mail, send your clients a Valentine’s Day card to celebrate the upcoming special day and remind them of your treatments and special promotions. If you send an e-card, include a link to your website.
Update your signage: Make sure to update signage throughout your spa or massage. Use special Valentine’s Day images – cupids and hearts, for example – and highlight some of your special offerings for the day
Help clients say “I care” to that special someone in their lives with your Valentine’s Day offerings. It’s a gift everyone will value.