You might be hard pressed to find someone these days who has not used Uber or at least someone who has never heard of the ride sharing service. Uber disrupted the traditional taxicab service model and transformed the transportation industry. The idea of someone using their own car to provide transportation and users easily booking and paying for service through an app helped to fuel the “sharing economy.”
You could say that Uber achieved its success because it challenged convention to think outside the box. And that kind of thinking is what it may take to get your spa or massage practice to the next level in business. Outside the box thinking compels a company or individual to explore ideas that are both creative and unusual and not limited or controlled by tradition or rules.
Consider These Thinking Outside the Box Examples
Loyalty programs that offer clients a discount or free appointment after a certain number of visits are standard practice for the industry. But how about doing something that is not tried and true? For the spa or massage industry here are a few thinking outside the box examples to boost business:
People love to take selfies. Ask clients to take a selfie – or you can take their photo – and share information about themselves and what they value about your services. With clients’ permission, of course, use the photos in social media channel content. You also can encourage clients to repost/share the photos on their social pages. In this way, clients become ambassadors of your brand.
Another idea for outside the box thinking is to host a movie and massage night. Clients can enjoy a relaxing massage, complete with popcorn, while watching one of their favorite films or the latest “hot” Netflix offering. [1]
Look at things differently to think about the box
Outside the box thinking may not come naturally. That is because it often requires challenging conventional thinking and exploring new perspectives. However, sticking to outmoded thinking may be a greater risk for your business eventually.
Here are five ways to help you begin to look at things differently to start innovating.
Take a course: Learning something new and acquiring new facts can prove to be extremely helpful in looking at a situation with a broader perspective. Taking a course can help you to generate viable solutions that you otherwise would not have considered.
Learn about another industry: Other industries may face similar problems or issues you are facing but have tried diverse ways to resolve them. That is why it is valuable to learn about industries other than spa and massage therapy. One way to do this is to join a local Chamber of Commerce chapter or a networking group of business professionals. You will get opinions and insights from a range of industry professionals.
Change your setting: It can be helpful to get away for a day or more or find a new place to just sit and let your thoughts flow. For example, find a comfortable coffee shop away from work and home stresses, sip a coffee or tea and let the ideas flow freely. Also change your routines. Be spontaneous. It may help to stir up innovative ideas.
Listen to others: Tune into other people. Listen to what they have to say. Paying attention to other people’s thoughts may help you produce innovative ideas of your own.
Question things: Do not take things at face value. Get into the habit of asking questions and digging to find new and more facts about something.
Try this exercise to think outside the box
Here is an exercise to help stimulate creativity to find another solution for a task[2]
- Take out a piece of paper
- Write down a challenging task
- Write down precisely how you intend to accomplish the task
You also could use this exercise to produce a range of solutions for a challenging task. Do not get stuck. Keep pushing yourself to produce different solutions.
These are several ideas to jumpstart a new way of looking at things on your path to outside the box thinking. Once you start thinking outside the box, you will be amazed at the ideas that come to mind. You will solve problems in ways that have the potential to take your spa or massage practice into a new and exciting direction.
[1] Hrynenko, Alina, “Differentiate your SPA: creative 10 Spa marketing ideas,” suplery, Accessed September 4, 2024. https://suplery.com/blog/differentiate-your-spa-creative-10-spa-marketing-ideas/
[2] Mueller, Steve, “How to Think Outside the Box,” Planet Success, February 7, 2020. https://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/how-to-think-outside-the-box/