Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68174
reader forum WHAT YOU ARE SAYING I feel that the most noteworthy nurturing body, mind & spirit march/april 2010 point in the article was made by massage therapy veteran Toni Roberts when she says, "The days of the solo practices may be numbered." The statement is made in regard to THE IMPACT ON THE PROFESSION Franchises AVEDA'S CHAKRA BALANCING MASSAGE Chopra Center's Dr. David Simon Solutions for Whiplash A GUIDE TO FOREARM MASSAGE Global Massage Outreach THE MIND-BODY LINK the impact that the growing number of franchised locations are having on the industry. I believe that this statement carries more truth than most in the industry care to admit. She goes on to say, "Those who survive as independents will probably be forced to step up their skills and business practices, which can be a good thing." Probably? I would say that Franchise Fracas I consider the article "Massage Franchises: The Impact on the Profession" in the March/April 2010 Massage & Bodywork (page 34) a wake- up call and a must-read for everyone in the massage industry. The last two sentences in Leslie Young's Editor's Note (page 8), in the same issue, should also be a must-read for independent practice owners: "Please make sure you're tuned in and taking notes about the trends in the massage profession, today. We can all learn from the 'competition,' if we spend time on refl ection rather that reloading." A version of these two sentences could be made into signs that all independent practice owners should hang in their offi ces: "Trends in the massage profession today will impact my business tomorrow." "Pay attention to the competition or you'll end up working for them." independent practice owners most defi nitely need to step up their skills and business practices to stay competitive and thrive. The days of starting and running a massage business on a wing and a prayer are over. Business savvy, well-managed massage practices with a plan, skilled therapists, and modern business systems in place, will win the day. NORM GREEN EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN This is a topic about which I am passionate. It has been my good fortune to be married to one of the fi nest male therapists around. He has more than 17 years of experience and is well respected by his clientele. The massage chains in my area east of Seattle have greatly hurt the massage therapist in terms of very low pay, low qualifi cations for the therapist, poor working conditions, and high staff turnover. One of the chains has openly discriminated against the male therapist both in their recruiting ads and in their hiring practices. They have literally become a curse on our industry and sadly now chiropractic offi ces are following suit with lower than usual starting wages and the expectations that marketing efforts will be required of massage therapists, unpaid. As for the impact on clients, they do not enjoy the opportunity to build a long-term rapport with their therapist due to high turnover. Clients also do not realize that when the therapists are rushed client to client, often without a thorough intake, their health may be in jeopardy. Massage Franchises The impact on the Profession By Karrie OsBOrn W 34 massage & bodywork march/april 2010 hen massage franchise businesses first arrived in the United States, some independent practitioners feared retail massage would put them out of business, force them to lower their prices to compete, and hurt the profession as a whole. Today, however, experts say massage franchises have come to fill crucial roles within the profession. Even as complaints of low wages and under-skilled therapists linger, others herald the fact that franchise businesses make massage accessible in a way it's never been, and provide much-needed job opportunities at the same time. connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 35 connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 13