This year has been quite a rollercoaster for business. I've encountered many one-time clients, leaving me uncertain whether it’s due to my skills or if they’re just not ready to commit and invest in their health—hopefully, it's the latter.
The Summer Special was the only promotion that gained traction, while others saw minimal interest or bookings. Therefore, I’m considering scaling back on specials for now, perhaps limiting them to twice a year. We’ll see how it goes.
On a positive note, it's encouraging to see more people recognizing the value of the Health is Wealth Package and choosing to subscribe, thus reaping its benefits. This consistency makes it much easier for me to track who is coming in each month, and I’m confident their physical and mental health has improved with regular treatments.
In Relax-therapy, I had the privilege of teaching baby massage to two families. It’s always an honor to share something meaningful and foster positive touch and bonding at such a young age.
A big return this year was Ms. SM, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last November. She’s been a loyal client since I opened my business in 2012, and it was heartwarming to see her back for her regular monthly treatment after a year.
This year also brought a heartbreaking moment with the loss of one of my weekly clients. I am still in shock and can hardly believe he is no longer with us. I learned from his obituary that he tragically passed away at East Surrey Hospital in July. At just 57 years old, he was reliable, friendly, and truly the ideal client as we say in my industry. He will be deeply missed.
A special mention must go to David, the unsung hero of 2024, who cares for his wife daily as she battles health challenges. For her, the monthly massage offers a much-needed escape from hospital visits, pain, and the everyday struggles of her condition.
Despite my own health issues, I managed to perform almost thousand treatments this year. Pregnancy treatments, including massage and reflexology, alongside Silver Tuesday for clients over 60, continue to thrive.
I’ve also seen an increase in requests for my Stress Relief Face Therapy, focusing on relaxing facial muscles, particularly for those who clench or grind their teeth. This gentle yet effective treatment is beneficial for my hands as well.
In other news, I’ve reintroduced the Paper Gift Card and in-person booking at the salon. Someone mentioned that making things easy for clients is essential, so I took that advice to heart. I’m dedicated to doing my best for my clients.
For the ninth consecutive year, Relax-therapy has been recognized as a TOP RATED 5-star business by Treatwell customers, making it the ONLY business in Purley with this status.
Health-wise, this year has been challenging. After experiencing emotional stress from a miscarriage last year, my body decided it had reached its limit. By mid-January, I struggled to bend my fingers, and the pain throughout my body was excruciating. In March, I was diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disease, and since then, I’ve been taking medication daily while learning to manage my condition by eliminating triggers and trying to maintain a positive outlook—an ongoing challenge.
I’m grateful that I've been able to manage my conditions enough to continue working and offering treatments to my wonderful clients.
I want to send a big, warm hug of gratitude to all my amazing clients this year! Can you believe it? Next year, I’m hitting the big 1-5 since I officially became a massage therapist! Here’s to another fabulous 15 years! I can’t wait to see YOUR smiling face and knotted muscles on my treatment couch! :D
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