We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jarvis Parker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jarvis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
Early on when I was getting ready to graduate from Alpha School of Massage as Licensed Massage Therapist I knew I had to find me a lane to stand out. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to promote massage therapy in the urban areas due to the fact that massage therapy is seen as a luxury instead of a necessity. I wanted to delivery high quality work at affordable rates and spread the gift of massage. Most people can’t say they know a massage therapist personally & I’m the person to change that narrative. To get myself known, I would attend school career days, do pop ups at local tattoo parlors, barbershop, partner with estheticians and work local sporting events such as the Gate River Run. This was a big benefit because I wasn’t cornering myself into just a specific box, I was positioned myself to cater to a variety of demographics such athletes, pregnant mothers, inquisitive youth and the casual lovers of self care. Future Hall of Famer Fred Taylor always say “exposure leads to expansion” so for anyone thinking about starting any business, get your name out there and let product speak for itself.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name Jarvis and Jay Therapy is my mobile massage business. I bring massage to my clients place of comfort. That could be on the beach, in a park, at an office or the most comforting place, their home. I specialize in Swedish Relaxation, Sports, Prenatal and Chair Massage. When I come across new clients I like to give them a description of the treatment that’s going to take place that’s that’s tailored to their specific need. This helps me flow and complete the session without them overthinking and anticipating the next movement. When I my clients finished their session I want them to feel pure bliss. I want them to feel like royalty without having to burn their wallets. I will always give them more than they would receive at the local chain locations because I love what I do and my hands speak for themselves. I’m most proud of the loyalty my clients have with my work. Recently I had to stop taking appointments due to an injury and they were all supportive & patient. This made my drive to make my next massage my best even stronger.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
I think the thing that help me succeed most in this field is loving what I do honestly. I know that my client can feel what ever I feel through my hands so I make sure I handle with care. I want them to know after our first session I view them as family and I do not mind going above and beyond to make sure they are satisfied with my work. I want them to be able to brag to their peers about having a dope massage therapist.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for building clientele is word of mouth. However, you have to be in certain places to get talked about so I would recommend volunteering your time at local businesses to spread your product. Have something people can take with them represent you. Next have social media interacts with people whether you know them or not and post frequently and use all the hashtags you can. People may not remember your name but they will remember how you made them feel so treat everyone with respect.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Jay_Therapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayTherapyMassage