The 2009 European Shiatsu Week will be 21st to 27th September.
The Society usually employs the services of Good Relations PR company and target the media, major exhibitions, TV, radio, promotions etc.however, this was done by the Office last year with some great results. A lot of media coverage was acheived. Promotional posters will be sent to all members shortly!
Dr Hilary Jones of GMTV has endorsed Shiatsu for us !
We would like to ask and encourage members to participate and assist us with the promotions of Shiatsu, the Society and its members. However small, any promotional assistance benefits us all to ensure that the general public, the NHS, GP’s etc hear about Shiatsu and its benefits.
We find that if you offer a free treatment to a local media person they are only to happy to do a write up for you. The media also love case studies – see if you can get one of your clients to agree to be interviewed or quoted.
Students are welcome to do taster treatments also. If you are a current member with Balens insurance then as long as you have the support of your teacher and declare to all public that you are a student this is fine. Excellent practice for you!
You can find details of promotional leaflets, clothing, books, exhibition packs on our website or newsletter.
Many other European countries are involved. If we all work together then we can succeed!
Come on – help us get Shiatsu out there!
The Orkney School of Shiatsu recently held an open day for folk to drop in and receive free taster sessions and to find out more about shiatsu sessions and tuition. The event was well supported with two local newspapers writing excellent articles about shiatsu and the local radio station reporting the event. Four third year students and their teacher Meg Webster Gaertner were kept very busy as over 40 people received shiatsu and many others took away information or watched and asked questions. Before the doors were opened the first person was asking when they could receive shiatsu and at some points during the day up to 6 people were waiting for a session. People just kept coming! The Shiatsu Society provided a free exhibition pack to support the event. The students who took part found it to be a very useful practical experience. It was a great way of reaching a wide number of people and spreading information about shiatsu within the community.
Megan Webster-Gaertner, Sept 2008
Just to give you the total run-down at the moment on the 2007 ES Week:
Exhibitions: I set-up 3 and each has so far generated 1 client, but they're staying up to the end of the month, so still time for more. 2 in libraries and one in an empty shop window belonging to one of my clients (I gave him a free Shiatsu in return!). Bit of petrol and printing/laminating, but no other costs.
Abergavenny Food Festival: 15-16 Sept. A team of 4 of us did 160 x 15 min Shiatsu's on people from all over the country. We made a lot of money on the weekend, and I have (so far) got 2 clients from it ... not sure of anyone else. We also used the Practitioner Register a lot to give people details of practitioners in their area. Last year when I did this, I still had clients ringing me up to June who'd had 'tasters' at last year's festival ... so it takes a while for them to get around to it sometime!
Awareness Day - Crickhowell, Powys, 20 Sept. I spent the day in Alliance Pharmacy doing free tasters and talking to customers. Did 18 treatments and 5 people booked up on the day for 'full' treatments, which is fantastic. Alliance charged me £30 to use their consultation room for the day, but they were so friendly and helpful and sent lots of people my way, that it was well worth it.... and they've asked me to go back in a few months and do it again!
Hospice Fundraising Day, Hereford, 22 Sept. I did 21 x 15 minute shiatsus at £5.00 a go and raised £105.00 for the local Hospice, who's special fundraising focus week is 22-29 Sept. I've had 6 people book up for 'full' treatments already... again fantastic! On the back of this, I managed to get the local weekly 'Hereford Admag' to print a 500 word editorial and large picture for free, and I've had another 5 people ring up and book treatments as a result of seeing the article.
So, so far I've got 21 new clients this week .... just need to find time to treat them!
Dear Samantha, Thank you very much for your support with my efforts for European Shiatsu Week. The two mornings of shiatsu taster sessions with a massage chair, one in Holt and the other in Fakenham Library went very well. In Holt 13 people tried Shiatsu and one came in specially to make an appointment.
In Fakenham 9 people sampled the massage. Only one person remained firmly indifferent, the rest were all very pleased and their stiff necks, painful backs, sciatica etc were relieved to varying extents. 2-3 people made appointments and a few more expressed interest in having a proper session.
The Community Librarian arranged publicity, you did too and also the Norfolk Hospice, where I do volunteer shiatsu, made a press release. So there was an announcement in the Lynn News. Someone rang me up as a result of this but they were determined that they needed barefoot shiatsu! -which I have never felt happy doing. The announcement in the local Holt freepaper triggered someone to come to me in the library to make an appointment. The Community Librarian wrote me a very nice letter of thanks and
hoped that we might cooperate again sometime in the future. So I feel that it was a success as some 22 people have been introduced to shiatsu. It is such a lovely therapy and so adaptable it is ashame that everyone doesn't use it. Thank you again for your support and I hope to be able to do some
promotion again next European Shiatsu Week.
Rachel Nicolle MRSS
The Shiatsu Society has sponsored a new DVD, produced by The National Childbirth Trust, showing birth as it has never been seen before. The film combines information and real life stories from real women – including top TV presenter and mother of three, Davina McCall, who tells her personal home birth story.
The new Happy Birth Day DVD is designed to show how women and their partners can help themselves to have the best birth possible. Featuring Alison Hammond, presenter on ITV’s This Morning, it follows two very different women and their midwives through pregnancy and birth, and shows how the choices they make about their care influence the birth they have and the way they feel about it.
The DVD provides parents-to-be with answers about what really makes a difference and why. It explains the options available when making key decisions, such as how to choose where to give birth and who can provide support. These, along with the other choices discussed, are known to have an effect on the sort of birth a woman has. The DVD also discusses how to improve the chances of a straightforward birth.
As one of the 13 organisations sponsoring the DVD, the Shiatsu Society has produced a short advertisement, which appears on the DVD in between the documentary-style footage about how parents can prepare for the birth of their baby.
Dh Prasannavira, Communications Director, the Shiatsu Society said,
“I am very pleased that we have been able to collaborate with the NCT in this exciting project. Shiatsu can be both wonderfully relaxing and life-affirming at any stage of life. Pregnancy and child-birth are one of the biggest life events for mother and baby, and Shiatsu is particularly supportive and nourishing at this crucial time.”
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT said: -
“We are thankful for the sponsorship and support of the Shiatsu Society in the making of this DVD, which provides genuine, accurate and well-presented information to help parents-to-be make the right choices around the birth of their baby. There is too much existing TV material showing birth as an overly dramatic and traumatic experience, and with labours appearing to last only 5-10 minutes. We want to ensure accurate, evidence-based information is available for women to understand their options. That’s why, the NCT is giving away a limited number of DVDs free with its Bumps and Babies magazine, to make sure all mums have the best chance possible of a Happy Birth Day.”
TV presenter and NCT home birth ambassador, Davina McCall, said:
"I was lucky enough to talk to a good friend when I was expecting my first baby. She talked about birth in such glowing terms that I thought how lovely it sounded so I decided home birth was right for me. My labour and births were very straightforward and really really amazing. Having choices is so important. Whatever your choice is, it's the right one for you.”
he DVD and magazine are available free-of-charge to any mum to be in the UK. Its production is part of the charity’s aim to enable all parents to have a life-enhancing experience of pregnancy, birth and being a new parent.
The Shiatsu Society is currently working with the marketing company ‘MKK Concepts’. There are various well known companies offering their customers and clients the opportunity to have a free Shiatsu session!
Herewith some examples of the promotions:-
More and more companies are getting involved all the time so keep your eyes open here for any updates.
Feedback:
Some feedback on MKM promotions re feminine care products promotion.
I have had 10 appointments made, I stated thet 1st one is to pay for and 2nd one free, this is the most response from all their promotions and well worth the opportunity!
Feel free to share this! it gets Shiatsu known!
Bright Blessings
Member - Rose Romani (Hexham)
Yippee! are a company very much like the Red Letter Day company. They offer various luxuries for sale as a voucher scheme. Members of the public can purchase the vouchers for themselves or as presents. They are currently offering a voucher for two people to have a Shiatsu.
Yippee! is also promoted within businesses as staff incentives. Large companies including House of Fraser, First Direct, HSBC, Texaco, Marks & Spencers, The Body Shop and many more are included.
Yippee! are associated with MKK Concepts so this ties in with the MKK promotion. Once again, we need a minimum of 200 practitioners to make this promotion successful. Please download and complete the application a.s.a.p. if you haven’t done so already!
What’s in it for me?
The two members of the public who have received the voucher will also receive a list of practitioners. They will then contact you and arrange the Shiatsu session. You will be paid between £30 and £35 per person. Hopefully, this will also result in you obtaining two new clients. You initially sign up to this offer for one year which is renewable at the end of each year if you wish.
It is free to join!
Your business should grow substantially!
The list of practitioners involved will raise awareness of you, Shiatsu and the Society!
What’s in it for the Society?
Free publicity and lots of it!
How do I claim my fee?
Each customer will have received a unique number on their voucher. You just invoice Yippee attaching this voucher and they will reimburse you.
Shiatsu
Society (UK). Eastlands Court,
St. Peters Road,
Rugby,
Warwickshire. CV21 3QP tel: 0845 130 4560 fax: 01788 555052