Gift Certificate Purchases in 2020

We are entering a special season of gift-giving! 🎁💐 We know that 2020 has been a struggle for some and folks are wanting to offer love, encouragement and support in more meaningful ways, like giving the nurturing gift of massage therapy to help alleviate stress filled days. 

Unlike retail industries that can stock product for sale at a later date, massage therapy is a time-income dependent service revenue model. Meaning we make money based solely on the number of massage sessions we can provide in any given week (and no, it's far less than 40 hours, like some people think). In light of gift-certificates sales, this reality holds a lot of weight, especially with threat of another government-mandated shut down resting on the horizon. As veteran massage therapists and professional business owners, this has presented a peculiar challenge that we have never faced -- whether we can ethically sell gift certificates or not. 

So... should a massage therapist sell gift certificates knowing that there is a chance that operations could be halted, for three weeks or four, or more? We, from an ethical standpoint, think not. We simply do not feel it is right to take someone's money for a gift certificate purchase knowing that there may not be a chance for recipients to redeem their certificate at a later date due to the necessity of expiration dates and other time and scheduling constraints. That being said, we'd like to offer a kind-hearted "buyer beware" as we know that there are other businesses out there desperately trying to stay afloat through the turmoil (we're thankful to God that He has sustained ours), and selling masses of gift certificates to do so. We feel their pain, but we're more concerned about your potential loss, and the gift-recipient's potential loss, than our present gain. For big-hearted, gift-giving citizens who are truly philanthropic in nature, this potential loss might not be a concern as many do well just knowing that there are local businesses and "community family" to help sustain (and all service businesses are currently very grateful for that). For us, we simply have to be able to rest when our head hits our pillow every night, so for now we have chosen to keep our traditional "gift-certificate" sales sidelined. So, you're probably wondering, what do we do to give the gift of a much needed massage instead? 

🎁 HOW TO GIVE THE GIFT OF MASSAGE IN 2020 🎁

1) GIVE A NICE CARD OR GIFT WITH A CHECK (or cash) ENCLOSED.
For gift-giving at our location at least, this is currently the easiest option. Let the recipient pay with check (or cash) for their appointment in your stead. Be sure to communicate with a therapist or business place first. Write check(s) for the dollar value of the desired service(s), plus any gratuity you wish to include. Recipients then call to make an appointment (we recommend scheduling right away), and offer the check you've given them when they arrive for their appointment. (NOTE: Some locations have additional requirements for accepting check payment, especially if checks are from out of town. Also, you may be required to make a check payable to an individual therapist instead of the business place, so be sure to ask about specifics beforehand.) In the event the gift is never used, your check simply becomes null and void, and if scheduling is delayed, you can kindly remind them to use their gift when you need to.  We have provided a Gift Voucher (see our Gift Giving & Special Offers page) for your convenience in gift giving. Simply print the voucher out (double sided, as per the instructions), complete the voucher as required, and give the gift to the recipient. Easy as 1-2-3!

2) CHAUFFER... AND PAY.
A gift with a chauffer... sounds extra lovely, and it is!! This option works best for spouses, family members, or roommates. Gift givers can simply drop the recipient off on location for their previously scheduled appointment, arrive on time to pick them up again, enjoy the privilege of seeing their loved-one with the "after-massage-glow" on their face, and pay for the service either prior to or after the treatment is finished. (We recommend taking your special someone out to brunch, lunch or dinner after their massage, or showing up with a dozen roses, as an extra special touch.)

We thank you all very much for your patience as we continue to navigate our new and changing circumstances. We wish you all a wonderful, gratitude-filled, peaceful holiday season! 

The Great Escape
Chadron, NE 69337
(308) 432-4558