Massage Gift Certificates a Growing Holiday Trend

Massage therapists who offer gift certificates could see an increase in certificate sales this holiday season—especially if they offer them online.

Recent surveys point toward a trend of gift certificates growing in popularity as holiday gifts, and of the Internet's role in gift research and purchases increasing.

According to the 2006 American Express Gift Card Survey, gift certificates/gift cards will be one of the 2006 holiday season's most popular gifts, with 66 percent of gift-givers reporting they will buy a gift certificate or gift card, up from 57 percent in 2005 and 55 percent in 2004.

And the Internet will play a larger role than ever in holiday shopping this year, according to a new survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. U.S. shoppers, who are expected to spend $791.10 each this year on holiday merchandise, said they will use the Internet for an average of one-fourth (28.9%) of their shopping.

Massage therapists are noticing these trends. An Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) membership survey, conducted in mid-November, shows that 55 percent of respondents' gift-certificate business has increased in the past two years, and 54.7 percent of respondents expected sales to increase again this holiday season. Nearly 31 percent said they had or would accept online and/or telephone orders for gift certificates in order to meet the demand for stress-free, last-minute shopping.

"Experts say the best gift is one the recipient is thrilled to get but wouldn't buy for themselves," said Les Sweeney, president of ABMP. "Since 96 percent of first-time massage users report a positive experience, massage therapy as a gift is a good bet."

— Karen Menehan