I Told My Grandfather I would Check Into this.

I Told My Grandfather I would check into this business for him.
http://www.thebackrubber.com
Pay massage chairs. He was interested in buying some of these massage chairs. I've been looking at all the different aspects and I though I would post this here to see if I may be missing any negatives about it.

They seem like a good investment unlike vending machines that need to be stocked. With these there is no product to buy after the chair. Just find good locations. My grandfather is 91 and been self employed for 75 years. He has no bills; he's just looking for something to bring in a little money every month. He's actually a millionaire but just need's something to do to keep busy. Please give me your thoughts.

Thank You,
Jason Hatchett

Jason,

It's Not that Easy of a business that their web site tries to portray...

Getting the right locations Cost money... Time, Hard work, in negotiating those Win-Win business deals and massage chair placements...

I've seen some other massage chair vending concepts in Hospitals, Airports etc. and as Martin mentioned not much activity...

Another Big Problem with this business model is Wear and Tear... Consumers and People using and passing by these type of units Treat them with very little care including Vandalism... Giving the concept a Poor appearance and extremely High costs to maintain a profitable business...

Great to hear that your grandfather is 91 and has been self employed for 75 years...

I regularly Network and Spend Lots of time with many Seniors helping where I can... Many are still in businesses, some retired... But the Knowledge they offer is Amazing... The Advice I get is Priceless...

At 91 and a millionaire... There's definitely Better ideas and ways to to keep busy... Smart Investing Brings in more than a little money every month...

If any SowPubbers want a Great Massage business idea without having to Do the Massages...

Startup a Massage Referral network... Just like a Contractor Referral network BUT with the Specialized niche of Mobile Massage services...

Here's the business Model to Study and Learn from...

You'll Love the Ongoing Recurring income...
http://gomassage.com/

Phil

Jason, here's an alternate idea off-shoot (or 2):

People are on their feet a lot and often go into restrooms and remove shoes and do a manual massage of their feet. Foot massagers are easier to handle, probably easier to place, and my guess is they'd get a lot more use. If I'm not mistaken, they do have ones that are safe and sanitary for commercial use. If not...well, there's another idea for someone to pick up and run with if they're inventive enough

Good luck!

Sandi Bowman

Jason....forget the "massage chairs"...for your 91yr young grampa! There's a guy in my local Mall that has rented space in the middle of the Mall to sell these. You first must invest in "inventory"...then haul the chairs in and out... let consumers try them out...then try to get them to buy. I suppose the guy sells enough to make it worth his time but...everytime I go past his space he puts a "hard sell" on me.

Here's something I helped a guy put together to "help him get thru Christmas LAST YEAR when he lost his job at the mill because of a fire. He just needed something to "tide him over thru the holidays until his regular job was available. However, when his old "J.O.B." was ready, he STAYED with what he was doing...making $300 to $600 a Day.

Here's what we did;
I went to 12 restaurants and told them I had a way for them to increase their business during the next 12 months. I was making up a "Discount Card" that had Special Deals from 12 restaurants. The Card was FREE to them. All they had to do was offer a Special Deal like "Buy 1 Meal, Get 2nd at Half Price"..."$5 off Dinner for 2"..."Free Drink with Lunch"..."Free Coffee with breakfast"...etc.

I would then proceed to sell the Cards for $10 each to OWNERS OF BUSINESSES! They would buy the Cards for their Employees as an "Extra Perk". Most businesses bought 3 or 4. (These were small businesses) Car Dealers bought 30 or 40. There was never a day where my guy (after I got him over his reluctance to make "Cold-Calls" on businesses)....did not bring home $300...in fact...now he's averaging $500 a day...just going door-to-door to business owners. He finishes one small town and goes to the next one...gets 12 restaurants to participate...makes up 1,000 to 2,000 Cards and goes out and sells them.

He also went "House-To-House" selling the Cards for $20 each but, he sells more Cards going "Business-To-Business".

His "average" month is 1,000 Cards. When he sees he's going to have a "good run" in a town...he makes up 1,000 more.

He LOVES what he does. He now ENJOYS meeting "strangers"...getting them to buy his Cards.

THIS is a relatively easy deal. It would get your grampa out seeing people, giving him something to do while at the same time...doing good for;

1) Restaurants (they get more biz because of him)
2) Business Owners (They give their employees an extra perk)
3) Employees (They get Special Deals at local restaurants)
4) Your Gramps (He gets out and meets people and he could donate what he earns to charity.

A WIN-WIN-WIN Deal.

Don Alm

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This morning I met an 88 yr "young" guy at my local Mini-Market where I get coffee every morn and I remembered your post about your grampa.

I saw him sitting at a table with a BIG pile of quarters in front of him. He was counting money that was in HIS vending machines.

I asked him how long he had been doing this and why?

He told me his wife died a few yrs ago and instead of sitting around "feeling sorry for himself"...he bought some vending machines and proceeded to set up a Route. He did NOT need the money! He just wanted "something that would FORCE him to get outa the house"....and..."to see people".

Now, granted, their are many "Vending Machine" deals I've heard of that are scams BUT...people STILL put their quarters in these machines...and there are STILL people servicing them.

So...I'm thinking that if this 88yr "young" guy can set up a route of vending machines...this might be something your grampa would like to do.

Don Alm
"$8,000 A Month from Car Dealers"
http://www.autofotomagnets.com

The Busiest Vending Locations I've seen are in the Crib Rooms at Construction Sites. Specially the softdrink - Coke, Pepsi, etc.

For snacks, in a factory that does night shift. The night shift workers don't have the luxury of nearby stores being open, so snack from the machine. Potato Chips, salami sticks and even 2 minute noodles.

Michael Ross