Tim Worsham, owner of Float Scents, joins us this week to continue our “Float Marketplace” series. Tim has been managing a center for several years, during after an evening of floaty musings over beers with Stephen Johnson, Tim mentioned the idea of introducing aromatherapy into the float experience. After exploring several ideas, Tim eventually landed on the concept of a lip balm. [Read more…] about 154: Float Marketplace – Float Scents
153: Float Marketplace – Mandala Float
Luke Krueger, owner of Mandala Float Systems joined us this week to talk about his experiences in the industry. Luke started with a tank in his home before opening his own center (Deep, located in South Dakota), where he built his own tanks. He lives by the notion of “you either do it or you don’t”, so he went all in and started manufacturing open float tanks for others, as well as creating Ninja fans for tanks and cabins, and later Spout fans for pods – and these fans seem to have a cult following in the industry! [Read more…] about 153: Float Marketplace – Mandala Float
152: Float Marketplace – RewardMore
Kane Mantyla, a former float center owner (and hopeful future owner again!), and owner of RewardMore joins us in this episode to share his story and how it led him to create a really cool rewards program. Kane’s center started many years ago, and he studied member behavior and picked up on a few key facts. He realized that many clients loved the experience, but didn’t want to commit to a membership, and of those who did, members often started floating frequently, but then quickly dwindled away. He examined other membership programs, like airlines rewards, and saw that most of them took too long to earn rewards.
Kane shares how to create a rewards program that will drive results, even without using his program. (Although his software makes it much easier to automate and manage!) One of his many nuggets of wisdom may shift your thinking on memberships: “When we commit to something, the second we do, it turns into obligation.” He created a program to avoid that sense of obligation and instead reward those who signed up with a discount. If they come back within a set time frame, they retain that discount, but if they don’t come back in time, the discount amount decreases. He saw his retention rate increasing immediately by using this “frequency loyalty” program, and eventually decided to make it available to help other centers.
You’ll also hear about some features on Kane’s roadmap for RewardMore, and how he’s using a Freemium pricing structure, so you can get started with the program for free until it starts earning revenue for your business.
151: 2 Months Open! A Check-in W/Dana of Float North
This week, Dylan visited Dana Highfill at her center that’s been open for two months. She talks about her experience over the first couple of months, including starting with employees, why’s running the shop solo now, and how she’s toed the line of burnout. She provides a great reality check about the daily nuances of running a center and all the little things that add up to take a lot of time, really pushing the need for time management skills.
You’ll hear her perspective on transitioning from a solopreneur with a business that relies solely on her personal skills and availability, to a larger business with multiple modalities and a need for more employees and support teams to run it. Dana shares her plans for 2019 and how to up her marketing game. She and Dylan explore how to represent yourself in your marketing with authenticity. [Read more…] about 151: 2 Months Open! A Check-in W/Dana of Float North
150: Floating & inflammation with guest Flux
If you missed the Float Conference this year, you missed a fascinating presentation by MC Flux, but fear not! He’s here with us to talk about his research at the Float Clinic and Research Center, where he has been working with Dr. Feinstein. His thesis work explores the intersection of basic molecular neuroscience and mental health treatment. This ever-creative individual even designed today’s show cover image!
Flux talks about the two different stress systems in the body – fight or flight and the HPA axis, which is responsible for the cortisol output. These two systems complement each other, but have very different roles. He details how the two systems work and impact the immune system, and just as importantly, how childhood stress has a long-term effect on the immune system, which could show up as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory issues, cardiovascular concerns, and mental health disorders. [Read more…] about 150: Floating & inflammation with guest Flux