I know it is a common practice to "trade" services with another business to help you run yours. As a service business doing hair, skincare or massage -- your services are in demand by anyone. And small businesses providing printing, painting, graphic artist, catering, plumbing...anything that you need for your business...may offer a possible trade. You do have to be careful to track the value of what you trade for taxation purposes, and make sure everything is even-steven. You may want to consider trade as a way to mutually market two or more businesses.
Perks and Promotions. A very inexpensive way to mutually promote is to offer a donated gift from another business when your client books a specific service. For example, a free entree at a nearby and new restaurant when your clients book a pedicure. Or a free hour of personal training or chiropractic adjustment when they book a massage. This works especially well with new businesses in your neighborhood. Try approaching one with an offer to market them to your clients if they donate a service to interested clients.
Customer Appreciation/Charitable Events. If it is a business that you know well, consider throwing a joint client appreciation event/open house. Your clients will have the opportunity to tour their business, perhaps sample services or products...and visa versa. Put a charitable spin on it and collect cash donations or have a raffle of donated goods for a local charity. These types of events, when well publicized and planned out, can create a nice community buzz about your businesses. The objectives of these events are 1) to make contact and develop relationships with prospective new clients; and 2) have a reason to talk to the media; and 3) do some good for a community organization. The more health or beauty focused your partnering business and charity are, the tighter the marketing message can be about your event.
Informational Classes. There are several organizations and speakers that are interested in speaking at no cost. Your product sales reps (hair care, skincare, makeup) might be willing to do a class that relates to their product -- keeping it informative of course. For example: learn different hair styles for the same hair cut; get an overview of product ingredients and which ones are 'best' for anti-aging/acne/etc.; or see a demonstration of new eye shadow techniques or makeup application for teens. You are trading access to your clients for the sales rep opportunity to exclusively market their products.
Other speakers could be volunteers from health-focused charities such as American Cancer Society (how to prevent skin cancer) or Cardiac Foundation (stress as a leading cause of women's heart attacks). Some day spas work with independent sales reps of "party" marketers (clothing, bras, jewelry) to host a party in the spa.
The key to successful mutual marketing is finding the right business to partner up with. They should be in the health or beauty industry and should not compete with you in any way. Your clients should logically be interested being a client in both businesses. In addition to sharing the marketing costs, you could be exponentially increase your business.
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