In this episode, Shannon gets fired up about one of the biggest mistakes retreat leaders make: discounting their retreats.

While a discount might feel like an easy way to fill a few spots, the long-term damage is real - it devalues your experience, trains your audience to wait for price drops, signals desperation, and hurts the entire retreat industry.

Shannon breaks down exactly why discounting is harmful, what it communicates to potential guests, and better alternatives like early-bird bonuses, pay-in-full perks, and smart payment options. She also unpacks the real reason retreat leaders discount - fear - and how to address it in a healthier, business-savvy way.

If you're ready to protect your profit, elevate your positioning, and stop shrinking your worth, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways

• Retreats are transformational live experiences - not products to be marked down like retail.

• Discounting immediately lowers perceived value and conditions your audience to never pay full price again.

• It signals desperation and damages not just your brand, but the entire retreat industry.

• Live experiences require emotional labor, planning, expertise, and responsibility - none of which should be discounted.

• Instead of discounting, offer early-bird bonuses, pay-in-full perks, and extended payment plans.

• The real reason people discount is fear - not strategy.

• If enrollment is low, you need better messaging, positioning, urgency, and audience warming… not cheaper prices.

  The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

  • Learn to Host Retreats
  • Join our private Facebook Group
  • Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
  • Get your legal docs for retreats
  • Join Shannon in Denver at the Retreat Industry Forum
  • Join our LinkedIn Group
  • Apply to be a guest on our show

  Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together!

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TIMESTAMPS

The Problem with Discounting Retreats (00:00:50) Shannon expresses frustration about retreat leaders discounting their retreats and outlines why this is harmful.

Why Discounting Retreats is Harmful (00:01:12) Explains how discounting devalues retreats, signals desperation, and attracts difficult guests.

Negative Impact on Guest Experience and Industry (00:03:42) Discusses how discounting attracts ungrateful guests and lowers perceived value across the retreat industry.

Discounting Hurts Your Margins and Business (00:06:02) Details how discounts cut into profits, making it harder to sustain a retreat business.

Retreats as Premium, Transformational Experiences (00:07:16) Emphasizes that retreats are not products but containers for transformation, requiring significant energy and expertise.

Alternatives to Discounting: Bonuses and Perks (00:08:14) Suggests offering early bird bonuses, pay-in-full perks, and extended payment plans instead of discounts.

Why Retreat Leaders Discount: The Role of Fear (00:10:22) Explores the real reasons behind discounting, such as fear of failure and low signups.

Building Confidence and Enrollment Without Discounts (00:11:30) Encourages improving messaging, marketing, and mindset instead of lowering prices.

Final Advice and Invitation to Community (00:12:39) Urges listeners to stop discounting, value their work, and join the Retreat Industry Forum for support.

Podcast Closing and Resources (00:13:39) Shannon thanks listeners, encourages sharing, and offers free resources for retreat leaders.