Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cori Martinez, Owner of Asha Urban Baths, located in Sacramento, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own a modern urban bathhouse called Asha Urban Baths. It's a communal space to unplug, soak, sauna, cold plunge, and lounge alone or with friends. Our biggest fans are folks who find value in slowing down, resting, and reconnecting with themselves or others. And a lot of athletes too, for recovery or rehab.
Tell us about yourself
I opened the bathhouse after two decades of owning yoga studios and teaching yoga. I was ready for something new, and I'd been dreaming of an urban oasis like this forever. I'm motivated equally by my team and our bathhouse guests.
I believe we succeed financially while making a positive difference for individuals, our communities, and my team because of a sincere commitment to our guiding principles (which we apply equally internally and externally). It's a rare and refreshing opportunity for my work—my actual job—to bring genuine humanity to the workplace and deep restoration and connection to everyone our business serves. I don't take that for granted.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Succeeding. Opening a business is risky, and most of them fail. Asha Urban Baths was immediately loved by the local community that we doubled our space within the first three years, survived a year of a pandemic shutdown, created a franchise package to help other brave folks take on the challenge and adventure of building their own Urban Baths, and we sold our first franchise this month!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Yelp? Kind of kidding, but also not, even though 95% of our reviews are incredibly positive. Of course, I know we can't make everyone happy, we'll never be perfect all the time, and there's always something valuable to learn from a negative review. But it's still really hard to read some of those super harsh comments from someone who doesn't seem to care that you're a real human being who cares deeply about providing a wonderful experience to everyone who visits.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Care about your team: Give them respect, recognition, and gratitude every single day.
- Learn from the negative feedback and figure out how to do better.
- Don't talk bad about other people or complain about anything: If you don't like something, either work to change it or work to accept it (which doesn't mean you have to like it, but just stop talking about it).
- Learn to love the numbers (if you don't already) and pay attention to them constantly.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ashaurbanbaths.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshaUrbanBaths/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashaurbanbaths/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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