Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eric Santiago, owner of Massothérapie Santiago, located in Montréal, QC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business focuses on helping my clients live healthier lives through massage therapy. Particularly with the pandemic, many of my clients have switched to working from home with poor ergonomics. Others are actively training to achieve their fitness goals. No matter who it is, my vision is to provide a service that's both therapeutic and relaxing at the same time. I believe in getting good value for what you pay for, so why not have a relaxing time and work on your aches?
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I studied foreign languages for many years and finished my master's degree in Japanese Studies at Stanford University. After some years of teaching and tutoring, I realized that I wanted to do something more in terms of helping people live calmer, healthier jobs. As a person obsessed with wellness, meditation, and creating calm, safe spaces for myself and others, massage therapy seemed like a natural choice.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
After two years of renting out a small office in Montréal, I generated enough capital to rent my own commercial space for my personal practice and a co-work space for other bodywork specialists. I built it with my partner from the ground up, doing all the construction and decoration. I also did the online marketing and publicity myself, resulting in a unique massage therapy studio. My clients have followed me to this new office for the most part. They have all commented on how luxurious and premium the experience feels. It feels good to have a vision and see it come to life!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The overhead costs. It's amazing how much money goes into managing a business. Particularly so when you're trying to set yourself apart from the competition. As they say, the devil's in the details, and a lot of what you expect is affordable actually isn't. The more you can do by yourself, the better. Through past experiences and general curiosity throughout life, I've gathered the skills to do a lot of it myself. That's the key: being an entrepreneur is a lot about putting in the work and long nights to make your vision a reality.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Do your research. Look at the competition. What do they excel at? What do you feel you could improve on? Second, do as much as you can yourself. Don't be afraid to start learning about online marketing or website design. There are so many free resources today that it's really possible to stand out from the crowd without hiring other specialists. Third, pace yourself. It can get overwhelming when you have what seems to be a never-ending list of things to do. Prioritize and plan accordingly, all the while making time for self-care.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://santiagomassage.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.santiago.massage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.santiago.massage/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsantiagopena/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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