Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annie Robitaille, owner of Élan Vital Massage Therapy and Osteopathy Centre, located in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We offer Registered Massage Therapy and Osteopathic Manual Therapy. We are located in Ottawa downtown. We are a small clinic and have remained small since we've open. We believe that in keeping our clinic small, we are able to focus on offering a great, individualized service to all clients. My motto is clients first, business last!
Tell us about yourself
I knew I wanted to be in this industry since I was a child. I often massaged my siblings and friends, and it's something that came naturally to me to help others through touch.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Always keeping my priorities first, which is offering a good service to our clients. Sometimes as small business owners, you can get tempted to expand your business. It's something I have looked into in the past, but my instincts were always reminding me of why I got into this industry in the first place, and that's to offer a great service, not to manage a clinic. By keeping my business small, I am able to serve my clientele of 17 years in the best way I can.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying on top of clerical and administrative work.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- It's ok to start slow and small. Don't be discouraged in your first few years if your earnings are low, it takes time to build up.
- Remember why you got into this industry in the first place and always keep that the main priority in your business.
- As silly as this may sound...follow your gut, there was a time I had an opportunity to expand my clinic, and I just wasn't ready. My gut feeling was telling me to keep my business small. Not too long afterward, the pandemic hit. I was glad to have kept my business small; otherwise, I would have struggled immensely by recuperating during and post-pandemic.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.elanvital.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elanvital.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanvitalottawa/
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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