Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Valerie Garza, Owner of Sea Breeze Mobile Massage, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sea Breeze Massage is a wellness/self-care event planning company that provides marketing and processing services to highly skilled, extensively experienced mobile massage therapists, estheticians, acupuncturists, and nail tech entrepreneurs. (I not only own Sea Breeze, but I often use the service in my own private massage practice.) We offer luxury, spa-quality mobile massage, and acupuncture to residents, businesses, and tourists throughout San Diego County. They get to enjoy the relaxation of being in the comfort of their own homes, Airbnb, hotels, offices, and even the beach. We also offer esthetician and nail tech services to groups seeking 3 hours or more of those services.
The therapists who utilize Sea Breeze's marketing and processing expertise have complete freedom over their schedules, the types of massages they offer, the distance they travel, and every other aspect of their businesses. This also allows us to team up so we can accommodate massage services to large and small groups, as well as individuals. We get all the benefits of being a small business owner without losing out on lucrative larger events. It permits us to compete with larger corporate employers without us having to give up professional control or obligate more of our time than we want to their operation.
Tell us about yourself
I was an Executive Search Consultant for 15 years. I would receive a massage at home once a month to help manage my stress. Finding a therapist who would come to my home was always a challenge; however, driving after a massage just wasn't relaxing enough for me. When I reached a level of burnout from the stress that triggered my 'midlife awakening,' I was lying on a massage table and decided the therapist had a much better job than me! So I signed up for school 13 years ago and am very happy to report I was right! I knew going in that mobile massage would be my niche because there was a shortage of good talent willing to do it. When my private practice outgrew me, I started to partner up with friends, and we've now grown into quite a nice team. By creating this entity, we now also have receptionists who can screen new clients, and we can all feel safer when going into a new environment.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Attracting the highest level of talent to use my service, thereby providing the highest quality of wellness and self-care services to the community.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
All the work you don't get paid for; however, it's a sacrifice worth making to be 100% in control of how clients and customers are treated.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't expect it to happen overnight.
- Work hard and focus on reaching escalating goals.
- Always go above and beyond. Your reputation and the energy you put out are everything.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.seabreezemassage.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seabreezemobilemassage
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-garza-541a1b52/
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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