The Reedsburg Area Therapeutic Spa opens in downtown Reedsburg in the lower level of the Cornerstone building.
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Starting out with a silent investment partner, me as the massage therapist and my little sister Falon as my receptionist, we were off to a running start!
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With a firm reputation for sports/deep tissue massage having been established, the Reedsburg Spa moved from the basement downtown to the inside of Snap Fitness. Now having a small therapy room and half a broom closet for an office, the business, despite lack of space, continued to grow!
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In addition to moving into Snap in my second year, I bought my silent partner out and was now flying solo. Later that same year, I was able to hire another therapist and Jodi Bindl joined my team.
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2008 brought many changes! My sister married a marine and went off to Japan. The Reedsburg Spa found it’s way to Main Street once more. Like Park Place in Monopoly, I now had my own blue awning having purchased the Old Jewels on Main building. No more little spaces, the spa now had 3 large rooms and 1700 sq. of space to meet the needs of our clients! In July of that year, we added Cheryl Popp, another therapist, to our team. It was an exciting time!
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W took a leap and jumped into the Hillsboro market. We had a secondary location now! For a short time that year as well, Raquel Neve out of Mauston, joined our team. Having access to such a great team of therapists, was great! However, later that year, we lost Raquel to chiropractic school and Jodi to marriage and a move to California. I knew that the only thing certain in business was change. I felt blessed to have worked with therapists committed to the field of massage for wellness.
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| Area Business' Close |
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In 2010, Mari Jo Mitchell joined the team. Unfortunately though, the success of the previous years couldn’t overcome the impending hit from the economy that the Reedsburg Spa would experience later that year. I watched as local businesses around me began closing down their shops for good. With many layoffs, budget cuts, and excelling gas prices, our database of clients dwindled with their limited cash flow.
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I fought hard to sustain business for my employees, but eventually was forced to close the secondary Hillsboro location and ultimately, lay off my therapists. It was a tough decision, however the Spa still had life in it and I was able to keep my doors open.
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The good news was that, like the Energizer bunny, the Reedsburg Spa was still going!
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On a personal note, I was blessed this year by marrying a wonderful Godly man. As a young lady new to the scene five years ago, I had my enthusiasm and dreams that fueled my business and allowed me to experience some really great achievements. As I look back though, I see that 2011 has been a year of not only sustaining, but rebuilding in a changing market. I’ve decided that I’m not ready to succumb to a struggling economy and am once again using my enthusiasm for change to fuel the next stage of my business. I’m in the process of adding new services, online scheduling, and once again attempting to expand my business. Mid-June I’ll be opening an office in Madison working in the Arc of Life Chiropractic office.
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