In our world of growing immediacy and customization, finding just the right services for your lifestyle, schedule and budget is key. People are looking more than ever for unique and convenient experiences catered just for them, leading to the growing success of custom apps, tailored services and personalized involvement. But the tech world now can even extend to relaxation and health thanks to Soothe Massage.
The lifestyle brand takes a few touches on your phone and brings a specialized spa environment right into your home. Book online or on your phone and you’ll have a hand picked masseuse arriving at your home whenever works best for you to deliver your chosen massage in your living room, bedroom or even kitchen. Sound too good to be true?
Luckily, it’s really that simple. Founded in 2013 by Merlin Kauffman, Soothe is a revolutionary massage-on-demand service that allows customers to receive a spa-quality massage at home or at the office with as little as 60 minutes notice. The team is made up of vetted, licensed and insured massage therapists who will come when customers call, all the way until midnight.
Kauffman broke down the inspiration behind this simple yet genius concept (now up and running in 14+ cities in the US and Canada) and explains how everyone can take advantage of the Soothe experience.
Kaleigh Glaza: What makes Soothe so special? Merlin Kauffman: Massage therapists love Soothe, because they earn more, they have freedom to work when they want, and our clients are amazing. Clients love the convenience of being able to relax in their homes, not drive anywhere, and receive a world-class massage.
KG: What are the benefits of Soothe as Opposed to a traditional spa experience? MK: Imagine you have a really sore neck. You decide to call the nearest spa to book an appointment in the middle of your workday. The next available appointment is three days from now and you would have to leave the office early just to make it there on time. With Soothe, you can book your massage at a time that is most convenient for you, and a have a skillfully trained massage
KG: Why is having this at-home option important for people? MK: Two reasons. 1. We’ve made massage and wellness accessible and affordable to everyday people. 2. Soothe supports massage therapists who normally get paid much less and have trouble booking appointments. Soothe’s therapists set their own schedule and earn a sustainable income. Soothe provides them with security, higher income, and flexibility. It feels great to know that we’re providing a product that values both the client and therapist.
KG: How many massage the therapists do you employ? MK: Currently, we independently contract more than 2,000 massage therapists.
Our massage therapists are independent contractors and each therapist must be licensed and insured, with the implication that they have met the Board Certification for their respective state. Our therapist recruiters personally interview every therapist. From the moment they walk in, we are evaluating their presentation, professionalism, compassion, and sensitivity. We look for therapists who demonstrate a versatile massage skill-set, have a personable demeanor, and make our clients feel comfortable. […] The proficiencies we especially look for are Swedish, Sports, and Deep Tissue massage.
KG: What made you decide to include an app as well as a website? MK: By combining a quality service with the convenience of an app, clients and therapists are able to connect through an interface that many of us are very familiar with. If you can use an app to order a ride to work, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to order a massage to your home. […] Technology has made the spa experience even more personal because it’s allowed the client to access the spa experience at a time and place that makes them feel most comfortable.
KG: recently launched in New York and Chicago. How did you pick your target locations? MK: It’s really straightforward– we focus on opening in cities with dense populations of potential clients and massage therapists. We aim to bring the convenience of massage therapy to as many clients, as possible, and offer massage therapists the opportunity to earn significantly more than they would at traditional spa. We’ve received an overwhelming amount of requests. Our clients praise us for the convenience and our therapists thank us for bringing a new level of appreciation to the profession of massage therapy.
KG: Tell us about a client success story that you are especially proud of. MK: There was a male client in Los Angeles who had serious back surgery who found the app convenient and useful because, even on the app, the experience was catered to his person preferences. He gave us a great recommendation: “What I appreciate most about Soothe is that even though it’s an app based service, there are real people behind the app who create the experience. It’s not automated and the quality of customer service is what keeps me coming back. The concierge team works really hard to cater to my preferences and I truly appreciate their efforts and ability to match my needs with a highly skilled therapist.”
KG: And who inspires you to continue building and expanding Soothe? MK: My primary inspirations have always been my parents, because they have taught me to fight for what you want in life. It was not always easy. We went through some hard times financially, and those experiences blessed me with the burning desire to succeed. Being an entrepreneur is in my DNA and I could never imagine working for anybody else, because I have always been more focused on envisioning the innovation I would like to create for the world.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Kaleigh Glaza
- Image courtesy
- Soothe Massage
