In conversation with Mississauga entrepreneur Cathy Stephenson.

1. What exactly does your business do?
We are a massage therapy and aesthetics clinic located inside the Ontario Racquet Club. Our services include Registered Massage Therapy, Hot Stone Massage, Thai Massage, Mani+Pedi’s, waxing and Lash & Brow services.

2. What inspired you to start your business?
I started working part time at Club Spa and the more time I spent there, the more opportunity I saw. In September 2019 I purchased the spa and since then I have been working to grow the business, improve the service offering and bring in products that we’re excited to use and sell to our clients.

3. How has your business adapted to the new world?
Since March we’ve had to reinvent and adjust how we do things many times. From focusing on using healthier options in the spa – including top ten toxin free nail polishes, and bringing in cleaner skincare products from companies like AlumierMD and Eminence Organics -  to creating new services (our MASK+MASQUE Spa Menu) that  are focused on treating areas that aren’t covered by a face mask.

4. What are you most proud of from a business perspective?
I’m most proud of my staff, their dedication to caring for our clients has carried us through this challenging time. The loyalty of our clients is testament to what a great job the team at ORC Club Spa is doing.

5. What's been the largest obstacle to overcome and how did you do it?
The largest obstacles have been financial. Overcoming the financial stress that’s come with this pandemic has meant taking advantage of all the resources out there to help small businesses. That means applying for rent relief, for wage subsidies, for PPE grants and available low cost credit. We’ve been fortunate that the assistance we’ve been eligible for has been enough to carry us through.

6. What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?
My advice to other entrepreneurs is to find people who are experts and trust them to help you when you can. Sometimes this means spending money on something you think you could do yourself – it’s been a hard lesson for me to learn that just because I think I CAN do it all – it doesn’t mean I should.

7. What message do you have for the community as we continue to navigate the global pandemic?
My advice is to lead with kindness. Always. And make some time for a massage.

orcclubspa.com