We were lucky to catch up with Koko Klipper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Koko, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
I am fortunate to work with companies and businesses nationwide, in every industry from Academia to Utility companies. One healthcare organization in particular, Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, has been a customer of ours for years. We established our B2B relationship in 2015, and have been providing chair massage services for their hardworking nurses, doctors, and staff at 6 hospital and medical locations in Fresno and Clovis on a regular basis. When COVID hit, our corporate and event massage services flatlined. Due to the new remote working structure, our clients sent their teams home. No more offices, no more massage services.

Of course, there are a few industries that couldn’t send their employees home-hospitals, emergency rooms and medical centers. After laying low for a year, CRMC contacted us for a visit. Their nurses and staff were stretched thin and management knew they needed to do something FAST to help boost morale. It became critical that their employee’s mental and physical wellbeing was addressed before it ended in a slew of resignations.

Working closely with my contact at CRMC, Elizabeth Hermann, we created an unbelievable Zen Zone with Relaxation Station for all the hospital employees. Originally, we were scheduled to be on-site at 3 locations, 3 shifts for 10 days. We received a tremendous amount of positive feedback-the employees were so happy to have our therapists take care of them (for a change). The executive committee decided to extend our stay for 45 days! WOW! I was incredulous and ecstatic at the same time. It was an amazing experience working with such professional, compassionate and talented massage therapists in Fresno. Once word got out about how happy the staff was at Community Regional, we were invited to provide services at St. Agnes in Fresno as well. Win win for everyone!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Massage by Design is a B2B that has been around for a long time. Originally based out of Dallas, I bought the business in 2009 and relocated operations to San Diego. Our clients understand that happy and loyal employees are key to profitability and overall positive, organizational health. In an effort to create and maintain a relevant and competitive company culture, our clients look to us to provide an affordable, wellness service that shows they care.

We provide nationwide chair massage services for businesses, organizations and events of all sizes: Employee and client appreciation, health and benefits fairs, team reward and wellness programs-not to mention conferences, trade shows and conventions. One on one client support allows us to customize and design the perfect program to fit any budget and needs. From high profile VIP events, to small offices of 5 people, nothing is too big or small!

-Certified by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC-working with us fulfills Diversified Business Enterprise Requirements).
-Homeland, level one security clearance (NFL-Super Bowls, nationwide)
-Provide massage for all sizes of events-as few as 2 hours to 500+ hours of massage time.
-All therapists are vetted-local, licensed, insured and have passed background checks

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Regardless of event or company size, our goal is to exceed our client’s expectations. Our team has worked hard to ensure this is the case each and every time. From the initial inquiry and quote, to staffing with qualified and professional therapists; from managing the load/in, staging and load/out (in huge venues and downtown office buildings), to the invoicing and payment process. We truly treat each client equally with courtesy and respect. Plus, we are all about diversity in hiring. Our therapist database is as diverse as you can imagine!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
During COVID, we had absolutely no business. Dead, flatlined, gone. A very tough realization when the sales forecast was exceptional. My thoughts turned from providing a ‘hands on service’ to a virtual massage service’. So I developed a series of free, Self Care with Massage webinars with the intent to help others who were hurting at home during the quarantine. The focus was to highlight a different muscular ‘issue’ each week, and demonstrate how to alleviate pain and discomfort with massage techniques and tools – all from the privacy of your remote work office at home. It was a blast! We had such a great time putting these webinars together. We addressed all the literal ‘pain points’ from neck and shoulders, to lower back and buttocks. One of our videos actually reached over 26k! You can see them here: https://www.facebook.com/mbdchairmassage

Contact Info:

• Website: https://massagebydesign.net/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbdchairmassage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koko-klipper-8596b83/ AND https://www.linkedin.com/company/12955489
• Other: Locations: https://massagebydesign.net/locations/