We recently connected with Gina Agassini and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina , thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name was something I thought a lot about. The word “botica” (apothecary) is a Pharmacy where they dispense medicines, I wanted a place where people could get natural blends for their specific needs. When looking for a theme for the spa, I always knew I wanted it to be something natural, I wanted a relaxation center with natural and pure ingredients. I imagined having all the ingredients in bottles and making potions for each treatment, for each person and for different needs. That’s why the name Botica Spa seemed perfect to me, as it reflects the idea of a personalized relaxation experience, using natural products and a personalized approach.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Gina and I am the founder of Botica Spa, located in Playa del Carmen. I have been working in the spa industry in the Riviera Maya for more than 15 years, starting as a receptionist, then as a therapist and finally having my own business. Botica Spa has been in operation for 7 years and we love to provide experiences.

I discovered my passion for massage therapy more than 10 years ago and since then I have been constantly learning different techniques and ways of healing through the senses. I also have to confess that I am addicted to massages, I love to try different therapies and visit different spas. This passion for massage has led me to become an experimental taster of treatments.

Along this journey, I have had the opportunity to meet women equally passionate and very talented. Together we have created this space of natural relaxation that focuses on offering personalized and unique spa treatments. Although I can’t compete in infrastructure with the big hotel spas, I can assure you that you will receive the best massage of your life at Botica Spa. I know this because it is my favorite place.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During the pandemic, we had to close the spa for 3 months, which led us to make many changes and adapt to the new health and safety protocols. We had to completely change our working model and restructure our everyday lives. The pandemic definitely changed our lives, and there was a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. We lost many customers due to price changes, as we had to increase them in order to provide private treatments behind closed doors with government guidelines. However, we managed to make it through. We changed significantly the way we worked.
But these changes allowed us to provide our customers with a more private and personalized service which significantly improved the quality of our services and quality of life for the whole team. I believe this way of life has made us more productive and efficient overall.
The pandemic taught us the importance of being versatile and adaptable. We learned to face the challenges with creativity and determination and we are proud to have made it through and continue providing the best service possible to our customers.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Actually, my business partner is my wife, Teresa. She has always been my biggest support and my biggest fan. When I decided that I wanted to open my own spa business, she was the first one to encourage and support me every step of the way. Throughout the years, we have learned to work together and to adapt to the highs and lows of life as a couple and business partners. While it hasn’t always been easy, we’ve managed to forge a strong relationship and a dynamic working team. Teresa is the head of the administration team and I’m the hands-on operative behind the services we offer at Botica Spa.
We admire each other and I think that’s one of the reasons why our personal relationship and our business have flourished together. Ultimately, I’m grateful to have my wife as my business partner and ally in the business, and for her unwavering trust and support from the get-go.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.boticaspa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botica.spa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boticaspa
• Other: Whatsapp +52 984 268 7428 https://wa.me/message/OHYD44YTID3EA1

Image Credits
Photographer and art director: Atocha Crespo