We were lucky to catch up with Caleb Davison recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Caleb thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

When I think about the development and execution of the idea of Verde Massage, I am brought back to an assignment I was given in massage school. I was instructed to give a presentation on my vision statement and goals as a massage therapist. My paper and presentation were more or less an argument as to why I didn’t have or need a vision or goals but I would throw fate to the wind and windup where I was supposed to be. And though I do believe there is merit to this perspective, the reality is that it was just a cover for not believing in myself. Deep down I knew that I wanted to go into business for myself. To create a business where I could grow and prosper doing what I love. That dream seemed out of my reach and too impossible to put down on paper. I wonder how many people before 1969 dreamt about walking on the moon but tucked the thought away because it was impossible? So I would say the #1 thing that I needed to figure out and what stood between idea and execution is believing in my ability to make my vision come true. If I couldn’t convince myself how could I convince anyone else?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have been a massage therapist for nearly 16 years. I first realized my interest in the field during a career fair in High School where I was introduced to chair massage. I think what sets me apart from others is that I am not afraid to work on anyone. I have many tools in my tool bag to address a variety of clients. This is what has led me to create Verde Massage where I can practice my trade freely and share it with other therapists. At Verde Massage we believe that most people will benefit from massage or similar therapies and we are always learning, growing, and perfecting our craft. We currently have three massage therapists in the office and are working to expand into esthetics.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Verde Massage has many facets to how I have funded its growth. My initial start up costs were met by good old fashioned hard work and saving. I wanted a brick and mortar office but had to start out doing mobile massage and working side jobs to get the capital to open a store front. It was hard but well worth the effort. But I dreamt of something bigger. I wanted more treatment rooms and an expanse into the day spa industry. I knew that for this dream hard work and saving wouldn’t be enough. I would need funding to make this possible. In 2022, I was giving the opportunity to purchase the building that I was operating out of; a 4 unit strip mall. This would allow me to expand from less then 500 sq ft to the potential of over 2000 sq ft. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and was in many ways one of the hardest things I have ever accomplished. What I quickly learned is that there are many people and organizations that are more than willing to help navigate the process to obtaining funds. The first place I went was the small business association (sba.gov) where I was given a counselor and tools for developing a business plan. She would meet with me, look over my progress and give advice. It was very helpful and absolutely free. By the end of it, I had a stellar business plan but the problem was that I didn’t have promising numbers from previous years. The first year was full of start-up expenses, the 2nd was covid when we were shut down for a portion of the year, and I was left with on good year on the books.
This is where I turned to private investors. I reached out to people I knew that had the capitol, pitched my idea, offered my business plan and they believed in my vision. In 7 months, I was able to collect enough funds to secure the building. We are now busy turning the strip mall into a wellness and beauty center that currently offers massage, yoga, and a hair salon.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During my transition from mobile massage to a brick and mortar office, my father passed away unexpectedly at 59. Starting a business is stressful enough as it is, then to throw grief on top of it can be like a match to gasoline. For awhile I thought I was loosing my mind, but with group therapy I learned that what I was going through was normal and expected given the circumstances. I could have given up and no one would have blamed me. Instead of throwing in the towel, I used the pain to fuel my drive to succeed in pursuing my passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.verdemassage.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/verde.massage
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/verdemassage
• Other: 928-239-5502