We recently connected with Jamie Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Jamie, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

For many years, I worked for Nordstrom Spas. I credit my love for customer service related to my time employed with this company. The encouragement to go above and beyond to make someone’s experience memorable was empowering. If it was walking someone out to their car that needed help, grabbing a complimentary lunch for a regular client, or knowing all their favorite things to prepare for their visit.

I took part in the internal training program that helped shape what they called “Future Leaders” . Many skills like how to craft schedules, analytics of sales, manage employees, etc were being taught. Even though I was in the Spa world, much different than the traditional department store skills, there was such valuable information being conveyed.

One lesson that was imparted, was “Leave it better than you found it”. This “motto” of sorts has stayed with me for years since first hearing it. It was like a light bulb turned on that has never turned off since. That saying has helped me be a better therapist, better coworker, better business owner, friend, this list goes on. Why not make any situation a little better? Why not refill the toilet paper roll in the bathroom (even though everyone else has not replaced it). Why not remember a client’s birthday and offer them a free upgrade?

Leaving something or someone better than you found it is a simple gesture & simple reminder of how we can, even with minimal effort, make small impacts. And even small impacts can leave a lasting impression.

Im so grateful to have received the knowledge and training I had at a retail/department store Spa, as it has translated to so many skills I use daily in my own practice and business. Leaving it better than I found it has helped me immensely on many of my life paths.

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

Nice to meet you…

I built Pueblo Luna to have an intimate space to connect with clients one on one. Being in the spa industry for over 20 years, many jobs have helped me decipher what I most/least value about the wellness industry. Healing, renewal & relaxation can come in many forms. For me, I prioritized a space that offered treatments of just you and your party. Offering a stand alone treatment room, and a very personalized point of contact from the moment you walk in to when you leave, feels like luxury to me. I loved many big spas I’ve worked for, but having many employees and other guests can take away from the ability to really drop in to your own time & space.

We offer bodywork that includes different modalities from nervous system support & deep tissue work, hand crafted infused oils & cupping, to reiki & acupressure. The treatment can continue with an infrared sauna session followed by an outdoor tub soak amongst jasmine flowers and the elements. Having a tub drawn for you is such a sweet experience and gives an aspect of nurturing that I feel many people are missing.

Pueblo Luna also offers events varying from craft/project nights, cacao gatherings, yoga classes in the garden & sound baths. These events are meant to bring together the web of community and make it even stronger. Healing moments can be thru many different experiences..

Pueblo Luna’s ‘Provisions’ holds all of the lotions, potions & healing tools you may want to take your experiences home with you.

Body work has been my craft for over 20 years, and it brings me so much joy to continue to connect with my clients.
inspiration comes from everywhere. Across that period of time,

Can you open up about how you managed the initial funding?

I remember thinking about owning a spa when I was in middle school. I would day dream & draw pictures of what it would like and think of all the trades I could learn to be a “one-woman-show”. Little did I know, that idea would become all too true at the ripe age of 36!

Although I had always thought it could happen, I had no idea how or when it would come to fruition. I had the idea in my head that financially it would make the most sense to open a practice wherever I lived, therefore sharing the biggest life cost (rent) with getting my personal clientele established. I had lived in a few small apartments which had an outdoor element to them (back yard, garden, etc) but none were “just right”. But I just kept on working away.

The opportunity for my current space became available. And quickly. Just when I was thinking I would need to hold back, wait and save to find a standard brick and mortar, I was approved for my live/work space.

The shorter answer of how I put together funding is, I didn’t. I had great credit, a few thousand dollars to help me but the rest was part of the leap into trusting I would make the money I needed to pay off the credit cards I would be putting expenses on. I don’t recommend this method, but what I did learn from it was how to scale. I didn’t have the choice to charge everything all at once. I had to incrementally charge, work to pay off, then charge more and work more. I appreciated having an external source help me regulate my spending within reason.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective way for me to grow my business, has been word of mouth. I love my craft and love to make people have an experience they won’t soon forget. I want to offer every client my very best, every time. If I can keep that it mind, clients will tell their friends, there family or post about it organically on their social media. I’ve been so fortunate in that aspect and am very grateful for the ability for people to share information with each other, as massage therapy thrives on receiving recommendations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.puebloluna.com
• Instagram: pueblo_luna

Image Credits

@katieedwardsphoto
Katie Edwards Mauro