We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Reuther recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
The first step to starting my business was thinking of the name. I was massaging a deltoid and the word ‘kneady’ popped into my head. I liked how that sounded, even if it wasn’t a real word. Then it just all showed up in my brain at once, “Kneady Cat Massage & Cupping.” It felt like a fun play on words and I could use my cute cat, Waffle, as the logo. That’s exactly what I did. That logo is still my favorite part of the business! Anyway, I submitted the LLC paperwork one month later. Now that I had the state of Texas involved, it was serious. Over the next few months I purchased all my supplies as I could afford them. One month I ordered linens, another month aromatherapy, extra cups, treatment room decor… All before I even had an office. That summer, a friend and I found the cutest studio to split in central Austin! It was exciting and fun. We painted the walls, made it cozy and warm with rugs, eclectic furniture, and art. I didn’t have a huge client list, but I had just enough that I could leave my w2 job. So I did. It was incredible. I thought it would be scary to leave and work for myself full time, but it was liberating as hell. My business has been supporting me for almost two years now! So happy to be here. It’s given me a chance to recover from burnout and build new habits.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hey y’all! I’m Sarah, licensed massage therapist, certified cupping therapist and small business owner in Austin, Texas. I also have a BA in Interior Design. I toured a massage school in 2015 on a whim and decided to enroll. I always enjoyed receiving massages, so I thought I might like giving them. It just felt correct in the moment. I was working in retail at the time and not loving it. I thought a trade would be a good career move. And it was! Massage came pretty naturally to me. It is interesting to learn and fun practice. I like to be creative and problem solve, and to be honest massage therapy is both of those… With the added bonus of a quiet work environment. There are so many modalities to build on and add into bodywork sessions. I tried a few different things before finding cupping therapy, but that one really stuck. The cups were easy to add into my massages and give the client a different experience. I also use hot towels and aromatherapy into my sessions, and offer water and a snack after. I’m really trying to engage all the senses and encourage maximum relaxation in my sessions. I recently added facial cupping to my repertoire and my clients and I are loving it! Facial cupping can ease facial tension, just like massage can, but has some promising anti-aging benefits, as well. I love being the best part of someone’s week. I love making people feel better in their bodies. I love all the connections I have made. Looking back, I am proud of myself for taking the leap across career paths so effortlessly when lots of people questioned me and told me it was a bad idea. I had a gut feeling, I followed it, and that has built my confidence to explore other industries in the future. I love bodywork, I will probably massage forever, but I know I’ll get into something else, too.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me, so far, is current clients referring their friends and coworkers. They talk about my style of bodywork, the environment I’ve created, and my personality, so the potential client knows exactly what they will experience. These new clients stay on my books and are very loyal. My current client list is filled with people I genuinely enjoy and they aren’t looking for something I don’t provide.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
The real MVP of starting a business is YouTube. There is so much accessible information presented in so many different ways. It’s free, at your own pace, and often times very encouraging and friendly. I started my whole journey on YouTube, from choosing the proper business entity, to how to do my taxes, to marketing strategies… Any questions I have, I ask YouTube first and always come away with a better understanding.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kneadycatmassageandcupping.com
- Instagram: @kneadycatatx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCITUcB_4IQMRUAvljUVX99Q