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Community Leader: Shoshana Frumkin - Mobile Massage in a Mobile World
October 2007
In many ways, Shoshana Frumkin, 51, is a mind-body visionary:
- In the 70s she was working in the natural foods industry - before organic grocers like Whole Foods became a household name. She later became a certified nutritionist.
- Fast-forward to the 80s, and she would have been found running her own environmental cleaning business - when there wasn’t yet the widespread social concern for the environment that exists today.
- Perhaps these were revealing clues of her innovative mindset and of what was to come. Today, Shoshana uses her creative entrepreneurial skills as President and Founder of On the Spot Massage, LLC, serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a single mom looking to both support herself and have a rewarding career, Shoshana completed massage therapy training in the 80s while still working in the natural living department at Wild Oats in Berkeley, CA. At a time when massage therapy was still considered an infrequent luxury at the spa rather than an important component of general health and well being, Shoshana began working at Quan Yin Acupuncture Clinic in San Francisco to gain experience.
A pioneer of the mobile massage
Her heart remained set on owning and running her own business though, and she soon helped pioneer the concept of the mobile chair massage – long before the massage chair had even been invented.
“I wanted to make it easier and more affordable for people to feel healthier through massage,” she says, “And offering mobile massage services made sense.”
Using a collapsible drummer’s stool early on as a makeshift massage chair, it took patience, time and perseverance to knock on doors, educate the public and introduce the idea linking massage and well-being. In 1995 Shoshana developed and launched her company On the Spot Massage. “As soon as employers could see the positive effects of massage on employee productivity and morale, I knew that I had a workable concept. I had found my passion in life for helping people.”
Shoshana’s win-win model
In the 1990s On the Spot Massage began establishing relationships with various retail partners such as Whole Foods Berkeley. Starting out in massage therapy after graduation can be daunting at times and she wanted to help other massage therapists work:
- independently;
- with flexible schedules, and
- in a safe setting with regular, high general traffic.
Her staff is also encouraged to expand their own private practices if they choose to with clients they work with via her company, “It’s a win-win for everyone” she adds.
Advice to new LMTs
Part of Shoshana’s success can also be attributed to the Women’s Business Enterprise entrepreneurial program. This, along with “a lot of hard work, a great staff of LMTs and office manager, and access to capital” have helped On the Spot Massage become synonymous with “Chair Massage” in the Bay Area.
Asked to provide some advice to newly graduated massage therapists, she emphasizes, “Concentrate on building relationships with people, create strategic alliances and cross-promote/market whenever you can.” She is poised to make true her witty motto of “Every body needs to be kneaded!”
What’s Next?
Shoshana, CNC, SMT, is as busy as ever continually scoping out new retail partner locations, recruiting LMTs and booking events ranging from corporate events and parties to fashion shows, confirming two new private events during our interview alone.
For more information visit www.onthespotmassage.com
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