Massage Business Gains Marketing and Finance Knowledge
NuLeaf Healing of Hillsborough County
Tatiana Vaiano, massage therapist and owner of NuLeaf Healing, started her business after 12 years working in the massage industry.
“I was a manager and lead therapist at SerenBe Day Spa and a massage therapist for 12 years,” she said. “Through my experience in that, I felt it was time to go out on my own and create a place that is peaceful with spa-like touches but provide beneficial, healing, customized massage for my clients.”
Vaiano sought out Florida SBDC at University of South Florida business consultant Mitch Lairmore to help her gain knowledge about marketing and starting a business.
“I would have to say that through the advice that I have received through the center, my business has actually grown. I would have to say, probably doubled,” Vaiano said.
By receiving help from the Florida SBDC at USF, Vaiano was able to meet other business owners in the community and form relationships with them.
Due to NuLeaf’s growth with the assistance of the Florida SBDC at USF, Vaiano was recently featured in the Carrollwood Gazette on the front page. The article led to more business for NuLeaf Healing.
“It was my first feature story about me on the front page in my community that actually received a lot of calls from it,” Vaiano said.
With help from Lairmore, Vaiano was able to avoid many mistakes that can arise while starting a business.
“You have so much on your plate in the beginning as a small business owner that you forget so many little things,” Vaiano said.
“I’ve run into so many things that Mitch has really helped me navigate through…which could have been really detrimental financially.”
Vaiano believes having a good foundation is an important part of starting a small business.
“If you have a good foundation in the beginning, you will be successful,” she said. “That’s what the Small Business Development Center does in my opinion. It helps you in all various points of your business, but especially in the beginning. If you seek out that help it will help you build that strong foundation, and then there’s no stopping you with your business and its growth.”
In the future, Vaiano will continue to use the resources at the Florida SBDC at USF to gain knowledge on finance and marketing.
“I feel that it’s very important that I continue to work with the SBDC because I’m still in the beginning stage and there is still a lot to learn, so I really need to use the resources as far as financial education and even further continuing my knowledge on marketing education as well,” she said.
