Becoming Your Own Boss: The Journey of an Independent & Resilient Registered Massage Therapist Becoming an Entrepreneur

Meet Kristy Schippel, a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in Toronto, Ontario, who is living her entrepreneurial dream of establishing her own massage therapy practice. Follow Kristy’s journey as she shares how she became independent through entrepreneurship and a brand new website built with support from the ShopHERE powered by Google program.

“I feel privileged to be in a position to live my dream of starting a business, at the same time it is a giant leap of faith and one of the scariest things I’ve ever done for myself”

says Schippel, who used the ShopHERE program to launch and grow her own private massage therapy practice.

“I'm a registered healthcare provider that uses massage therapy to help improve the physical symptoms… of leading stressful and busy lives in the city of Toronto. My practice is designed to feel warm and inviting instead of like a sterile clinic so that my patients can feel a sense of ease as soon as they walk in the door.”

Her unique massage style has been described by patients as a combination of physiotherapy and a relaxing massage while integrating restorative elements like guided meditation at the end of every treatment. Kristy has made great strides as an entrepreneur and is excited to continue to improve both her business and professional skills as an RMT.

Kristy creates treatments that are specifically tailored to each patient’s needs, making them feel seen and heard, getting to know her patients’ preferences is important to her. Expect a thorough intake interview on your first visit to allow for a safe and effective treatment, which lays the foundation for every follow-up appointment.

First time getting a massage? – No problem! Clear communication is established and maintained from start to finish so that she knows you understand and consent to the treatment and so your autonomy is respected. She also uses her business to give back to the local community by donating $5 from treatments to local charities throughout the year.

Deciding to become an independent business owner can be overwhelming, but with a bit of preparation and planning, it is possible to succeed. With the help of Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE powered by Google program, Kristy was able to take that leap and follow her entrepreneurial dreams. The one-on-one support provided by her eCommerce Coordinator through the ShopHERE Program offered Kristy the tools and support to publish her own website and share her brand’s story online.

“It is crucial to have support, no (wo)man is an island or an expert on everything. I love my work but the challenging part was figuring out how to do all the business things like setting up a website, digital marketing etc.”

Kristy shares here experience working with her ShopHERE eCommerce Coordinator:

“(My eCommerce Coordinator) listened to my needs, provided valuable support and encouragement throughout the whole process. It was nice to have hand holding through weekly sessions with (them).”

Many of us dream of striking out on our own and becoming an entrepreneur with the goal of creating something that has tangible value in the world. With the help of Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE Program, Kristy was able to navigate her way through this journey while launching her wellness practice!

“ESSENTIAL SERVICE. PERIOD. I'm hyper-independent and resilient so I'm sure I would have made it work out some other way without this service, but I believe it has accelerated my learning and growth and set me up faster than if I was doing everything on my own from scratch”

If you are interested in any of the services KRISTY SCHIPPEL RMT provides or would like to learn more about KRISTY SCHIPPEL RMT, you can visit the website here.

If you enjoyed learning about Kristy’s experience with the program, and are interested in signing up you can do so by visiting the ShopHERE powered by Google program website by clicking here.