Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Grant.
Shannon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I opened The Art of Touch in 2007. As a massage therapist myself, I saw firsthand how massage can provide long term benefits that help restore and maintain health. Massage has always been viewed as a “spa” treatment and it is so much more than that. In 2007 there really weren’t a lot of places that just focused on massage therapy. When I worked with clients I shared information about how regular massage therapy can help alleviate pain and improve their health and wellness. However at $200 or more per hour in your typical spa, massage was viewed as a luxury and not a need when it came to your overall health and wellness. Even more challenging was that the medical industry at the time did not recognize the health benefits of massage therapy and insurance companies did not cover massage under their plans. I knew there had to be a better way, but I needed help. So I convinced my husband (who is an accountant and an attorney) to quit his job and help me open The Art of Touch.
At the center our focus is to educate everyone about the benefits of massage while giving the best massage they have ever gotten. Each session is focused on working with our guests to try and improve their health and wellness by providing a customized massage. We do not push products or treatments; the massage speaks for itself. I also wanted to create a space that felt like home and not a spa or medical treatment facility. Our therapy rooms have unique names like “Glow” or “Tree” and our reception areas are designed to feel like a typical living room where you can just relax and not feel like you are just in a waiting room.
We started in an old house on 14th Street. Word quickly got around that we were the best massage in town and we outgrew that space. In 2014 we moved to our current location on Peachtree Street. We are active in the community. You will see us at the Piedmont Park Green Market, Streets Alive, and many other Midtown events. Our center is also very unique in that when we designed it in 2014, we installed a professional gallery system to showcase local artwork. Throughout the year we work with local artists and provide a venue for them to share their talents with the community. As new art rotates into our space we also sponsor an evening at the center for the artists to discuss their art. This is a free event, open to anyone who wants to meet the artists and spend some time with their neighbors in the community. We also provide free chair massage, lite bites, beverages and raffles during the art show.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge we have faced, and still face, is changing the perception of massage. Things have certainly improved in the past ten years and several insurance companies now cover massage therapy under their plans. They are starting to recognize that massage therapy is beneficial to the overall health and wellness of individuals and is increasingly being integrated into healthcare. Clinical research is also now publishing studies proving that massage therapy is helpful with a variety of health issues like stress, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, arthritis, headaches, and other maladies. I hope to continue to be a part of that transition. Several local area physicians refer their patients to our center.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At the center we want every client to leave their session more informed about the benefits of massage. The best way to do that is to give them the best massage they have ever received. I can’t tell you how many people come in skeptical and leave buying a package (which is a series of 8 massage sessions at a discounted price). Each session is focused on working with our guests to try and improve their health and wellness by providing customized massage. We do not push products or treatments; the massage speaks for itself. Our space is also unique in that it feels like a home and not a spa or medical treatment facility. Our therapy rooms have unique names like “Glow” or “Tree” and our reception areas are designed to feel like a typical living room where you can just relax and not feel like you are just in a waiting room waiting for a treatment,
I am very proud to have created a space where massage therapists who are dedicated to the profession have a place to focus on their craft. Many times massage centers control their therapists and make them follow company policies geared towards pushing product or memberships. Not here. All of our therapists have their own businesses outside of The Art of Touch and they are free to operate as they see fit. We make it easy for them to use the massage center to offer their services. Our flexible model draws the best therapists in Atlanta because they have the freedom to focus on massage.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
You should not try to do everything. Focus on what you are good at and then find people you trust to handle the things you are not so good at. Treat everyone with respect and always take the high ground; no matter what. Don’t get distracted by what people are saying about your business online (good or bad). Stay true to your values. At the end of the day if you remain focused on why you opened your business, then things usually take care of themselves.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Art of Touch Therapeutic Massage Center
855 Peachtree St. NE (Viewpoint Building)
Suite 2B
Atlanta, GA 30308 - Website: www.theartoftouchmassage.com
- Phone: (404) 602-4054
- Email: sgrant@theartoftouchmassage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artoftouchatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtofTouchAtlanta
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/artoftouchatl
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-art-of-touch-atlanta?osq=massage
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
