The Massage Company celebrates its tenth UK site

The Massage Company (TMC) has opened its newest site in Reading town centre. The £500,000 massage therapy centre marks TMC’s tenth UK opening.

The 185sqm Reading site is the latest opening in the nationwide expansion of the specialist massage franchise.

Following TMC’s business model, the site will be open seven days a week offering affordable massages and membership options.

TMC was founded in 2016 by Charlie Thompson and Elliot Walker, aiming to make massage more accessible, inclusive and convenient. It offers a monthly subscription model, similar to streaming giant Netflix.

The aim is to make massage a regular part of self-care routines so that more people can benefit from its positive impact on physical and mental health.

TMC Reading

The Reading TMC has ten treatment rooms and will employ a team of up to ten highly trained massage therapists.

The centre will specialise in four types of massage – sports, Swedish, deep-tissue and maternity. There is also a choice of upgrade options including hot stone, scalp massage, aromatherapy and a foot treatment.

“Often, massage is very expensive and quality is variable. We’re aiming to change that with a welcoming environment, a monthly subscription model and a team of therapists trained to the highest standards,” said Swati Bagwe, co-owner of the Massage Company, Reading

“Our aim is to make regular, affordable massage more readily available. It’s a completely different concept to anything else in and around Reading,” added Bagwe.

Speaking exclusively to European Spa, Elliot Walker, founder and CEO of the Massage Company, says the concept is already popular.

“Research shows that regular treatments promote improvements in both physical and mental health,” he said. “Now these benefits will be available to the people of Reading without having to travel long distances.”

Quality massage treatments at scale

Talking about his aspirations for TMC in the coming year, Walker said: “Our goal is to grow TMC so there is national coverage across the UK.

“Customers want hands-on treatments. When this can be provided locally, in a purpose-built environment that’s accessible at all times during the day, it works.

“The business is then to be able to provide quality treatments at scale, so it becomes a commercially viable operation.

“Run well, with an efficient and inspirational management structure, the business can also properly reward employees. This means the therapist also wins because they are properly remunerated, with proper working contracts and conditions, all in a supported structure.”

Making high streets useful again

Walker believes TMC is playing an instrumental role in changing face of the high street.

“The pandemic brought along an explosion of retail closures; now TMC will be instrumental in making high streets useful again,” he said.

“For me the city centre eco-system was stale, homogenised and focused solely on buying products. The new high street is vibrant, with a passionate workforce and customers who come for the personal care and attention missing in so many of our lives.

“TMC allows customers who have experienced a brilliant treatment, say on holiday or in a destination spa, to be able to afford to get those physical and mental wellness benefits regularly, and access them on their doorstep.

“We employ a team of 20-30 people in each site, much more than any retailer of a similar sized unit. We bring employment opportunities as well as thousands of customer treatments each month – we bring a vibrant workforce into the city centre.”

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