At Massage Heights, we never get tired of highlighting our amazing franchise owners. Kristy and Neil Serdinsky became Massage Heights franchise owners back in the summer of 2016 and have gone on to establish a thriving Retreat in the upscale, bustling shopping center of Jetton Village in Cornelius, North Carolina - a northern suburb of Charlotte.
About Kristy and Neil Serdinsky
Kristy is also the founder, owner, and educational director of NC Massage School, which offers holistic and flexible massage therapy instruction that’s become a workforce pipeline for her Retreat and other therapeutic facilities across the region. Prior to choosing an entrepreneurial path, she enjoyed a successful teaching and operations career in the charter and private education space.
Her husband and strategic partner, Neil, has managed exchange and market data for the past two decades for Wells Fargo Securities. Together, they’re raising four active children and are very involved in the local community where they both work and play. Kristy relishes her role as the day-to-day leader of their Retreat. She says owning a business of her own was always her dream and that Massage Heights was simply “…the perfect choice.” We sat down with the Serdinskys to get some insights from their entrepreneurial journey.
What ultimately helped you to make your decision to become a franchisee with Massage Heights?
We chose Massage Heights because it’s a family brand and also a leader in the industry. There is an immense sense of belonging and personal attention and we aren’t just a number in the system. We have personalized support from Corporate and still have a large network of franchisees to collaborate with who each have their own entrepreneurial spirit.
What excites you most about being a business owner in the Charlotte market but specifically the Cornelius community?
We believe it is important for our members and guests to know that the owners of their Massage Heights are also their neighbors.
We believe being a resident of the same town as our business allows us to develop stronger ties within the local community. We are committed to Cornelius and our neighboring towns, actively participating in community events, engaging with neighbors, and building meaningful relationships with our clients and fellow business owners.
What was your perception of franchising before you began this process? What do you want people to know about franchising now that you are an experienced business owner?
We never had a bad or negative perception of franchising but it has certainly opened our eyes to understand that franchising doesn’t mean “big corporate chain.” It actually means small business owner. We want more people to understand that oftentimes franchising is the best opportunity for people to become small business owners. We chose a franchise because we wanted a team of educated leaders in this industry to guide and support us through the process of opening and running a business. It was absolutely the best choice for us and our family. Franchisees are your friends, family and local neighbors. Supporting a franchise is supporting a small business owner.
What excites you most about the growth you’ve experienced and Massage Heights as a brand?
With this business, we are able to touch more and more lives. Since we have grown from 7 massage therapists year one to 18 today, we are now able to serve so many more people in our community and help contribute to their sense of well-being and improved quality of life. With our membership program, it guarantees our members consistent access to massage therapy, fostering a proactive approach to their overall health.
We are also extremely proud that we have cultivated a team culture centered around empathy, understanding, and a genuine desire to provide exceptional service and personalized care and attention to each person who walks in our door. Growing over the past eight years to serve over 1,000 members in our community and assembling an incredible team of over 25 employees has been an amazing journey that fills us with pride.
Why North Carolina is an Attractive Market
The entire metro Charlotte area is home to over two million residents, with over a decade of consecutive growth. Nine Fortune 500 companies call this area home, including Bank of America and Lowe’s. Plus, Charlotte is the second-largest banking center in the U.S. behind New York City. All of that to say, there is plenty of opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in the Charlotte market.
If Kristy and Neil Serdinsky’s entrepreneurial journey inspires you to investigate the Massage Heights franchise opportunity, click here to view our available territories and schedule an introductory call with our franchise team to learn more.