Meet Emily Sanders | Medical Massage Therapist, Business/Sales Coach and Published Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After beginning my journey as a massage therapist in 2010, I found myself drawn to two distinct paths: one within the spa industry and the other alongside chiropractors, where my focus was more medically oriented. Each offered its own rewards, and I found fulfillment in both. However, I yearned to create a unique concept that combined elements from both worlds, allowing me to establish my own practice and earn the salary that I knew I deserved.

It took three years of dedication and hard work, but in 2013, I finally realized this reality and opened my own practice. This marked the culmination of years of experience, learning, and a strong desire to create something truly my own.

During the first year of operating my practice, I implemented various marketing strategies that led to an impressive 72% retention rate and fostered strong customer loyalty. It was a remarkable period where I not only found personal success but also experienced financial prosperity beyond what I had previously imagined while working for others.

Inspired by this success and eager to empower others in the industry, I felt a calling to pay it forward. This sparked the inception of a new idea: a salon/spa business model centered around providing a “teaching environment.” Here, independent beauty and wellness practitioners would have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of developing, creating, and operating their own practices. My vision was to offer a supportive space where others could achieve the same financial freedom and entrepreneurial success that I had found. In addition, I ventured to include an onsite child care option for the entrepreneurs that were working as practitioners as well as the guests that were coming in for services.

For about seven years, I dedicated myself to refining and evolving the business plan for my dream venture. Throughout this time, I tirelessly pursued financial backing to bring this idea to life. Finally, in 2020, amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, I achieved my long-held dream. Ilaria Salon and Med Spa opened its doors in Centennial, CO. It was a surreal moment, a culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and unwavering determination. Despite the unprecedented circumstances, seeing my vision materialize was nothing short of a dream come true.

The only aspect of the business that was not realized was the onsite childcare as there were too many new rules and restrictions at the time due to covid19 guidelines.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The period following our opening in 2020 was marked by incredible success as I was able to assist six practitioners in realizing their dreams of entrepreneurship. Each had previously been employees at various salons and spas, and I was able to help them create their own unique concepts, build clientele, and establish themselves in the industry. It was a rewarding and fulfilling experience to witness their growth and success in that first year and a half.

However, as 2022 unfolded, unforeseen challenges began to emerge, presenting obstacles that proved insurmountable for us all. Despite our best efforts, predominantly focused on addressing financial issues, we found ourselves unable to overcome the mounting difficulties. After a year of grappling with these challenges, I was faced with the agonizing decision to close the business in April 2023.

Facing the decision to close the business I poured a decade of effort into realizing has undoubtedly been the most challenging and heart-wrenching realization I’ve ever confronted. Acknowledging that it was faltering financially required me to confront the harsh reality head-on, a process that was incredibly difficult. It demanded a level of honesty and courage that I hadn’t anticipated, yet ultimately, it led me to make the decision that was best for my well-being and future prospects.

Returning to my private practice and serving my growing clientele with medical massage was a comforting return to familiar ground after the closure of my business. However, an unexpected opportunity arose when I was approached to write an article about my entrepreneurial journey for an online women’s magazine. Titled “Am I An Imposter Entrepreneur,” the article delved into my experiences and reflections, marking my debut as a published writer.

The positive reception of my article opened doors to further opportunities. In December 2023, I seized the chance to co-author a book with the same publishing company. The book is titled “Inspiring True Stories of Women Overcoming Adversity,” and my chapter (chapter 9) titled The Sixteen-Year-Old Girl Inside Me… offers a deeply personal exploration of my own journey spanning three decades. Deliberately suppressing a traumatic experience of sexual assault at sixteen years old had unknowingly shaped my life trajectory, diverting me from the path I had envisioned for myself.

Through writing, I uncovered profound insights into the ways in which trauma can manifest within the body, mind, and soul, impacting every aspect of one’s life. It was a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing, and I was grateful for the opportunity to share my story in the hope of inspiring others on their own paths of resilience and overcoming adversity. This book is scheduled to be published and available world wide on Amazon June 20, 2024.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being one of the proud few Colorado natives, I take great joy in showcasing the breathtaking beauty of our state. Among the many picturesque destinations, one holds a special place in my heart: Glenwood Springs, nestled three hours west of Denver amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains.

My affection for Glenwood Springs runs so deep that it became the focal point of my state costume when I had the honor of representing Colorado at the Nationals Miss for America competition in 2021. Crowned Miss Colorado for America, I proudly shared the allure and splendor of Glenwood Springs with a national audience, celebrating its natural wonders and captivating charm.

And of course, as a sports junky, I would have to strongly recommend that you get tickets to see our Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and our World Champion Denver Nuggets play depending on what time of year you are here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The years spent developing my concept were marked by numerous challenges, particularly when it came to pitching the idea to banks and investors. It was a period fraught with rejection, where the word “no” echoed more often than I care to recall. The discouragement wasn’t confined to professional spheres; even my three-year-old daughter seemed to echo the sentiment at times.

Despite my efforts to articulate and convey the vision behind my concept, it felt like an uphill battle to find someone who truly understood and believed in it. The journey was arduous, but it taught me resilience and the importance of unwavering belief in one’s vision, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

It’s often those chance encounters that lead to remarkable opportunities. In my case, it was a casual conversation with a massage client named Debbie that changed everything. Debbie, the founder of several Drop In Child Care franchises called KidsTown across the Denver area, showed immediate enthusiasm for my idea when I mentioned it to her.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity to share my idea earlier, I realized that I had hesitated out of a sense of intimidation. Debbie’s impressive stature and success made me doubt whether she would see value in my concept. The fear of facing yet another rejection from someone of her caliber weighed heavily on me. However, her enthusiastic response shattered those doubts, serving as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected allies can emerge from unexpected places.

Although we made plans to partner in this wellness center (that’s what we called it) Debbie later was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was devastating and so confusing that such a healthy and vibrant woman could be diagnosed in this way. After a year and a half of fighting, I lost Debbie in November 2018.

Her passing was a profound loss, and her unwavering belief in me and our shared vision left an indelible mark on my journey. Despite her courageous battle with breast cancer, she remained committed to our plans for the wellness center. In our final conversation, she entrusted me with a promise: to bring our dream to fruition or face her playful haunting of me for the rest of my life.

I kidded with her and said that I wasn’t sure that I could do it without her but knew she wasn’t kidding and that she would actually haunt me for the rest of my life if I gave up the dream. I took a year to strategize and finally was able to securing funding from a non-profit entrepreneurial organization and that was a pivotal moment, made possible by Debbie’s belief in me and the strength she instilled within me.

Debbie’s impact serves as a poignant reminder of the power of belief and the profound influence that one person can have on our journey. Her unwavering support propelled me forward, serving as a catalyst for realizing our shared destiny.

Website: https://emilysanderslmt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilys.victorioussecrets/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-sanders-lmt-owner-91822621/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilySandersDen

Image Credits
NIKKI BROOKER PHOTOGRAPHY
GILLIAM PHOTOGRAPHY
WOMEN THRIVE MEDIA