Episode 20: Expanding from Your Roots

Cassie Sampson, founder of East Village Spa, recently spoke with Director of Small Business Resources at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Christina Moffatt, to share her startup story.

Cassie started out in college with a recreation therapy degree. After working within different health care settings and seeing the healing that can come from hands on work with muscles, she decided massage therapy was her calling.

Creating her ideal workspace

During her career Cassie worked in several different areas, including massage therapy private practice. She found that being on her own was very isolating and she missed the team setting. Cassie decided if she couldn’t find her ideal workplace, she would make it for herself.

After visiting the Historic East Village with a friend in 2006, Cassie rented a loft space and started her business in massage therapy. Wanting to fill the void of massage and skin care in the East Village, Cassie expanded in 2008 to her first store front.

East Village Spa is now in a space with 4,000 square feet and a team of 20 plus members. Throughout the years Cassie has been able to reconnect with her roots of recreational therapy, as well as growing into new areas of health and beauty.

Through all the changes in the industry and her personal journey, Cassie discusses her adventures including obstacles and advice. 

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