I sat down with Oghenetega Gbadagri, the founder The Mobile Spa to get to know her and her journey as a wellbeing entrepreneur managing one of Nigeria’s most on-demand spa.
Tell us a little about yourself and your business.
I’m Tega, I am a wellbeing entrepreneur and the founder of Nigeria’s foremost on-demand Spa: The Mobile Spa. I am certified by the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC UK). I am also trained and hold certificates in various therapies including – Massage, Facials, Collagen Induction, Electrocautery and Advanced Dermapeeling.
What is your ‘why’ i.e. bottom line and how do you stay motivated?
I am committed to helping people improve their skincare and wellbeing by making spa services easily accessible to them in their personal space.
I stay motivated by surrounding myself with positive and supportive people, practicing gratitude, regularly reviewing my goals and progress, celebrating my wins no matter how little, and investing in my self-care & well-being.
What do you feel are your biggest achievements?
Growing The Mobile Spa brand to include other team members is my biggest achievement. The Mobile Spa travels to our client’s location to deliver spa & wellbeing services. In the past, the cost of transportation from our primary location to different parts of Lagos was a huge challenge. Some areas were farther and the cost of travel sometimes matched the cost of the service which left us unprofitable.
In 2019, I was able to decentralize our take off points and set a flat rate for transportation, exclusive of the service charge which covers for the cost of travel to and fro the client’s location.
Currently, most of our therapists are equipped to fulfil appointments taking off directly from their residence across 12 different parts of Lagos Mainland and Island respectively. We make use of the Uber & Bolt Car Hire system. This has helped us reduce cost and have a predictable transportation cost per location. Thus scaling up and increasing profit.
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
I enjoy watching romantic movies and spending time with my family
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Creating solutions that improve people’s wellbeing!!
Introduce your company the way you would to a potential customer.
The Mobile Spa delivers massages, face and body treatments to clients in the comfort and privacy of their space – home, office or event.
We believe that customers should not encounter the stress of commuting to and fro different locations in order to get rejuvenated with spa treatments, so we make high quality spa services accessible & convenient.
We transform their spaces into a spa in a way that is minimally reversible without clogging their spaces or getting in their way.
The Mobile Spa was launched in 2014, for some years, I was the sole therapist delivering these on demand services. The Mobile Spa now has over 15 wellbeing therapists serving various clients across Lagos.
Where can people find out more about your business?
You can find us on our website at https://themobilespa.com.ng/. You can follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/themobilespalagos/.
You can also reach out to me directly on Whatsapp at +2349029542951, send me a DM on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tegagbadagri/ or connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/oghenetega-itec-uk-24a166b1/. You’re also welcome to send me an email on tega@themobilespa.com.ng.
How have you carved a niche for yourself in your industry?
We offer a wide range of treatment options cutting across massages, face & body treatments as offered at the day spa. Our clients enjoy the same benefits of a spa treatment in the comfort of their space. We create memorable spa experiences wherever people want it by transforming their space evoking the physical and psychological effect of getting rejuvenated.
We have set up spa in the most unusual places – at the beach, parties, offices, conferences, fairs, rooftops, resorts and we have also been to movie sets. We are the go-to for on demand spa services.
If you were given $1m to invest in *business*, where would it go?
I would use the money to build an aggregator app available in major Nigerian cities that connects individuals and corporations to therapists that are available to offer on demand spa and wellbeing services within 60 minutes of booking. The money would be invested in app development, recruitment, training & development, marketing and spa supplies.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Planning; delegation and the setting SMART goals
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community?
The best advice I’ve received is that as an entrepreneurs I should build a business that can thrive without me by setting up relevant systems and processes.
What business-related books have inspired you the most?
There’s actually quite a few, but my current favorites are 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey; Traction by Gino Wickman and Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow.
What advice will you give young entrepreneurs who are just starting out?’
Focus on the things that you’re good at and outsource your weaknesses – If booking keeping, graphic design etc. are not your strength, don’t get stuck on doing everything yourself. Find experts that offer these services for a small fee, it will help you focus on your core business and improve efficiency.
Oghenetega is currently on the High Growth Coaching Program working to grow and scale The Mobile Spa.
