Meet Amber Briggle | Founder and CEO of Soma Massage Therapy

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

Hi Amber, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Soma Massage Therapy is a people-first business. That means that I value the health and safety of my team first and foremost. I treat my massage therapists like the health care professionals that they are and honor their time and needs so that they can stay balanced and grounded at work. I make sure that our clients receive a full 60 minute session AND have time to have a comprehensive check-in with their therapist before their massage begins so we can be aware of their goals and boundaries, and make sure that we are able to customize their appointment specifically to their needs that day. I encourage our therapists to take time off when they are sick vs forcing them to come into work because I’ve got some “quota” or budget or something that I’ve got to meet that day. And I also fire clients who act inappropriately, because I want Soma to be a safe space for everyone and that type of energy is 100% not welcome here. These are just a few of the countless examples of ways I strive to personalize my approach to everything I do at Soma in order to prioritize the people that make this business the incredible success that it is. When you put your people first, you understand their needs better, and are better able to respond to the fluctuations in the business on an ongoing basis. They feel valued and heard and important. But when you’re only in it for the money, then everyone — your employees and your clients — feel used and exploited, and will eventually leave. Put money first, and the business falls apart. Put people first instead, and everything falls into place. That’s the difference.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are a million ways that Soma Massage Therapy stands out from the rest: from our no-tipping policy (you’ve never tipped your physical therapist or chiropractor, so why would you tip your massage therapist? We are health care professionals, not service industry workers!) to our full 60-minute sessions, no-membership-required model, our 1200+ five-star reviews on Google, and our people-first approach to everything we do, it’s pretty evident from the moment you walk into one of our studios that your experience at Soma is going to be special. We personalize everything, and our massage therapists understand that they need to be versatile and flexible in their approach to every client, because every client is going to present with different needs and a one-size-fits-all approach to massage is a sure-fire way to lose someone’s business.

I think one of the things I’m most proud about in my business is that we went from the brink of extinction during covid, to emerging 14 months later with a brand new studio, a team twice the size as before, and now grossing over $1,000,000 annually. Prior to covid, we had 13 therapists. When we were ordered to close and then reopened 2 months later, my team had dwindled to only 4 people — and one by one, they continued to quit due to the stresses of the pandemic. Today we have 2 studios in Denton, TX, a team of almost 30 people, see over 1,000 clients a month, gross over $1,000,000 annually, and are now franchising. If you had told me that this was possible that night in March 2020 when I turned off the lights and locked the door for what I thought I was the last time, I never would have believed you. Yet a little more than a year later, we emerged like a phoenix and have just kept growing and thriving since then.

I did this by staying true to our values, not compromising on safety, and having probably an unhealthy amount of tenacity and stubbornness. I was determined not to let my business fail over something that I didn’t do wrong, and that determination has paid off in spades. I’m so proud of where we’re at today, and I’m excited to be franchising to bring this healing touch to communities across the nation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I just love Denton so stinking much, that I probably wouldn’t even leave town! I’d grab breakfast at our neighbors over at L’Amitie (y’all don’t sleep on their breakfast potatoes or grits omg omg), go hike a few miles at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, then grab a great taco at El Taco H or maybe lunch at one of our amazing food trucks here in town — there seem to be a plethora of Indian food trucks here that I’ve been dying to try out, so maybe we’d drive around and try several? Sounds like a plan to me! Definitely an afternoon on the historic downtown Square — we have some cute boutiques (I see you, Old Bear Vintage!, two awesome bookstores, and of course homemade ice cream at Beth Marie’s. If it was a Saturday, we’d probably chill on the square and listen to the jam that happens every morning when musicians from across the area bring their instruments and have a little hootinanny until it gets too hot to play anymore. The Denton Community Market is a must-see, too, with all the local vendors and artists! Nighttime is the best time in Denton, with the courthouse and all the pecan trees on the square all lit up and twinkling, so we’d grab a mocktail at Miss Angeline’s or The Bearded Monk and chill. And OF COURSE every visit to Denton couldn’t be complete without a massage at Soma Massage Therapy! We’d definitely fit that in for sure!

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?
My entire team deserves a shout out! I couldn’t do ANY of this without having a solid team behind me, supporting me, and believing in the goals we share together. Jourdan Harrison — our GM at Soma — has held this ship steady despite some incredibly choppy waters (anyone remember covid?! yikes!) so that I could keep my eye on the horizon and guide us to our destination. Additionally, my husband, Adam, does a lot of the heavy lifting at home so that I can focus on the business and make sure that we are meeting our goals. I couldn’t do this without his help and without his belief in me. But my ENTIRE team deserves credit, and I’m so proud of all of them!

Website: https://mysomamassage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysomamassage

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysomamassage

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mysomamassage

Image Credits
Headshot taken by Michael Briggs