The largest and fastest growing membership-based massage therapy provider in Canada has a new clinic in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood. The franchisee is a massage client-turned-RMT-turned-owner, and his clinic is Massage Addict’s 79th in Canada.
TORONTO, ONTARIO Mar. 7, 2018—A Toronto Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) is the newest member of the Massage Addict franchisee family. Vic Zabala opened his Massage Addict clinic, located at 773 Bathurst St., in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, on February 27th.
The Switch
Zabala made the move from the finance industry to massage therapy after receiving bi-weekly massage treatments. “My RMT told me I was stressed,” said Zabala. “She said I should relax, quit my job, and become an RMT instead.” During an economic downturn in 2008, Zabala took that advice and enrolled in the RMT program at Sutherland Chan.
“It totally changed my perspective,” said Zabala, who has been a practicing RMT for the past five years, most recently at Massage Addict’s Yonge-Lawrence clinic in Toronto.
Zabala said he had always wanted to open a Massage Addict clinic, ever since seeing Massage Addict on an episode of CBC’s Dragons’ Den in 2012.
Strong Support
As for the transition from RMT to owner, Zabala plans on continuing to treat clients as he takes the lead at his new clinic. “Being a new clinic owner and a therapist myself, it gives me unique insight of how to manage the clinic from both an RMT and managerial perspective. And because I worked at another Massage Addict location, I understand the values and benefits required to develop a strong team.”
Zabala has plenty of help— namely from the Massage Addict Head Office, where there’s over 130 years’ worth of combined experience in marketing, operations, information technology, finance and business leadership. New owners are guided through everything from finding a site to construction, training, recruiting, opening day, marketing, and day-to-day operational support.
“It’s always a good thing when our RMTs become our franchisees,” said Massage Addict CEO Fraser Clarke. “It’s a testament to the strength of the Massage Addict brand, the clinic culture and environment. The opportunity to own a Massage Addict franchise gives the RMT additional security for their future – something we are pleased to be able to provide and support.”
For Zabala, the clinic is a family affair. Zabala’s partner, Amal, is also part of his clinic management team. Amal handles the financial side and the paperwork, and Vic handles the day-to-day operations. “And my son who loves massage treatments has already found his favourite spot in the clinic.”
The Annex Massage Addict clinic is located at 773 Bathurst Street. For more information, or to learn about franchising opportunities, visit www.massageaddict.ca.
About Massage Addict
Massage Addict—celebrating its 10th anniversary this year— is Canadian owned and operated. With close to 80 clinics and some 900 Registered Massage Therapists, we provide over 55,000 treatments each month to manage pain, stress, anxiety, injury, muscle tension, and much more. Since opening the first clinic in 2008, Massage Addict has been helping clients improve their health through quality massage therapy that’s both affordable and convenient.