Massage parlor chain keeps market foothold

A Cebu-based massage parlor, which offers plain massage services, managed to keep its niche in the market despite the emergence of the more sophisticated spa salons.           

Although it has a striking similarity to the concept of spas, a massage parlor offers plain massage to its customers.

Nuat Thai has been in operation for only two years but the company has managed to expand its reach to a widely-segmented client-base. Having started by a couple from their mere obsession to massage treatments, the company now has around 26 outlets nationwide after it started to go into franchising just two months after it was established in January 2005.

In Cebu, Nuat Thai has six outlets located in Minglanilla, Rajah Park in Fuente, Ranudo St. in Ramos, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and in Gorordo Avenue. They also have branches in Dumaguete, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Taytay in Rizal, Pagadian, Zamboanga, and in Makati, Metro Manila.

Since the company owns only one outlet due to the many interested franchisees, Nuat Thai franchisor Annabelle L. Carudo outlaid their plan to open another outlet in Manila next year.

She said in an interview that their Manila outlet which is located in Makati is receiving an overwhelming number of clients everyday and so opening another outlet will help cater to the overflowing customers in the area. Next year, another outlet will also be opened in Lapu-Lapu.

Carudo discussed that as a franchisor, she monitors very closely the needs of her franchisees although she does not intervene in their decisions in terms of running the business is concerned.

In Nuat Thai’s Ranudo branch in Ramos, franchisee Em-Em A. Abelgas is keen on creating marketing plans that will boost the number of clients they service everyday especially during this holiday season. —Rhia de Pablo