An Inspiring Start-up is awarded to owners of companies that are in existence for no longer than three years. In this way we want to publicly praise the courage, determination and consistence of young entrepreneurs who build their companies from scratch, who have a chance of success and who can be a paragon for other enterprising young people.

 

Szczecinbiznes.pl: Why did you decide to open your own studio?

 

Katarzyna Palejko: In 2014 I got a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and massage. Finding a job without professional experience was not easy, but after two months I got a job at a private massage clinic and started working with a hospital. After a year I started thinking about my own business, because I wanted to be able to apply my own standards. My fiancé, who is also a masseur [Maciej Żygadło] helped me a lot in pursuing my dreams. We decided to establish a studio in which each of us would carry on our own business, but under the same name. Part of the costs of the clinic came from a loan extended by the Polish Entrepreneurs Foundation under the Klon programme (PLN 40 thousand).

 

What is the offer of MK Clinique?

 

We offer a variety of massages and electrotherapy, kinesiotherapy and reflexotherapy treatments. We also offer Spa rituals, which are massages that heal mind and body. Our massages are given with natural cosmetics. We want to expand our offer addressed at companies, i.e. massages at the workplace. Prices are attractive and range from PLN 10 to 160. 

 

What is your success secret or way to become known in the market?

 

I think it is the heart that we put into our work. Somewhere deep in my mind I do think about becoming a market leader, but our primary objective is satisfied clients. Every happy client who recommends our services gives us more happy clients. I believe that to achieve success in this industry one has to take care of the client and good interpersonal relationships.

 

What would you consider your biggest success so far?

 

Satisfied clients. Besides, every stage of running this business is my small success. I do not focus on mistakes − they are rather a lesson learned. I need to make another step forward. There are number of everyday problems. Every new situation is a challenge, starting with the uncertainty how to start a telephone conversation to keeping the deadlines and making timely payments. When you run your own business every minute, every hour matters.

 

How many clients do you have and which services do you provide most often?

 

The number of customers is growing. I provide many services at my customers’ homes. I wanted to drop it, but there are more and more people who need bedside rehabilitation. These are patients who suffered strokes, accidents, have orthopaedic or neurological problems, also children. Neurology is closest to my heart, but I keep learning to be able to provide help to everyone that needs it.

 

Our studio [at Obrońców Stalingradu 2] is usually visited by overtired and stressed people who, usually as a result of sitting long hours at work, have tense muscles and feel pain in their necks and loins. They need relaxing and therapeutic massage. People with work-related problems make up at least half of our clients. As far as workplace massage is concerned, time is necessary for this type of service to catch on.

 

What does your usual day look like?

 

On Mondays and Thursdays from 8.30 a.m. to noon I visit clients at their homes. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I work at my studio. I try to keep Fridays off because I keep studying. In June this year I will get my master’s degree in physiotherapy and complete post-graduate studies in neurorehabilitation and a school of massage and natural treatments. I will then take up more courses, maybe PhD or post-graduate studies. I want to continue my professional development. Being a masseur or physiotherapist requires continued education and being up to date with any medical novelties.

 

What are your plans for the future?

 

We are moving to a new location − as of the beginning of May we will have our studio at Raginisa Street in the Central Park estate, near Emilii Szczanieckiej Street. Lower running costs are an additional benefit.

 

Talked Alicja Kowalska