This St Patrick’s Day, as you dust off your green sweater, tuck into some corned beef and cabbage and wash it down with a swig of Guinness you might think about what it truly means to be Irish. Green fields? Leprechauns? Good luck?
Perhaps taking a look at McVeigh Massage, a flourishing massage studio owned and operated by the Irish lad, David McVeigh, will clear away the smoky image of a crowded bar and replace it with something fresh! McVeigh is a product of the Celtic Tiger generation. A generation born into an economy rocked by poverty and political strife, which witnessed innovation, drive and entrepreneurship propel the Emerald Isle’s lackluster economy toward success. Buoyed by his country’s economic and cultural prosperity, David plunged feet first into the idea of creating opportunities, rather than waiting for them to appear. In his teens he developed a passion for health and fitness, as the masses of the small nation transitioned from civil rights marches to city marathons.
The six-person team at McVeigh Massage focuses on the health benefits of massage. “ I think it is easy to get wrapped up in decadence and luxury; we are choosing to place the therapeutic benefits of massage at the core of our business”. In a sluggish economy David has worked diligently to create a business model which values the friendly, socially responsible, hard-working nature that defined many a generation before his. He values the strong sense of amiable hospitality that he grew up with. At the same time, he is fiercely committed to providing impeccable, quality service.
David has been innovative in his approach to providing high quality massage as well as customer convenience. By utilizing technology McVeigh Massage is able to offer the level of massage and service they want while maintaining a reasonable price point. Clients are invited to book their appointments on line at mcveighmassage.com, or on Facebook. Availability for each therapist is easy to see, allowing clients to discreetly select an appointment with the therapist of their choice. David grabbed this technology with both hands when he saw the opportunity: “I was concerned that clients would be reluctant to use online scheduling but when I thought about its potential, I had to give it a try. It turned out that the majority of my clients loved it. In fact, many of them said they prefer it over booking in person or by phone”. The McVeigh Massage website also includes convenient features such as gift certificate sales. Customers even have a choice of an instant electronic gift card or a sleeker mailed gift card.
If ever there was a universally accepted Irish trait, it is easygoing friendliness. This unassuming but accommodating style is ideal in the massage field, especially in a friendly city like Santa Barbara. There is a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere amongst the staff, who shares similar philosophies in their approach to treatments. McVeigh Massage aims to balance efficiency with personal attention .Says McVeigh, “By leaving a little extra time between appointments, we are able to run a tight ship without making clients feel they are being rushed out of the room. It isn’t about selling lotions or a volume customer base. Each of the therapists sees the importance of really listening to our clients so we can offer them the relief and treatment they actually want, in a setting that makes them feel at ease”.
Instead of dishing out green shot glasses, or inflating an oversized shamrock over the weekend, McVeigh Massage promises to offer a truly Irish welcome, and quality massage all year round. Their stellar reputation in the Santa Barbara community is a testament to the efforts of their committed owner. With their recent move to the larger 1907 State Street studio, and the growth of their team, McVeigh Massage plans to continue its evolution into a modern, fresh, massage studio. They offer a broad range of massage treatments including Swedish, sports and deep tissue. You can now prepare, repair or just relax in clean, convenient, comfort! Céilí (pronounced: Kaylee; contemporary meaning: a casual visit) with McVeigh Massage at their open house on Friday March 29th, from 2pm to 8pm.
For information and updates, visit mcveighmassage.com or search for McVeigh Massage on Facebook.
