MANSFIELD — Nikki Noel and Whitney Schroeder have brought one of their dreams to life by purchasing a building for Massage Matters.
In late 2018, the Mansfield women bought the building, where they’ve been working for the past several years.
“I’ve been in this for eight years now, and Whitney and I have talked about doing something like this for probably the past three years, but we didn’t want to do it unless the circumstances were absolutely right,” Noel said.
When the owner of the building offered them a chance to buy the space, it felt like the stars aligned. So on Dec. 26, the two bought the former Eclipse Dental Lab, at 324 Lexington Ave.
“I jumped at the chance,” Schroeder said. “It was a goal of mine to be able to do for a very long time. And it was great to do it with her. We have a great working relationship together.”
Since then, she and Noel have began moving their businesses to the first floor. They had previously been located on the second floor.
Both own the building together, but work independently as certified massage therapists. Schroeder specializes in deep tissue massage, therapeutic massage, myofascial release massage and craniosacral therapy, and Noel focuses on trigger point therapy, medical massage and myofascial release massage. Schroeder moved into the Lexington Avenue location in 2012 and Noel in 2014.
“We have become really good friends over the years,” Schroeder said. “There’s not many people I would want to go into business with, so we really trust each other completely.”
She says they have no problems communicating with one another and can sometimes predict how the other will react.
Noel and Schroeder intend to rent the upper floor of the building to other therapists. Two of the three rooms are already leased. Their own offices will be on the first floor, and are currently being remodeled.
Their vision is to offer therapeutic massage services without a spa focus.
“We definitely both have the same vision,” Schroeder said.
She was born and raised in Mansfield, but resided elsewhere in Ohio before moving back to the area.
Noel is from Kentucky and moved to Mansfield as a middle school student with her family.
Both now reside in Mansfield with their families. Noel has three children and Schroeder has two.
“This is the career you have to have life balance. Because it’s my own business, I’m my own boss, I make my own hours. I am home every day when my kids get off the bus,” Noel said.
Further, massage is a second career for both of them. Schroeder initially studied communication, and Noel studied psychology.
“I always wanted to help people. I have a servant’s heart, and this was a way to fulfill that, but also be available to my kids,” Noel said.
Schroeder echoed these sediments.
“It’s rocky getting going, but once you hit your year mark and get your regular customers, it’s great. I do it for the same reasons,” she said.
