Naturally Relaxing
Harman Dhaliwal and Gabrielle Zoppa have come through the hard times together.
When the duo started Spa Botanica six years ago, “we had zero dollars,” said Dhaliwal.
What they did have was experience. Before she came to Canada, Dhaliwal had a similar business in India. She and Zoppa met while working together at a Winnipeg spa. “We wanted to make our own mark.”
With Futurpreneur’s help, they were able to arrive at a business plan and secure funding. The first year in business was difficult, but the second almost did them in. “There were days when we couldn’t feed our kids,” said Dhaliwal, who has a teenage daughter, while Zoppa has two pre-teens. Both are single parents.
“We turned to Winnipeg Harvest. We’re so thankful for that help.” The spa is a drop-off location for donations to the food bank now, and they volunteer their time with Harvest and work to support other community and charitable initiatives. “We want to be able to give back,” she said.
They found the strength between them to keep going. “There were days when I just wanted to be done, or she did, but we pumped each other up. We were there for each other.” That trust and belief in their dream carried them through to today, with a business that is doing well and saw them win the 2018 Futurpreneur Grit award. In February this year, they renovated their space at 1459 Corydon Ave. The renovations allowed them to deliver their menu of services in a setting that is even more welcoming and comfortable for their clients.
Spa Botanica uses Ayurvedic recipes for their treatments, made on site with ingredients that offer purifying, hydrating, anti-aging, nourishing and clarifying benefits. Ayurveda is India’s traditional mind-body health system. Dhaliwal remembers watching her mother and grandmother make treatments using ingredients from their home kitchens.
“We use organic, natural and fair trade ingredients,” said Dhaliwal. A number of their treatments are unique to Winnipeg, including the 30-minute cupping facial treatment that uses mild suction to treat skin.
They also support local businesses within the spa, from featuring a line of local jewellery, essential oils and a Winnipeg importer of Moroccan argan oil.
Some of their most popular offerings – the Kids and Girls Night Out Mani/Pedi party packages incorporate items from neighbouring restaurants including Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano and Caked with Love. The spa has a liquor license in order to offer alcoholic beverages in a safe, relaxing environment, said Dhaliwal, including happy hours from noon to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Spa Botanica offers these treats, as well as retreats, typically held in the fall at resorts in Clear Lake or Minaki. These guided getaways encompass their philosophy of healing from the inside out.
“It’s not just a facial or a massage. We want people to feel refreshed and revived.”
Running their own business means Gabrielle Zoppa and Harmon Dhaliwal can offer the flexibility for themselves and their employees that they couldn’t have working for someone else.
Photos by Claudine Gervais
