Caprice Stagner
Mother Herbacious — Body Basics Massage & Facials
In March, I met with Caprice Stagner, a massage therapist, esthetician, and herbalist in Northwest Missouri.
Located in downtown St. Joseph, her business offers many services including myofascial release, swedish massage, holistic facials, Chinese cupping, and more.
Tell me a little bit about your business.
I work with my mom at Body Basics Massage and Facials, and with the massage I specialize in this modality called myofascial release. Which is a super slow paced massage that I pair with herb infused oils that I and other estheticians and herbalists make.
“It didn’t feel ethical of me to suggest a product that I would never use or suggest my family to use.”
Why did you start making your own products.
I started out doing facials for a company that was using a popular skin care line, and found myself being a terrible employee because I was telling my clients not to use certain products. I wasn’t selling anything and this made it clear to me that I couldn’t continue on in this way. It didn’t feel ethical of me to suggest a product that I would never use or suggest my family to use.
And not that it’s (synthetic products) bad, but there are ingredients that over time can add a buildup and cause harm to your skin. So it was pretty obvious that I had to focus on the products that I would use and would feel comfortable suggesting. I later studied and worked under Stephanie Hamilton, who owns an organic skincare line in KC called “Skin”, and she really helped me dive into skincare and not be intimated by making skincare products. From there I studied western herbalism and under herbalists who taught me exactly how to make the products I make now.
How did you start your business?
I began my business while I was still working full-time in Kansas City. I was accepting clients at my mom’s business, but it wasn’t until different chiropractors in the area started suggesting me to their own clients for massage. That’s when it got to the point where I had too many clients to continue with my full time job. I was able to then make the switch to full time massage and facials in St. Joseph, which has really been a great city to start my business. I would say that St. Joe has been amazing in the realm of being self-employed. Almost 100% of my clientele is from word of mouth or referrals. So I feel like the city is small enough where you can get your name out there and it’s not as saturated as somewhere else. So the town has lent itself to allow me to be self-employed.
I do want to be offering more modalities, but the only catch with St. Joseph is the size makes newer techniques slower to catch on. For instance, there are techniques I want to add to my practice that would work well in Kansas City, but for St. Joseph there needs to be more time to expand into those different modalities.
What’s been your most and least successful experiment with your business.
The biggest success I’ve had would be my massage and myofascial work. This year I tested the market for seasonal bodywork, because I wanted to offer more topical herbalism into my practice. So in the fall I offered an autumn massage and in the winter I offered a winter massage. For the fall massage, I was offering different items that would be more beneficial in that time of season, while with the winter massage, it’s been dry body brushing, a pine infused body butter, and hot oil treatments.
There are items that I’ve tried that I thought would go really well, but then did not. About three years ago I tried offering a DIY party where groups would come in and learn how to do a spa like facial at home. I had all the products available, which was a ton of work where I would have to shut down the studio to prep, and then host these parties for groups. I realized soon that these events were social for those attending, which would generally run over time because they were enjoying themselves, but I had other clients I needed to attend to. So this was one of those projects that I’m glad I did, but know that I can’t offer it since it won’t work in the long term.
What inspires you?
I love and try to make time for hiking in different areas. That makes me feel so good getting to see what is growing and blooming at different parts of the year. Having time outside just does so much good for myself and for other people as well.
I also get inspired by my son - that’s what really impacts me. Because being a mom – even though I have so much support – I make sure to check myself to go what works and what doesn’t. That way I can be a conscious parent who can look back and be really proud of myself and what I’ve done for him.
