Today we’d like to introduce you to Zella Cuyler.
Hi Zella, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am Zella Sa’Candise Cuyler, Owner of LaCura Salt Spa. I have a beautiful daughter named Yanna and am married to my fantastic husband, Jarrod. The journey to spa ownership started years ago when the CEO of a company I worked for sent my coworker and me to the Spa as an employee appreciation gift. I was so amazed, as I’d never been to such a place in my life, and I loved every moment. I invited my friends and family to that Spa to give them that same experience. They also were not spa patrons but enjoyed their time there. I realized that people of color from humble beginnings are not often exposed to such environments, partly because the prices are not affordable for the typical blue or entry-level white-collar workers. I also realized that only a few people of color or many young people were in sight at these high-end places. I told myself I would own a boutique spa one day and want a diverse clientele where everyone feels welcomed and valued.
Affordable pricing is critical, so people who need the services can enjoy them. During the pandemic in the summer of 2021, being at home a lot more gave me the time to sit back and think about how I would own a Spa. Then, I wrote my first business plan, began to work on my first deal, and verbalized my intention.
I came upon LaCura Salt Spa in St. Augustine, Florida, and immediately fell in love. As I looked at the amount of money and time it would take to create one from scratch, I got honest with myself and thought it would be best for me to purchase a pre-existing spa. My spirit said yes. I searched for several while working my full-time job, but none were stuck. It was like a nudge from God.
On September 1st, 2022, I became the new owner of Black Boutique Spa Corporation dba LaCura Sat Spa in St. Augustine, Florida. I am also the Secretary of the AnnieRuth Foundation in Jacksonville, FL, where we heavily invest in the youth of our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Does Anyone Take you Seriously?
– When I first came out about my intention, only some took me seriously. It was challenging and eye-opening that sometimes even those close to you aren’t always able to comprehend the dreams and visions God has given to you. I am happy that my husband was willing to invest in my dream.
Financial Struggles?
– Everyone says, “oh, get an SBA loan or a startup loan.” I laugh now because it’s just not that simple. When acquiring a business, specific criteria must be met, including showing “experience” in the industry/field. I had never been a spa owner, so I needed something else. Although a minority, I still couldn’t get a startup loan either. Oh, and having a storefront is a different ball game. Thankfully, I had a friend to help me navigate my finances to allow me to purchase with my funds.
Negotiations?
I placed my first offer on LaCura Salt Spa in November of 2021. The deal fell through. I thought it was over for me at that time. Six months later, the same spa came on the market, and I got it at a much lower price.
Licensing and Permits?
Yeah, for a spa, there are many licenses to acquire. There are inspections to pass. There are a lot of tasks to be handled to keep your doors open. Thankfully the previous owner helped me navigate these waters.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the Owner/Operator of LaCura Salt Spa. It is a boutique day spa centered around health and wellness.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My goal in life was to become a doctor. So, I went to Darnell Cookman School of the Medical Arts in preparation. I was accepted to the FAMU pharmacy program during my senior year in high school, but I soon learned I was pregnant. I had my daughter 3.5 months early and became a mom at 17. I enrolled at UNF and worked three jobs at once to give my daughter the life I desired. I graduated with a degree in Economics, as I was decent in mathematics and business principles. I served as an executive assistant to a CEO and then went on to work for BofA as an analyst. I wrote and published my first book, “I Walk With Purpose,” at 25, and I got married in 2020 during the pandemic. My great-grandmother raised me in 32208. I was on government assistance, a struggling college student, and a single mom. However, I believe in God’s miracles, as he has shown himself to me throughout my entire life. I am today, at 28, an educated black woman and CEO of a day spa.
Pricing:
- 30min Ionic Detox Foot Bath ……. $35
- 45min Salt Therapy Session ……. $35
- 30min Infrared Sauna Session ……. $45
- 30min Express Facial ……. $65
- 30min Healing Massage ……. $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lacurasaltspa
.com - Instagram: https://www.instagr
am.com/lacurasaltspa/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook
.com/LacuraSaltSpa - Other: https://lacurasaltspa.c
om/schedule-now-at-lacura-salt -spa/#book-now
Image Credits
Juan Kurtis Productions
