An unusual service in Shenzhen, China, has turned into a profitable business. According to the South China Morning Post, local entrepreneur Zhang Xiaoqiao has built a company around back-scratching sessions for clients. The chain’s two operating outlets generate about 100,000 yuan in monthly revenue, or roughly $15,000. The project has already reached break-even, the report said.
Zhang Xiaoqiao, 32, opened his first salon in May and launched a second one just a month later. During the sessions, customers lie on massage tables while staff gently scratch their backs and other parts of the body using specially designed artificial nails. A one-hour procedure costs 300 yuan, or about $40.
The entrepreneur says demand is being driven by high stress levels among residents of large cities. In his view, the service helps people relax, ease tension and improve sleep. Because no similar business had previously operated in China, Zhang had to develop the service technique from scratch.
The first two outlets are already profitable, and the founder is now planning a broader rollout. He aims to open as many as 100 such salons across China and turn the unusual service into a fully fledged profession. Zhang plans to expand the business through franchising and says he wants to set a new benchmark in the services market.
