We have multiple different hot tubs at different temperatures, a medium-sized six-person sauna, a fire pit and dining area, treatment rooms and an ice bath, all looking out to sweeping views of Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands.
What inspired you to start the business?
It just emerged from doing hospitality. I used to work on super yachts, and I used to run the New Zealand Polo Open. My last gig was doing all of the events for wellness and culture at Auckland Grammar, so I’m quite used to holding space for large numbers of people doing large things.
But doing big events requires a lot of planning, promotion and post-analysis, which is really stressful and not good for your health. I got burnt out and then Covid hit, which also didn’t help. During that time I retrained as a health coach and I got a real passion for living a purposeful life and being close to nature. I couldn’t do the city life anymore.
Now being in Mangawhai, it’s one of the fastest-growing towns in New Zealand. I wanted to get ahead of that curve and make sure there was a hospitality offering, but one that tapped into the wellness trend, which is on the rise.
Tiki Beach is Mangawhai’s first wellness club and day spa, presenting a mix of wellness experiences in a natural outdoor setting.
You’ve only been open a short time, how has it been?
We opened on Labour weekend, so it’s still very early on but it’s been really good. We’ve been breaking records every week, which is what you want to hear.
My background is in marketing, so I do like to work towards an event or deadline. We worked on something for Valentine’s Day where people could reconnect as a couple, and then we’ll be working towards Mother’s Day. We also worked on Christmas gift vouchers using social media, which did pretty well.
I like to think that it was a really good concept, experiential gifts as opposed to getting cheap stuff from overseas. I’d rather go down the road and connect with my loved ones and make some memories than just buy something online.
How big is the team?
I use different contractors depending on the job. They’re mostly people who live quite locally, and when I get a booking I’ll arrange with them to come and practise. I do host the occasional retreat, so a group who want to do something like a sound journey or yoga. I’ve just got a big list of practitioners who come in as needed.
I would like to have full-time people here living on-site, but I need to be a lot busier for that to happen.
Visitors can use Tiki Beach’s stainless steel spas, ice baths and Finnish dry sauna.
What has been the biggest challenge in starting the business?
Just before I left Auckland I had quite a major brain injury, and as someone who is used to doing really big projects, it’s been hard for me to slow down. It’s quite ironic as someone always in a rush and really driven that I’ve opened a wellness centre where you slow down.
It’s weird recovering because you feel like you’re lazy or something, but it’s just a really complicated relationship with oneself. It’s been an interesting personal journey of my own evolution, and connecting my spirituality and hospitality knowing that I’ve got to honour myself in this. I’m a big part of the brand.
What would be your advice to a budding entrepreneur wanting to start a business?
The same advice that was given to me – do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life. If you’re having tough times and you’re really obsessed with what you do, that drive is going to carry you through.
I always knew I was going to be an entrepreneur, this is just its next evolution.
Do you have a small business story you want to share? Send your pitches to tom.raynel@nzme.co.nz.
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
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