Alaina Mangano Brown
Updated: March 21, 2022
Shop Talk
Q&A: COVID long hauler provides calm restoration with two new spas
Photo | jillian rollins
Alaina Mangano Brown
By Sarah Connell Sanders
Over the last two years, Alaina Mangano Brown had to face the realities of COVID as both a long hauler managing lasting symptoms and as a small business owner. Mangano Brown offers facials and body treatments at locations in Shrewsbury and in Worcester’s Canal District.
What has been your career trajectory?
Thomas Rothwell Spa was an idea building in my heart for many years. While attending university, my mother passed away from cancer. At that point, I needed to change my career path.
I began volunteering with the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program, helping women restore their images and appearances while going through treatment. This is where I discovered my love for aesthetics and turned my pain into my passion. I am incredibly grateful for my career and the opportunity to open Thomas Rothwell Spa. Both have exceeded expectations.
In addition to our Shrewsbury location, we have recently opened a second location in Worcester. We are in just our fourth year of business, and we are thrilled to see what our future holds and look forward to serving more members of our community.
How do you market your services?
Social media is the best way to connect with our guests. We like to showcase our work, give an in-treatment view of our relaxing skincare services, and create videos sharing the individual personalities of our team. This engagement helps our guests learn what to expect, so they can truly enjoy their experience once they arrive. Sharing our services, the care we provide, and our deep commitment to helping others through this social media connection has been a great benefit.
What advice do you have for small businesses hoping to make it in Worcester?
Lucky for us, we have a great community of small businesses in Worcester that support and look out for one another. My best advice is to introduce yourself and share what your business will bring to the community. Do your research, be prepared, read, become inspired, and work hard. Create a work-life balance.
Is there a specific challenge you have had to overcome in your career?
Like many people in our community and around the globe, I was diagnosed with COVID late in 2020. I developed long-hauler symptoms, which made not only day-to-day tasks difficult, but running a business with multiple locations almost impossible to do alone.
Thankfully during this time, I realized I was not alone: I had an amazing team behind me. Without batting an eye, they stepped up and took over so many of my responsibilities while I recovered. I am incredibly thankful for these women and fully indebted to them for the way they relentlessly supported me through this time. I learned to be truly successful and happy, you must surround yourself with good people and continue to lift others.
What sets Thomas Rothwell apart from other spas in Central Mass.?
After many years of research and training, each and every service we provide has been designed to help our clients improve their daily lives. Our services are truly like no other, and we are humbled to be told this time and time again. We are a team dedicated to helping our community reconnect and recharge through quality care and services; mind, body & soul.
It has been especially important during the past two years and the pandemic to help people not only feel confident and cared for, but to find calm restoration through stressful times.
Can you share a memory illustrating your favorite part of your job?
Being in this industry for 16 years, lots of memories flood to the surface. However, one that comes to mind is our annual Facebook live events we have during the holidays to promote seasonal spa specials and to help everyone get into the holiday spirit. It started small with fun little trivia events and somehow quickly turned into dressing in ridiculous costumes, my favorite being the Wet Bandits: Harry & Marv from the ’90s classic movie “Home Alone”. If you can even picture such a sight, there were bald caps, feathers, and iron face imprints. When my team commits, we commit fully. (This is my apology to team member Olivia for requesting her to be a part of such an event.)
This interview was edited for length and clarity by WBJ correspondent Sarah Connell Sanders.
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