03/14/2026
Running a business comes with its challenges. There are cash flow concerns (too much going out and not enough coming in), unexpected equipment failures (more cash going out), the constant push to stay ahead of maintenance and cleaning, and don’t even get me started on the accounting. Then there is the balancing act of scheduling staff to meet the needs of our guests while making sure the team doesn’t burn out at the same time. The list goes on and on.
There is so much that goes into keeping the doors open at any business.
I often joke People say "Buy a business it will be fun" I follow that up with those people are liars.
Honestly, owning Solitude has been an adventure filled with all the ups and all the downs, and I am thankful I had the opportunity to own Solitude and be a part of the history of Downtown Traverse City.
I will add that owning a Float Spa is very beneficial as a business owner of any type. I have the keys to the building and can float my stress away anytime and take full advantage of that.
I hope that you are not reading this and thinking this is a goodbye post, it is far from that it is a, we are just getting started post mixed with a little I am grateful for so many people post dusted with a little information about our services and the great people that bring them to you post.
I (Andy) want to take a minute to publicly thank the incredible staff at Solitude Float & Wellness Spa for making it so much easier to be a business owner.
Pam is the rockstar who, for the last five years (give or take), has run Solitude as if it were her own business. What impresses me the most about Pam is how she talks about our guests. As we review the schedule of who is coming in to float, she can usually tell me something about most of them if they have visited a few times. It often starts with something like, “Oh my gosh, she is the sweetest person. She used to be a kindergarten teacher and was so great with the kids. I just love when she comes in to float.”
With Pam, it truly feels like every person who walks through the door becomes part of her extended family. She genuinely lights up when she talks about our guests. She is also incredibly thoughtful when it comes to spending money, helping make sure the cash flow doesn’t leave as quickly as it could.
Our team has grown over the past few months.
Maddie has really stepped up. I’m not sure there is anything we have thrown at her that she hasn’t been able to master. She works part-time at the front desk while finishing her senior year of high school. She may have even taught me a few things about the float business.
Kaylin is our in-house esthetician, and interestingly enough she originally reached out to me online while I was actually looking for a massage therapist. She asked if we offered facials or body wraps. To be honest, I almost brushed it off. The facials I had read about just didn’t seem to fit what I consider wellness. One of my core values as the owner of Solitude is that we only bring in products and services that truly support wellness—not quick fixes that simply give the appearance of health.
For some reason though, I was drawn to keep the conversation going with her on Messenger. Kaylin patiently walked me through how facials and body wraps could absolutely be part of a true wellness routine. She explained that there are skincare products designed to work with the body rather than fight it—products that are more holistic and environmentally friendly.
Her Valor 3-Step Facial and Ultimate Valor Facial are completely customized to each individual guest. She starts with a short consultation and then selects the right cleansers, masks, and products that complement your skin rather than go to battle with it. That philosophy of working with the body instead of forcing quick results fit perfectly with the wellness mindset we try to live every day at Solitude.
Kaylin was also instrumental in helping us become the only spa in the area offering Valor Skin Care products. She did an amazing job explaining to the owner of Valor that Solitude was the perfect fit because we are a wellness spa focused on holistic approaches to helping people on their wellness journey.
On top of that, Kaylin has also helped us grow the Solitude family by connecting us with two of our massage therapists, helping strengthen the team we have today.
From the moment Kaylin walked into the spa, she just got it. She understood the vision of helping people through float therapy, massage (with a therapist or our Kyota massage chairs), and now facials and detox body wraps. She has been an incredible addition to the team and another great example of how the right people help make Solitude what it is.
We have also added three massage therapists, YES Three. They have all quickly felt like part of the Solitude family.
Amanda was the first to join our team. She works primarily Saturdays and came to us with many years of experience. I think everyone who has had a massage with Amanda walks out a little taller, like she worked the stress of life right out of them.
Carson specializes in several services including prenatal massage, lymphatic drainage, sports recovery, deep tissue, and cranio-sacral work. Carson can usually be found at Solitude on Thursdays and Fridays. Between appointments he has also been helping at the front desk, learning everything about floating, facials, body wraps, and our amazing massage chairs.
Kimberly joined Solitude while still maintaining her own space in town. It might sound a little unusual, but it works great for everyone. We have an incredible massage therapist available to our guests, and she gets to earn a little extra income without the stress of running the business side of things. Kimberly is usually at Solitude on Wednesdays, Saturday afternoons, as well as Sundays.
We also have a couple of important team members who work behind the scenes.
Cindy helps keep Solitude looking its best with her weekly deep cleans of the spa. She has been cleaning Solitude almost since the day I bought the spa, aside from a short break during the transition to my sole ownership about a year ago. We are proud to have Cindy helping the rest of the team keep the spa looking amazing.
And then there is Carol, who "works" more as a consultant and sounding board when I get stuck on anything related to Intuit, accounting, or the occasional Excel puzzle. Carol and I have been friends for what feels like a lifetime, and her guidance over the last 12 months has been invaluable—along with her friendship over the last decade. I don't know how many times I have had to text Carol and she was there every time to guide me through the process.
Now back to Pam.
I’m honestly not sure how she manages to deal with an owner who is a little ADHD with the grace that she does. I’m constantly messaging her with something like, “Hey Pam… I have an idea. I think we should…” (insert idea here).
If I were her, I might break down crying and ask myself, what is he trying to do to me now?
But Pam has this calm, steady grace about her. She can talk me down from promotions or packages that sound great in my head but would turn into a staffing nightmare or require an Excel spreadsheet just to explain them.
There’s a running joke between me and my significant other:
“Pam says no.”
Because when Pam says no to Andy… it usually means the answer is no — not maybe, not we’ll see.
Pam is the quiet voice of reason here at Solitude keeping things on an even keel with splashes of greatness sprinkled in.
To the entire Solitude team: thank you for the care you show our guests, the pride you take in your work, and the way you support each other every day. You truly make Solitude what it is.
And finally, to our guests and the Traverse City community — thank you. None of this works without you. Every float, massage, facial, body wrap, chair session, gift card, kind word, and referral helps keep this little wellness spa alive and growing. When you walk through the doors at Solitude you are not just a customer, you are part of the Solitude family. The staff I just talked about show up every day because they truly care about helping people relax, recharge, and feel better. Your support allows us to keep doing what we love, and for that we are incredibly grateful.
