With a massage table strapped to her motorcycle, To’u Mose stands out when travelling around Aitutaki. “It’s good advertising. People can see me coming,” she laughs.

After moving back to Aitutaki in 2016, To’u established her therapeutic and relaxing massage business in 2018, based a skill she had all her life and one that she realised she could turn into a business.

“I love looking after people and wanted to be independent” she said. “The business allows me my independence.”

“Many of my local clients have health issues.” About 50% of Tou’s clients are homebound with injuries, disabilities, medical issues or elderly people and her massage can help provide pain relief or contribute to their treatment plan – but she needs to go to them. From the start she has travelled to clients on a motorbike with her massage table strapped at the back of the bike.

However, To’u Mose faced her own serious health problems and after returning to work, she had a lot less strength than before. “I struggled to get the massage table strapped to the motor bike when visiting my clients.”

After her niece told her about the potential for a BLP Grant, she applied to get funds to contribute towards a new motorcycle – with a side car attached.

With the help of a BLP Grant, Tou’s micro business was able to continue.

“With the side car, I can more easily attach my massage table. The new motorcycle and sidecar allows me to carry on my business and makes my life easier. This has been a great benefit and help to me.”

Half of Tou’s clients are tourists and half are locals. To’u says the massage therapist at the resorts are too expensive for locals and some tourists, so she is pleased she can help them.

When she is not travelling to her clients, she operates her business from her small home for nearby clients who can visit her home. Working to continuously improve her business, she says she’s nearly completed an extension to her home to create a specific massage room area.

Simple things can make a big difference. In this case, a motorcycle with a sidecar attachment has made a big difference to this micro business. With the support of a BLP Grant, To’u can now carry on her business which gives her agency to support her own livelihood while providing important therapeutic work in her community.

To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.

The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor. If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.