Glasgow's first floatation spa is opening at Morris Park in Oatlands.
Launched by an entrepreneurial couple, Alex Robertson and Mhairi Caulfield, the Float One centre will house four floatation pods where people can experience sensory deprivation – floating in complete darkness and silence, in a tank of Epsom salt water.
The couple recently received a £50,000 loan through Finance For Enterprise and the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme to help get the centre ready.
By day, Alex also runs a home and furniture removals company and has seen first-hand how floatation therapy can help alleviate physical and mental stress.
The concept of saltwater floating was first explored by American neuroscientists in the 1950s and in recent years has grown in popularity among professional sportspeople and movie stars - including actress Emma Watson, footballer Wayne Rooney, Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and Beatles legend John Lennon, who had an at-home floating tank in the 1970s.
Alex and Mhairi formerly lived in London and regularly visited a local float centre, but spotted a gap in the market and an opportunity to launch their own business when they moved back to Glasgow in 2016.
Morris Park was chosen as the best location for the first centre, with a burgeoning business community and 14 gyms in the local area.
Alex Robertson said: “Many people make the effort to regularly visit the gym or go for a massage and we see float sessions becoming another common element of self-care.
“Our float pods are suitable for all ages and we expect people to feel the benefits instantly; it is completely hygienic, with the water drained between each customer and filtered using advanced technology to offer an experience like no other.
“We’ve already had an encouraging level of interest, with enquiries about memberships and gift vouchers.”
Float One is one of more than 900 businesses in Glasgow to have received more than £7.5m in funding from the Start Up Loans programme since it launched in 2012.
Barry McCulloch, senior manager for Scotland at the British Business Bank, added: “Alex and Mhairi are taking advantage of a gap in the market to start an exciting new business in Glasgow and we are pleased to be helping them to get ready for launch.
“The Start Up Loans programme was set up to give entrepreneurs support to turn creative and unique business ideas like Float One into a reality.”
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