This is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today we feature Tracey MacDonald of Element5 Spa, in Moncton and Saint John.

What a gift it is to find yourself in a career that makes you feel like the person you always wanted to and knew you could be. It’s like the relationship equivalent of finding your soulmate.

Growing up with hands-on, entrepreneurial parents who owned and operated a restaurant for almost 40 years, my twin sister and I always knew we would become entrepreneurs as well.

I’ve been fortunate to have many business experiences and roles in my career, from taking over the family business when my parents retired to owning and operating a pub with my ex-husband for 10 years, to my current role as the spa director and owner of Element5 Spa And Salon.

I bought Element5 in Saint John in 2017 after realizing how much I truly love the spa and salon industry and what it brings to the community.

I wanted to expand the E5 brand to my hometown of Moncton. In 2019, I was able to do that with my second Element5 Spa And Salon location at 1579 Mountain Road.

It takes a lot of hard work and grit to be an entrepreneur; it’s a 24/7 responsibility. So yes, owning your own business means that you think about it day and night. But the rewards that come from working with an incredible team of spa and salon professionals and building a brand that demonstrates your core values – it is absolutely priceless.

It’s very simple: our industry doesn’t exist without local support. We are a hands-on, service-based industry; our services can’t be offered remotely or online. We rely on guests from our community to visit our locations for their personal care needs

We have always believed that everyone in our community deserves self-care and pampering no matter their gender, age, or lifestyle. In fact, since 2018, our service menu has been genderless because we believe a guest should be booked and charged for services based on individual needs, not whether they identify as male or female.

We promote an inclusive environment in our community that welcomes everyone, no matter how that individual identifies. This is one important way we can support the needs of our local community.

Supporting your local businesses is what allows the children of small business owners to play hockey or take dance lessons or help pay for university. Every time you support and promote your local businesses, you are making a HUGE difference for your neighbours.